At its Worldwide Developer Conference today, Apple announced plans to deliver models of its Macintosh computers using Intel microprocessors by this time next year, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007.
Apple previewed a version of its critically acclaimed operating system, Mac OS X Tiger, running on an Intel-based Mac to the over 3,800 developers attending CEO Steve Jobs’ keynote address. Apple also announced the availability of a Developer Transition Kit, consisting of an Intel-based Mac development system (3.6GHz Pentium 4-based) along with preview versions of Apple’s software, which will allow developers to prepare versions of their applications which will run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.
“Our goal is to provide our customers with the best personal computers in the world, and looking ahead Intel has the strongest processor roadmap by far,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO in the press release. “It’s been ten years since our transition to the PowerPC, and we think Intel’s technology will help us create the best personal computers for the next ten years.”
“We are thrilled to have the world’s most innovative personal computer company as a customer,” said Paul Otellini, president and CEO of Intel in the press release. “Apple helped found the PC industry and throughout the years has been known for fresh ideas and new approaches. We look forward to providing advanced chip technologies, and to collaborating on new initiatives, to help Apple continue to deliver innovative products for years to come.”
“We plan to create future versions of Microsoft Office for the Mac that support both PowerPC and Intel processors,” said Roz Ho, general manager of Microsoft’s Macintosh Business Unit in the press release. “We have a strong relationship with Apple and will work closely with them to continue our long tradition of making great applications for a great platform.”
“We think this is a really smart move on Apple’s part and plan to create future versions of our Creative Suite for Macintosh that support both PowerPC and Intel processors,” said Bruce Chizen, CEO of Adobe.
The Developer Transition Kit is available starting today for $999 to all Apple Developer Connection Select and Premier members. Further information for Apple Developer Connection members is available at developer.apple.com
Intel plans to provide industry leading development tools support for Apple later this year, including the Intel C/C++ Compiler for Apple, Intel Fortran Compiler for Apple, Intel Math Kernel Libraries for Apple and Intel Integrated Performance Primitives for Apple.
Majikthize says: “But they might be Macs that can also run Windows natively.”
Wouldn’t they then also run Windows virii natively? So much for the virus free mac…
Sputnik –
“• I thought the PowerPC was the bomb it: ran cool had low power consumption and was 64 bit
• now we are to believe that a 32 P4 and a Dell box is the bomb”
Today is the day that Apple died, only it was a suicide.”
Talk about willful suspension of disbelief – if you think Apple is going to settle for the dregs of Intel’s outdated parts bin, you’re delusional.
“Why would anyone in the “real IT world” abandon a proven OS with years of hardware support for a brand new OS that has never ran on our hardware?”
“Proven OS”?!?! Hahahahahaha. Whoa… Heehehehe. That’s a good one. Wait a sec, gotta wipe the tears from my eyes.
Okay, there we go. Now, tell me how a Mac running the same CPUs as concurrent PCs but offering both OS X and Windows will be at a disadvantage.
The shock is starting to wear off. Maybe this won’t be so bad. Still don’t like the thought of less native apps for PPC.
Why feel betrayed by Apple? Don’t you think SJ should feel betrayed by IBM? After all he has been eating crow for a full year with that 3.0 GHz not coming around. If IBM really gave Apple the exit (going for console makers as their first customers) what Apple should have done? Stay with IBM knowing they will not deliver? The only way you may stay afloat is by keeping getting better. If G5 stagnates, while today it competes with Opterons and beats the crap out of Xeons in two years it might simply be lousy in comparison. Chip industry never stops guys: if you pause you are way behind.
This said, although everybody here seems to be crying, Windows sucks anyway, Longhorn is a shamble anyway, and OS X is what makes the difference really. Would you be buying a Mac with PowerPC if all it was running was Windows? GET REAL. You buy it because it runs OS X.
Next year you will be buying it because it runs OS X Leopard (which will run on G5 as well), not because it has Intel or PowerPC.
We have Linux boxes here aplenty, Linux on AMD and Intel rocks, stable, fast and all. Still I prefer working on OS X. Will be the same with next Intel generation 64-bit chips with Leopard next year.
I usually change computer every 3 years. Will then run Leopard the first year on the 17″ G4 and the dual G5. Then it will be on Mac computers powered by new generation chips from Intel.
The only issue is: will Intel deliver its roadmap or will be a flop very much Intel-suck-like?
Why do you people keep talking about Pentium. That is a 32-bit platform and Steve said 64-bit Intel. This means Itaninum-II (G-d help us if it is Itaninum)…
I for one, can’t wait to get my hands on a new Intel/Mac.
Gackle the Great states:
Can you imagine trying to convince a PC owner to switch?
“But isn´t Apple going to use the same computer chip as my Windows computer?”
This has got to be THE most ridiculous analogy I’ve come across in YEARS!
And furthermore, I don’t know what some people are so peeved about. They bitch about not getting faster processors and they bitch when Apple tries to give it to them. They act like Apple is going through all this just to screw ’em over. (That Mac elitist attitude again). Isn’t it obvious that IBM isn’t exactly “catering” to Apple’s needs very well. If they can develop a 3GHZ for Microsoft’s Xbox, why the f**k can’t they put some more effort into the G5?
Like many other people, I’m still settling from the shock, but I’m sure the guys at Cupertino have a damn good reason for making this decision. And I trust them.
For you self proclaimed “Apple Experts”, “Analysts” and others that said this wouldn’t happen, get in at barbecue. Guess what’s on the menu? That’s right you know-it-alls, crow!
Rock on Stevo!
I like how “Deep Inside Intel” uses the phrase “speaking imparitially.” That gave me a nice chuckle… a (supposed) Intel employee trying to pass himself off as impartial on this… very funny…
“What’s next, Product Activation?” Why. yes it is.
“… Intel has enabled digital rights management (DRM) for the Pentium-D, but an Intel rep confirmed the 945 would help implement Microsoft’s DRM at a chip level, although he wouldn’t discuss the details.”
Your copy of Leopard will run 30 days, after which you will have to activate it with Apple to continue to use your software. You now have 29 days to comply.
Your copy of Keynote will run 30 days, after which you will have to activate it with Apple to continue to create slideshows. You now have 29 days to comply.
Your iTunes downloads will run 30 days, after which you will have to activate all songs with Apple to continue to listen your songs. You now have 29 days to comply.
Your copy of iDVD will run 30 days, after which you will have to activate it with Apple to continue to edit you video. You now have 29 days to comply.
Your copy of [INSERT FAVORITE APPLE SOFTWARE HERE] will run 30 days, after which you will have to activate it with Apple to continue to use your software. You now have 29 days to comply.
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. Comply.
“…We just switched to a PowerMac G5 and a PowerBook 15″. We switched to get away from Wintel machines. Now I have two pieces of equipment that are immediately obsolete.”
send ’em to me, Gene-O! I’ll be happy to take your ‘obsolete’ macs…
lots of new folks here – wonder how many are mac users?
Steve at his next keynote: “No 32bit IS better, trust me!”
64bit G5 with Tiger -> 32bit P4 with Tiger
mrboma:
“Wouldn’t they then also run Windows virii natively?”
Good point, but given the choice on a dual OS Mac/Win system, would you open even ONE email in Windows? I sure wouldn’t. And I’d keep the web surfing to an absolute minimum. But one would have to become adware aware. blechhhhhh!
“Just sold all my apple stock. “
All 20 shares? LOL
I just had to look at all the MDN downplay articles in retrospect, quite funny. Of course, the rational Mac users here know this is only for the better and will have Apple in much stronger position years from now. Of course, laughing at all the blind mac loyalists overreacting like chicken-with-heads-cut-off is quite an amusing boon! Where’s Jaime Kelly with his/her flux capacitor?
Chicken Little: Apple is doom, doom! All the Mac developers will abandon the platform!
Ah, chicken head, now that OS X running on x86 is common knowledge, what about all those Mac/Windows/Linux x86 developers now able to exploit the x86 Mac OS X platform?
Ah, Rock on Stevo!
OH MY GOD! What a bunch of whining, tit-bags. Unless you can cough up the cash to buy Apple Comuter, Inc. and implement better solutions, then SHUT THE HELL UP!
And if you’re going to sell your stock and go to an Amiga, endulge. You probably only bought $200 worth and aren’t doing any serious computing anyway.
The moment you bought your Mac, it became obsolete — Intel or not! That’s the nature of this business. If you can’t find ways to make your computer work for you for years to come, you’re not smart enough to use one. GET A GRIP!
And for you “Who’s gonna step up and eat your crow?” trolls, why don’t you run out into the street and play a nice little game of hide-and-go-f*ck-yourselves! This forum has nothing to do with your Franken$oft, Fry’s build-your-own, discount hack-ware bin, ugly *ss DOS box. You people need to start your own forum to rag on each other about how long your currently installed version of Windows can fight off the 80,000 viruses made JUST FOR YOU before your OS becomes so fragmented and functionless that you have to spend your entire weekend formatting your drive, reinstalling your spaghetti-code system software, downloading service packs and restarting . . . and restarting and restarting and restarting . . . !
Just got my 2x2Ghz PPC from Apple store. Wasted money, and i hate myself for it , and SJ. F..k !
Developing software for both processors my ass……
I´ve just lost a 50% value of my new investment.
Should I smile about that ?
Hey, we want to celebrate today’s keynote in proper Buffalo local style. Anyone know a recipe for fried crow wings?
Justified: They have nothing better to do whilst they wait for Longhorn.
Uh oh, one word spelled wrong. So sue me. This is my lunch break.
At least it was my lunch break. Back to work in 5.
Last post here. All you skeptics will be back on board in a year, TRUST me.
Rumor to be seen in 2008: Apple have secretly been developing OS X to run on PowerPC chips over the past few years, as a worst case scenario should Intel fail.
Apple’s VP already stated that OSX will NOT RUN ON x86 based WINTEL boxes.
The chip Intel builds for Apple will not be what all of you pathetic idiots are thinking it will be.
GO AHEAD! SELL YOUR G5! Go buy a Dell and see how color accurate your PSD output is!
IT IS THE OS that makes the machine….We are talking CPU here and Apple is still making the box!
MORONS!
“I´ve just lost a 50% value of my new investment.
Should I smile about that ?” (dangla)
Your ‘puter value is not all wrapped up in some market price. Maybe it’s value is in whatever the hell you use it for – like maybe be productive!
‘Justified’ is right on this. If you can’t get good use out of your “investment”, you need to invest in some other shit.
Ah, Rock on Stevo!
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OK. Let’s clear this up.
***INTEL HAS 64-BIT PROCESSORS***
All 6xx series Intel processors are 64-bit (known as Pentium 4 with EM64T). All 8xx series Intel processors are 64-bit AND dual-core (known as Pentium D)
The only Intel 32-bit processors that Apple would concievably use would be the Pentium M (for mobile applications) and it would replace the G4 (which, by the way, is currently 32-bit). In addition, there will be a dual-core version of the Pentium M (codename Yonah) out next year (read: in time for an iBook/PowerBook).
So let’s cut the crap about how Apple’s moving from 64-bit to 32-bit. It just ain’t true.
Why do you all keep harping on about 32bit pentiums???? Intel and AMD have both began to move to 64bit even its mobile chips. AMD only offers its low-end sempron in 32bit mode now, and is moving that to 64bit later this year. Even the crappy “celeron” is moving to 64bit this year.
By 06, Intel and AMD expect most if not all chips to be 64bit and dual-core.
AMD are discussing “multi-core” for their chips by end of next year.
This is a great move if IBM can’t deliver.