“Apple Computer Inc. has been in talks that could lead to a decision soon to use Intel Corp. chips in its Macintosh computer line, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday,” Reuters reports. “The report, citing two industry executives with knowledge of recent discussions between the companies, said Apple will agree to use Intel chips.”
“Neither company would confirm the report and an Apple spokeswoman told the Journal she would characterize it as ‘rumor and speculation.’ It was unclear whether such a move would signal a large-scale shift away from chips made by IBM, Apple’s longtime supplier, the report said,” Reuters reports. “Apple sells only about three million computers a year — a small portion of the estimated 200 million sold globally. But for Intel, winning over Apple would be a prestigious endorsement from one of technology’s most influential trend-setters and could associate the chipmaker with Apple’s hugely popular iPod music player.”
MacDailyNews Note: Apple is currently selling over 1 million Macs per quarter, or closer to 4.5 million Macs per year.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: With all three major next-gen gaming systems all going PowerPC and the G5 poised to break the 3GHz barrier, we don’t see this as anything more than a rumor. Unless Intel has something completely new that nobody outside Intel and Apple know about. Does anyone remember that the Apple, IBM, Motorola (AIM) Alliance developed the PowerPC? Why would Apple admit defeat, especially when GHz to GHz the PowerPC pummels anything from Intel into submission? This could be a planted story to save some sort of face for Intel as even Microsoft have dropped Intel and chosen PowerPC for the Xbox 360 and with Sony’s Cell processor causing so much excitement. For Apple to go backwards to what Intel currently offers would be ridiculous.
Macs are cheaper than PCs, and their processors are faster too. – Paul Murphy, “Will Apple switch to Intel?” – May 23, 2005.
Some things to keep in mind: Apple already uses Intel IOP chips in Xserve RAID, so maybe this is related to this rumor and people have gotten the details screwed up. Or maybe it’s a new Apple product like a remote control or tablet Mac or something that will use some Intel processors? Maybe Apple is using this to light a fire under IBM to finally get a G.D. 3GHz G5 Power Mac this summer. You know, the 3GHz G5 that we were supposed to have last summer as promised by Steve Jobs? And, (stop reading now if Mac OS X for Intel gives you a queasy stomach), as we reported last week, Intel did add FireWire 400 and 800 to latest motherboard. Also, remember that Apple’s iPod revenue stream makes them far less dependent on Mac hardware sales and give them the ability to maneuver in ways nobody would have dreamed just a few years ago.
The Wall Street Journal article (paid subscription required) is here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple shares rise on Intel Mac rumors – May 23, 2005
Bio authors: Steve Jobs wants ‘to take back the computer business from Microsoft’ – May 23, 2005
Intel adds FireWire 400 and 800 to latest motherboard – May 18, 2005
Windows tech writer Thurrott keeps harping on ‘Apple Mac OS X for Intel” rumor – April 29, 2005
Apple Xserve RAID has ‘Intel Inside’ – March 04, 2005
Intel has no answer to the ‘Cell’ processor; will Apple use it in Macs? – February 10, 2005
Apple Macs now cost less and run faster than Wintel PCs – September 30, 2004
Apple CEO Jobs misses ‘3Ghz G5 within a year’ prediction by wide margin – June 09, 2004
Steve Jobs needs to stop making predictions he can’t hit – June 09, 2004
iPod success opens door to Mac OS X on Intel – March 04, 2004
Intel’s Senior VP and CTO: ‘Steve Jobs has made the wrong CPU choice for 20 years’ – August 05, 2003
Another call for OS X on Intel chips – July 09, 2003
Dvorak predicts the ‘MacIntel’; says ‘Apple must go with Intel or risk its future’ – April 07, 2003
Dvorak spews latest prediction: Apple to go Intel within 18 months – March 19, 2003
Intel claims MHz doesn’t matter; Wintel world perplexed – March 14, 2003
Steve Jobs needs to stop making predictions he can’t hit – June 09, 2004
Whaaat??!!
doesn’t mean they’ll use Intel for the computers, per se, though it could mean they’ll use Intel chips for other products, like a new iPod or video player or some such…
just a guess on my part…
Off the subject – check out what WSJ has to say about Apple not being able to change enough to fend off new competitors:
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/0,,SB111679774079740049-pP_LMXvmdy0P87mq_Jl6jdVTYT0_20060522,00.html?mod=mktw
Is it six months already? How the time flies when you’re having fun.
This rumors resurfaces about every six months on websites. Who really believes such drivel?
I don’t know about Intel processors replacing the CPU’s in Macs: doesn’t seem likely to me. But might an Intel product be used by Apple in some other way? Down the road a couple years things might be quite a bit different. One possibility comes to mind: Google seems headed toward using server based software to provide a whole range of services. This could call for a home computer much different from what we’re using today. Our visionaries at Apple might be considering the possibilities in this area too. Certainly Apple can set up server farms. Who knows?
i don’t think Intel is doing any better with improving their chips’ speed than IBM is doing with the G5… they both hit similar bumps and i don’t see why apple should be shifting (with IBM seemingly taking the lead right now in chip development as wtinessed by the next gen consoles)
so unless it’s for marketing or major cost cutting reasons (very un-Apple like, i don’t see this happening anytime soon…
but if it does, what will this mean? third party apps being re-coded and that emulation for now situation again going on for the new machines… I don’t think apple can do that to their customers again…
Apple is just keeping the door open to all credible platforms. This is good, but it doesn’t mean anything will be happening. IBM’s Power is “powering” all the new consoles coming out. For PPC, the future is now. Apple would be idiots to move to Intel at this point. PPC shows flexibility where x86 has hit a performance wall.
Intel is not being innovative, just look at the dual pentium with two separate cores taped together. AMD is doing it right, but they are hampered by the x86 platform too. No, Apple will stick with the PPC and we’ll see multi-core chips by next year, except the Power multi-core chips will scale much better. Cell? Probably not in a Mac as we know it, maybe as a media processor that hangs off the Firewire port.
MDN: my Magic word is truncated. I’m guessing “why” we’ll see.
Or maybe MDN has no clue what they are talking about with their 2cents comments.
IBM is hurting Apple.
Maybe Apple knows something we don´t know – like Tiger runs a whole lot faster on Intel chips than IBM.
Or Intel is bringing out something new.
Maybe Apple will offer both – IBM chips plus AMD and Intel chipped computers.
speculate this:
1.
OS X on intel… why not? people forget that Mac OS always needed a ROM inside the hardware it runs on (remember the clones… they licensed this ROM from Apple) – no ROM = no GO!
so maybe a new kind of Apple “help-the-switchers-switch-box” could be the source of the rumor… a sister Mac mini based on intel – still able to run OS X on this special Apple hardware, due to the ROM – AND – it can run Windows natively also, due to the intel thingy inside… such hybrid hardware could help windows-patchers switch for good, maybe?
2.
Apple signed a contract with a british company who’s making some new chips… sometimes rumored as the new iPod video chips?
can this british company manufacture these chips fast enough and in sufficient quantities… or could intel do the job for them?
“Apple sells only about three million computers a year — a small portion of the estimated 200 million sold globally.”
Hmmmmmmmmm………..that means that annual market share for Apple is 1.5%….
Something new on the horizon from Intel but too early to be any positive about that. Might, might not. No companies put all their eggs in one basket.
And, it will not need to run very fast: MHz myth is dead at Intel as well.
How about Mac OS X for Intel in Mac minis only – with some kind of ‘Classic Windows’ environment?
…but at same time something new from IBM as well. You have to have chip manufacturers on their toes, otherwise they become complacent.
Mac OS X on Intel runs since beta versions of OS X 10.0.0
What if Intel started manufacturing PowerPC-processors?
How does the Cell CPU fit into all this?
Man I hope this isn’t true. I’m all for Apple dropping IBM but Intel is yesterday’s news. If they are going to change manufacturers, AMD is where they should be looking. Its technology is far better than what Intel has to offer anymore.
MDN’s Take really is a great service to their readers in this case. Apple is leveraging IBM, pressuring them for a better price, better performance. That’s the reason for the WSJ story.
Woohoo! FAT POWERBOOKS!
No seriously.. I’m all for offering a watered down version of OS X that runs on Intel PC’s.. at least then PC users would have.. *egads.. CHOICE.. and they might be able to move away from MS.. but other than that.. why go BACKWARDS!?
Intel hasn’t budged much from 3.4 Ghz.. everyone’s got the same problems ramping up to higher speeds.. not just IBM..
IBM’s chips are CLEARLY the way to go..
Yes, Apple does use Intel chips inside the xRaid. Those Intel chips in the xRaid are the best money can buy, so Apple made a good choice to use them. PPC will be Apples main chip, otherwise they would have made that switch a long time ago.
Someone had gotten something crossed here, just because Apple talks to someone, doesn’t mean Apple is abandoning what they have worked on for what the to company they talked to has in production. In other words, this is FUD to keep people scared of going to Macs.
“The report, citing two industry executives with knowledge of discussions between the two companies…”
Why am I skeptical of a news story that uses unnamed sources as it’s basis?
Here’s my news flash:
I’ve been talking to two industry executives who have knowledge of Apple Computer strategy who say that Apple is planning to create and use biological chips in there next line of Macintosh computers. “The only problem is when one your computer catches a virus, you need to give it a good dose of antibiotics for two weeks. Other than that, they’re good to go by Christmas.”
I’ve decided to give this scoop to MDN because they’ve entertained me for the last year or so. Run with this story! You won’t be disappointed.
Ahh, MDN’s PC knowledge is lacking as usual. AMD is the new king in terms of speed. Intel has been lacking lately, and ummmm, yeah, I love having my own personal heater in the studio with me.
I love Macs, but let’s be honest here, the 970 processors are nuclear reactors practically, they give off A LOT of heat and the G5’s are ENORMOUS.
The MacMini is a joke in terms of processor speed if you want a small footprint, not to say that it’s not a good machine for other topics.
All in all, Apple is on the right track, but we need less propaganda so we can bring others over.
Hey, beatsme,
Why do you feel the need to reiterate MDN’s take and try to make it sound like you just came up with it yourself?
MDN-“Or maybe it’s a new Apple product like a remote control or tablet Mac or something that will use some Intel processors?”
beatsme-“doesn’t mean they’ll use Intel for the computers, per se, though it could mean they’ll use Intel chips for other products, like a new iPod or video player or some such…
just a guess on my part…”
Wow… I would love to see OSX on the faster Intel platform. PowerPC lags when compared to what AMD and Intel offer. I bet if OSX were ported properly to x86 architecture, it’d outpace Windows by a nice margin (not to mention security and stability improvements).
Imagine… Apple having state-of-the-art, blazingly-fast notebooks.
Wow… I would love to see OSX on the faster Intel platform. PowerPC lags when compared to what AMD and Intel offer. I bet if OSX were ported properly to x86 architecture, it’d outpace Windows by a nice margin (not to mention security and stability improvements).
Imagine… Apple having state-of-the-art, blazingly-fast notebooks.