Its hard to believe, but as rumoured, Apple is _indeed_ switching its processors to Intel.
I was initially shocked by this as I watched the keynote but it seems Steve Jobs is working his magic and having watched the keynote it now all seems very sensible. If their Rosetta PowerPC emulation runs as promised then it should be a good move, it seems to run a tad slowly in Steve's demo but then its clearly not the final version.
Apple have (as rumoured) been dual developing Mac OSX and (it appears from the keynote) all their apps as dual PowerPC/Intel from the beginning as a 'Just in case' scenario. Of course this also means they can switch _back_ to PowerPC at the drop of a hat if it all goes a bit Pete Tong, but that seems unlikely.
I still have a slightly bad taste in my mouth from the idea, after all, dont Intel processors run hotter and use more power than PowerPC? Arent Intel portable chips much worse for power consumption than PowerPC? Are we going to have to put up with "Centrino" technology in Macs! Last time I looked in my Mac Evangelist's Handbook® - _Intel Inside_ was a bad thing! But dammit, Mr Jobs makes it sound *so* good! I just want to come along with the ride anyway.
I guess this should mean that some clever so and so will make Windows run on the new Intel Macs without the need for VirtualPC, in regular windows (though still I guess _Windows_ windows), not a huge bonus for myself .. although maybe games! Mmmmmmm!
First Intel Macs are promised to be shipping this time next year. I would _guess_ consumer Macs first as Apple have more control over the software/hardware so it should be smoother.
I wonder how Bill feels about this, even though MacOSX wont run on regular PCs, Apple is pissing on their lawn so to speak and they _cant_ be that happy.
What about Quark? Can they keep up with another change or will we have to wait another 3 years for QuarkXpress running properly on Intel Macs or will it have to run in Rosetta indefinitely.
To conclude: Im shocked but hopeful. :-D
[...] 4.2ghz Intel powered mac certainly made me smile. I’ve read the odd synposis where a little shock or even thinly vield dismay seems to be the common theme, but ultimately [...]
[...] 4.2ghz Intel powered mac certainly made me smile. I’ve read the odd synopsis where a little shock or even thinly veiled dismay seems to be the common theme, but ultimatel [...]
Ok, that's retarded. I edited my post (to fix a couple things) and it's pinged out twice - never seen WP do that before. Stupid #$!&% piece of crap. ;-)
It seemed to ping once with the plain english url and once with the ?p=XX url, that was what mine did before. Very odd.
I think this whole thing is a baaaaaad idea. It reminds me of this movie i saw once where the whole country switched to this new computer system thing that really killed people! *shivers* Creeeeeeepy. I have my doubts.
"I think this whole thing is a baaaaaad idea."
Like when Apple moved from Motorola to PowerPC? I recall the same kind of lamenting about the move back then too. Not to mention when OSX came out and people went spastic.. :)
IBM are focused on doing things (like console chips) rather than what Apple want - it's pretty obvious, even to a layman. It's a smart move - it's really the only move they could make.
An Apple Powerbook that has an uber fast Pentium M or insane ghz centrino in it will kick the socks off whatever they managed to eventually squeeze out of a G4, G5's aren't even an option in the mobile platform - IBM seems incapable of getting them to run cool enough, let alone get anything close to decent battery time.
I think I'd quite like a Mac running OSX Tiger with a twin cpu dual-core x86-64 Intel power plant to be blunt. Sing? nah.. Tiger will roar on it. :)
Well you still have to understand that I'm a major Windows hater. I hate everything that has to do with Windows. And last time I checked, Windows ran on Intels, too. I mean if I tried it, I'd probably get to like it a little better, but until then..... :X
"And last time I checked, Windows ran on Intels"
So does Linux, BSD, BeOS and a raft of other systems. Linux also runs on PowerPC, as does Amiga OS and as will/does Windows. Windows you cry? Yes, what do you think will be running on the Xbox360 then? It won't be linux!
Intel chips are used for by a massive range of OS's. It's that simple. Intel can fab a complete chipset, CPU and mainboard for Apple. One that will be every bit as capable and certainly a hell of a lot quicker than a PowerPC.
As I have said, IBM are looking at 3 console products to upscale fab for - Apple's basically either had to lump the situation, or move. They chose to move.
It's extremely narrow minded to exclude a CPU based on the idea it can run Windows. The upcoming dual PowerPC product used in the Xbox360 will run Windows, or a derivative of it. That would mean you would have to hate the PowerPC now too. :)
Personally I can't wait to be an owner of an Apple that is powered by an Intel.
Forgive my ignorance here, but I'm not a Mac user. Just on the outset, isn't this going to be a great move for Apple? Won't the use of Intel chips allow Apple hardware/software programmers more flexibility with programs and allow the Apple machine to move more mainstream with the ability to run OSx along with other programs written for Windows?
Am I way off here??? :)
Lol, nice one.
I think this can be good and bad - people who (like me) are looking at buying a Mac right now are worried that PowerPC support will slide as Apple moves onto Intel Macs. But, however, I don't want to wait another year before I buy a laptop - I want a Mac now. Oh well.
I wouldnt worry about waiting.
A decent Mac now should still last a good few years.
Yeah, I agree.