“The bull case for Apple over the past year has been that booming sales of iPod music players will create a ‘halo effect’ that will lead to higher demand for the company’s Macintosh computers,” Troy Wolverton writes for TheStreet.com.
Wolverton writes, “While Apple has seen an uptick in Macintosh sales in recent quarters, that momentum may be slowed by the recent announcement that it is switching the processor at the heart of its computers from the PowerPC line produced by IBM and Freescale Semiconductor to chips made by Intel. Although Apple offered valid reasons for the switch, it could lead customers to delay computer purchases or choose rival systems based on Microsoft’s Windows operating system.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Clearly, Mac users find that latter option hilarious. Windows-only users, however, would miss the joke. Mac users aren’t going to choose Microsoft Windows based on Apple’s processor choice. It’s the OS, stupid (and the Apple Mac-only applications). The full article gives various viewpoints, including one we agree with: Mac sales will may slow in the short term, but Apple’s core Mac business will be better in the long term.
“More than even the processor, more than even the hardware innovations that we bring to the market, the soul of a Mac is its operating system and we’re not standing still.” – Steve Jobs, WWDC 2005 Keynote, June 6, 2005
MacConvert, why should we have to wait 6 or 7 years to abandon the x86 architecture?!?!
Apple has the ability to do pretty much anything they want (proven by the fact that they’ve maintained PPC/Intel functionality since day 1!!).
I’m sure Intel has some interesting concepts looking for a market that will embrace something new (unless you still count Windows 95 new!!!).
It’s the OS, stupid!
I think Macadaddyoo makes a good point! Let’s all stop calling the new Macs, MacIntels. I say we just call them the best darn computer ever!
I guess you have to ask that very simple question of;
If I had to use Intel Inside, which operating system would I rather use; Mac OS X or Windows XP?
Well it’s different strokes for different folks, but my choice would be an easy one; Mac OS X!
Of course don’t overlook your other options, there’s still Linux and if you’re computer savvy enough to venture into uncharted territory, then the Amiga would be your final destination
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
So the processor is what drives the question “Mac or Windows?”
In all my years of computing, I’ve never really though, “Hmm. I’ve gotta get this issue of the magazine to press by end of day. This PowerPC processor had better do the trick. Otherwise, I’ll have to go Windows.”
If IBM would have gotten off of their A##es this would have been a non issue. Maybe this will be the spur intel needs to put out a higher quality product. Look at the progress the U.S. automakers have made in quality after years of being the japanese automaker’s biotch. Still not there yet, but gaining. I dont care what kind of processor (and I dont think anyone else should either) the dang thing has in it, if it does’nt crash (and OS-X rarely allows that), I’m good.
Hey Grrrila, have you checked out Osiris <http://www.sim.hcuge.ch/osiris/01_Osiris_Presentation_EN.htm>
or is that not what you need?
Apple is going to switch to faster and more energy efficient CPUs next year, and these idiot journalists are trying to spin it as a bad thing. I love it. Next thing we know, Dubya will declare that our mission is accomplished in Iraq (again), and people will be saying that Mac OS 10.5 Leopard (when it ships in 2007) ripped off the 2011 version of Windows.
:p They are called PowerMacs for a reason that is why we call the others Macintels or Intelimacs.
I believe it is the nature of the mac user to cherish the classic.Rather than switching some users will want to purchase the last of the power range and maybe even defy the change. As yet im sure the intel is not more capable and will not be for the forseeable future.As the transition happens id like to see the benchmarks of both machines in a head to head and see the real difference of dual 2.7 vs dual 3.6.