“Wall Street analysts and Mac experts are predicting a surprise announcement of a new Intel-based Mac at MacWorld this January,” maya Roney reports for Forbes. “Back in June, Apple Computer announced that it would have a Mac running on Intel chips by June 2006, but the Street and the geeks have a hunch that the company could make the transition much sooner… ‘Our extensive checks in the supply chain are pointing to a very possible early introduction of Intel-based Macs before the June 2006 target date, with a possible Intel-based Mac Mini introduced at MacWorld,’ wrote UBS Analyst Ben Reitzes in a recent research report.”
“The move to Intel microprocessors marks a tectonic shift for Apple. It’s been ten years since the company’s last microprocessor transition, the PowerPC, which was developed through an alliance of Apple, IBM and Motorola. An early transition to Intel could guarantee Apple a more reliable, cost-effective supply of chips,” Roney reports. “Also, removing the strict hardware-software ties of the Mac could reach a whole new market of users who want to use either a Mac operating system with an Intel processor or Windows on a Mac machine.”
Full article, with more predictions that cover Intel-based Mac minis, Intel-based PowerBooks, new iBooks, new software, new iPods, the debut of “Asteroid,” and more, here.
A report published this past Friday by AppleInsider states “that the iMac and PowerBook — two of the company’s most recently revised Mac offerings — are targeted to be the first two Mac models to receive Intel processors in January.”
Full article here.
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Related articles:
UBS: Apple to unveil Intel-based Mac mini in January; AAPL share price target raised to $74 – November 07, 2005
RUMOR: Apple’s Intel-based Macs coming in first quarter 2006 – November 04, 2005
And the moment they don’t appear the stock price will drop and all the fanboys will whine in unison.
We may see preliminary, or pre-production Macs with Intel processors but they will not be available to buy anytime soon. Why? simple the current state of Intel processors will not yield adaquate Rosetta performance and not enough developers will have completed their universal binaries. More important than wowing people with an Intel based Mac is Apple’s need to adhere to their own timeline.
That would be nice.
^ Absolutely. This could get out of hand very quickly. Less than two months to MacWorld and the supposed “smartest move” by Apple — the Intel based Mac — is already going to be released?????
What the hell? How much software’ll be ready by then? Anything? Just the iLife suite? What about the problems of early-adopters? I’d be really concerned that the first people to be exposed to Intel Macs are the general population and average computer buyer — if they have a bad experience becasue there are a lot of glitches to be worked out, that won’t be good for Apple . . . or my stock!
Ain’t dad du truff hammer.
are there enough apps with universal binaries to support his already? sure I’d like them out sooner than later as well, but without the apps to run on it……
My spider sense is tingling
The “analyst” seems to be assuming that there will be no built-in prohibition against OS X use on x86 computers. That’s a very big assumption at this point.
I guess I need to change “x86” to “non-Apple”
I won’t go so far as to say that it won’t happen, but I still don’t buy it. The only one I could see is the Mac mini.
First, Apple is waiting on Yonah for the PowerBooks. Yonah will not be available until 2Q 2006. Intel has already stated that Apple will not receive any preferential treatment. Thus, PowerBooks won’t happen until 2Q 2006. Period.
Second, we just got a PowerBook update. I don’t expect to see another one in two months.
iBooks and Mac minis, maybe. Apple would need to go with the Pentium M for these. I think the Mac mini clone from AOpen uses a Pentium M. But we also now run into the question of software. While Apple’s software may be available, most third-party software will not. If Apple says “June” and ships in May, that’s one thing. If Apple says “June” and ships in January–six months before they said they would–that’s something completely different and you’d see some torqued-off third-party developers.
Here’s a prediction. It will be a Phillnote not a Stevenote with just progress reports on the Intelization of OS X and a few demos of ported apps on developer units.
If we are really good the next month and a half they may even release iLife 06.
What about the mac mini?
There is an Intel version floating around somewhere. The pics were ciculated even before the announcement and people thought it was a knock off. It was reported that Intel commissioned it.
I just hope they upgrade iPhoto and make it more stable. With 500 5MP images, it occasionally hangs.
ummmmm… Yonah is also due for January. Can’t remember if this was the chip that was bumped up or if it’s always been this way, but Yonah is coming in January.
Coincidence? I think not.
Personally, I’m going to see if my 500Mhz can last me until 3Q for Merom! Whole new architecture!!! woot!
Actually, the dual-core PentiumM CPUs will run Rosetta very well, and they are coming out in January…
Why wait ’til January? They’ll be here for XMAS !!!!!!!
MDNW ‘say’ So say I
(wishful thinking?)
Nothing Apple does would surprise me anymore, but I agree that this is probably not going to be the case, unless the software migration to UB is well ahead of schedule and Apple is asking developers to keep quiet about it, but that’s unlikely. Frankly, if the software isn’t ready yet I don’t want the Intels to come out. Rosetta is nice and all but I don’t want the majority of people’s software to have to use it, even for a little while.
I also have my doubts about whether PowerBooks will be among the first to be released, but then again, they desperately need it.
Yes, Yonah – the dual-core version just perfect for Powerbooks – is out in January. The single-core version, just perfect for the mac mini and ibooks, is out in June.
No intel mac mini for January. *If* there’s going to be a MacIntel launched at the Expo, its going to be a Powerbook. Lovely, fast, dual-core Powerbooks 😀
(to people who think its going to be a Mac Mini – do you really think Apple would release a mini that is more powerful than a Powerbook?)
Who cares? My G5 is now two weeks old and ain’t gonna be replaced in January.
It is “possible” that Apple quietly made a deal with Intel to use USB 2 exclusively on all of their iPods and, in turn, Apple wouldn’t be required to put those wonky “Intel Inside” advert stickers on their cases.
MDNMW = “possible”
If it does happen it will be the worst move Apple has ever made, and may be the last move foe Apple hardware. My hope is that Apple at most introduces an Intel based system in addition to the vastly superior IBM chips already in use. A MOOve to Wintel for Apple is really setting Apple as a hardware maker out to pasture. ( Get the allusion to Gateway?) Why do I make reference to Gateway? Because who needs another company using Intel chips to compete with all the other Intel based winners and losers? But yes–If Steve came out with a Intel Mini–with a mini up to speed–equiped with new remote software that is on the Imac–Id love to buy on in addition to the IBM processor Mac I already own. That is a switch–to get people who already own Macs to switch to and Intel based machine in addition to the true Mac that he or she already owns.
LISA! Get in here!! Stop playin’ with the goats!
Take care of yer screamin’ brats, and mama wants you ta scrub her feet.
‘N wake up yer boyfriend — get his lardass up and tell ‘im to get down to the welfare office, ferchrissakes!
Yes, lisa, we know. Intel bad, Apple doomed, Mac dead.
Out of curiosity, how long does Apple have to survive, post-Intel before you shut the hell up? ‘Cuz I’m really looking forward to it.
I think some guy back around 1983 was telling Apple employees “Real Artists Ship!”
Intel based Macs will at least be announced Jan MacWorld, and will ship no later than Mar. With new modles announced and shipping throughout all of 06. I just hope (for personal reasons) the iBook si in the earlier part of this.
I’m conviced they’ll have iLife 06 shipping with the new models from day one. Developers will have incentive to get coding ‘with serious intent once thse units start smashing marketshare for Apple. Pbobablly have their own conversions ready earlier thant expected. (Even though MS Office is supposed to be onboard, I’d just as soon they lag, like forever. As Apple provides it’s own suite. Maybe Adobe can get off their butts if they want to sell SW for this hot selling platform.
Ummm Mac mini with Intel and…
iLife 06? iWork 06?
phew.. busy day
Regarding Rosetta:
Consider Rosetta runs your apps at 60% of potential speed. The new Powerbooks will presumably have DUAL core Yonah processor – that’s 2×2 gigs mate!
Consider the new powerbooks could run any old apps at least as fast as the current ones under emulation – pretty good deal!
And when the UB third party apps appear it will completely smoke the current gen.
So I can’t wait for all of the “lisa” people to freak out when Intel-based PowerBooks appear – triple the performance, less weight, same price, able to run Mac OS X and Windows natively. What will they have to whine about?