You know, with Moki and T.O. being so quiet it's possible that they are doing so because they have something to say but don't want to face the wrath of Steve as a result.
I think one of the things we Mac users have to look at is the relationship between Apple and Motorola. To say that they are strained is an understatement. I'm sure that Apple has in no uncertain terms told Motorola that if they don't start working on better faster CPU's that they'll look elsewhere. Moto didn't buy it and that's where the IBM deal kicked in. After that Moto halted all work on further development of the G4 and up. So the "sand" G4's may be here, but what is the likelihood that we'll see much progression in the G4 with Moto sandbagging? They may be under contract with Apple but that doesn't mean that they have to work really hard on it. Would IBM step up and boost up the G3 with SIMD? These are questions I'm sure we'll see answers to in the next few months, but I'd like to hear what you all think as well.
IBM has always contended that they thought the G3 had a "lot more potential". Motorola wanted to go with the G4. This core contention was in part responsible for them going in different directions, fracturing the PowerPC alliance. Apple had to make a choice, and "at that time" the G4 showed the most potential for Apple's market, and was probably the best choice, at least in theory. However Motorola in short-sightedness and typical recent years mis-management, really messed things up.
In the meantime, IBM never gave up on the G3. Remember that this chip is still a core product for them. (embedded market in addition to Apple). Now with Motorola's repeated delays, incompetence and poor quality control, IBM has an opportunity to say "I told you so" in a nice way. While development possibly slowed on the G3's at one point, it never stopped. I think it is very possible that development has once again accellerated to take advantage of R&D that has already been completed, at least in part.
Motorola has become a kind of plod along and let's see what the rest of the market does kind of company. Innovation is more random chance then deliberate attempt and subject to a lot of inner company politics & manipulations.
Apple (under Jobs) is a blatant leading edge innovator. That is where they excell. Note that without Jobs, Apple was starting to become a lot like Motorola.
IBM (International Business Machines) is a quiet subtle innovator. Remember this is a "Business" company that predates computers, and is greatly responsible for the introduction of computers into business. While being perceived as being a bit stoic and reserved, they have always been out on the leading edge somewhere. While subject to cyclic ups and downs like most companies, they have never really been threatened.
Gobi, etc is real. How much of it we will actually see will depend more on the market demand and other advances, then on long term road maps.
The G4 as a desktop computer CPU is dead. (forget the new G4's they are for the embedded market only - yes the potential is there but...) Long live the G3 with the 970 as heir apparent.
Comments
Originally posted by Bigc
Boy, that's strechting his comments aways...
Good point, I guess we should take him literally then ...
In the meantime, IBM never gave up on the G3. Remember that this chip is still a core product for them. (embedded market in addition to Apple). Now with Motorola's repeated delays, incompetence and poor quality control, IBM has an opportunity to say "I told you so" in a nice way. While development possibly slowed on the G3's at one point, it never stopped. I think it is very possible that development has once again accellerated to take advantage of R&D that has already been completed, at least in part.
Motorola has become a kind of plod along and let's see what the rest of the market does kind of company. Innovation is more random chance then deliberate attempt and subject to a lot of inner company politics & manipulations.
Apple (under Jobs) is a blatant leading edge innovator. That is where they excell. Note that without Jobs, Apple was starting to become a lot like Motorola.
IBM (International Business Machines) is a quiet subtle innovator. Remember this is a "Business" company that predates computers, and is greatly responsible for the introduction of computers into business. While being perceived as being a bit stoic and reserved, they have always been out on the leading edge somewhere. While subject to cyclic ups and downs like most companies, they have never really been threatened.
Gobi, etc is real. How much of it we will actually see will depend more on the market demand and other advances, then on long term road maps.
The G4 as a desktop computer CPU is dead. (forget the new G4's they are for the embedded market only - yes the potential is there but...) Long live the G3 with the 970 as heir apparent.