“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
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.
Dont think so….besides I think that sticker “Intel Inside” just meeses with the “chi” look of my mac.
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Don’t forget, I said not long ago that several PC makers were wooing Apple in an attempt to put OS X on their computers.
Now, who thinks we’re giving up on PowerPC? They don’t know what they’re talking about. That doesn’t mean we can’t expand our market.
It’s not either/or.
Mac & PC Guy,
I’m asking an honest question here – how would moving to x86 acrchitecture improve security and stability for OS X? Please elaborate, it has lots on interesting implications.
Huh…been running all the usual through my head this morning.
The latest:
To ask developers to rewrite apps for OSx86 would be ridicuolous, coming only 4 years after the transition to OS X.
Which leads me to think that, if Apple will indeed use Intel microprocessors (not chips for other uses as in xRaid, ertc.) then they will not be used in consumer machines, but perhaps the xServe. Consider that Server’s have limited need for productivity apps. Most of the MacOS X Server apps are *nix derivatives, so they would probably be fine on Intel. A box sitting in a closet wouldn’t need to run Photoshop or iLife, for that matter. Apple could market the robustness and security of OS X on xServe hardware to IT departments. The xServe is already a great value in the 1U server space, but maybe making the hardware that much cheaper with Intel chips would really turn people’s heads.
Just spittin’…
Definitely has to be a rumor. PowerPC architecture is better than Pentium architecture. Intel would probably be able to deliver the chips, but the performance would suck.
Apple is going Intel because Intel chips are cheap in bulk. IBM bulk is not. It’s all about the bottom line. Gotta keep fuel in Steve’s private jet, remember?
I thought the G5 was the best out there?
Its fairly obvious that if Apple could port OS X and applications like Final Cut to the Intel platform that it would grow as a software company….software, where margins are still high.
Hardware has been comodified and only companies like Dell will be able to turn a profit based on volume…
blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… I’m not an engineer blah… blah… blah… I’m just a dumb-ass user blah… blah… blah… regurgitating someone else’s lame OPINION mixed up by the satanic voices in my head as I hum Winnie the Pooh songs blah… blah… blah… I wish I had a life, but as long as I spout crap on here, I can emulate a life, because I am so stupid I have no problem fooling myself blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… I think typing my totally useless comments on MDN while naked is very kinky… hope my mommy doesn’t catch me… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah… blah…
Intel may not be able to offer anything better than IBM at the high end but surely if OS X can run on intel then they might be looking at them as alternatives or slight improvements on the g4 level machines? If apple can buy something in huge bulk for use in mac minis that runs as well as for less money then why not?
Intel chips in Macs just simply isn’t going to happen. Maybe Intel chips for a new generation of iPods perhaps, but absolutely not for Macs. How many times can this stupid rumor get recycled anyway?
Anybody remember Power.org? Intel, or anybody else that wants to join, can produce PPC-type chips. There is nothing stopping Apple from employing Intel to produce PPC chips for them. Apple will not go x86.
hey stfu
to reiterate is to repeat something more than once. If you’re going to criticize try to have a better grasp of the language.
and I didn’t read MDN’s take…it’s usually too one-sided to be worth the bother.
It’s good negotiation tactics.
I wonder how many of you read all the posts and see how utterly ridiculous rumour conversations really are? This thread is a JOKE! Some people have far too much time on their hands and now brain power to pull them out of this kind of funk……
Slow down, people. Intel makes ALL KINDS of chips. They make chips for netwroking, PDA CPUs, cell phones, WiMax and all kinds of stuff other than the x86 CPU. Take a walk along these links and use your head.
http://www.intel.com/design/pca/cellularprocessors/index.htm
http://www.intel.com/design/pca/intro/wirelessmobility.htm
http://www.intel.com/products/wireless/index.htm?iid=Corporate+Header_prod_hand&
http://www.intel.com/design/pca/prodbref/253820.htm
http://www.intel.com/design/pca/prodbref/300571.htm
http://www.intel.com/netcomms/products/index.htm
Remember to Think Different
CNBC was to have someone from Apple on Sqwak Box this morning to discuss the story. I couldn’t stick around to see it…had to get to work…but if CNBC had an Apple guy on to discuss…
Any one catch this?
Personally, I think if there is any truth to this, it’s all about laptops. They haven’t been able to get a G5 into a laptop, so maybe Apple is looking at Pentium-Ms.
Don’t forget Intel makes more than just microprocessors. It also creates flash memory and wireless networking hardware. These are two areas Apple needs additional suppliers from.
With that said, Apple is NOT going to switch from the IBM Power chips. Such a move is just ridiculous.
Ain’t gonna happen. Intel is old tech and IBM is new tech. Why would Apple choose an over-glorified calculator CPU (x86 – Intel) over a jack of all trades CPU (PowerPC – IBM)? It does not make good business sense.
Latest thought…
No Intel microprocessors in Macs…but perhaps some other Intel chips in another Apple product.
For example, Intel is one of the largest manufacturers of WiFi/Max chips. I don’t know who makes Apple’s airport stuff now, but I could definitely see them tap Intel for this type of product.
Read that Cringely article from last week. AirPort streaming of audio/video content could be huge.
The time is right, the iron is hot.
OS X.4 functional on Intel chips now, with Longhorn 18 months away is the final chance of expanding the base. Security concerns will gain OS X an increased base. This kind of opportunity to strike is not going to happen again! A deal with HP to sell Intel machines running OS X?? Sweet!
Beatsme-You reiterated what MDN said. To repeat something more than once would be to reiterate several times. Don’t criticize my English, which is correct, when you don’t even bother to read.
If YOU don’t want to come off like an idiot, try reading the article you’re commenting on in it’s entirety.
The Wall street Journal must have a Windows reporter working for them. Total complete nonsense especially at this time.