French article on PowerPC 970
Can anyone do a better job translating this article. It looks like it has some interesting things in it.
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Text of the tranlation as written:
Speculations on PowerPC
By extending the line of PowerBook, last 7 January, Steve Jobs meant the continuation of the use of G4 on the professional portables. As much to say that the processor seems well left to last. It gives it will be changed with the probable introduction of PowerPC 970 of IBM into the machines of office? Nothing sure! Even G3 could survive it since Quartz Extreme gave again a little fishing to him...
Will there be three types of chips in Mac this summer? The renewal of PowerBook in their last form almost does not leave a doubt: the professional portable of APPLE is condemned to preserve G4 during all the year 2003, even beyond. And although this year is, according to APPLE, that of the portables, the iBook should not either change chip and continue to be satisfied with G3 from IBM. It should be said that to pass it in G4 would not fail to sap the sales of PowerBook. However, to 800 MHz at best and with its bus system turning to 100 MHz, G3 seems exceeded! Remain that when one compares, under Mac OS 9, the eMac, the iMac G4 and the iMac G3, at equal frequencies (700 MHz), the performances of the three machines prove to be comparable. There is only in the fields of complex calculations, the sound, the video and posting 3d that notable differences are perceptible. All that makes Mac, will say to me you! Admittedly, but of office automation use, force are to note that the iMac G3 as the iBook still prove of excellent machines, extremely well positioned in terms of price. Moreover, reductions of production costs are undoubtedly still possible. Then why throw the stone in these Mac which took again a little strength since Mac OS X version 10.2? A renewal of vitality due to Quartz Extreme (see edition of May 29, 2002 ), the technology embarked by Jaguar which delegates to the graphic controllers nVidia or of ATI image processing (2d, 3d, video...). But still it is necessary that the latter have at least 16 Mo of memory. Here are which falls well, it is the minimum embarked by the iMac G3 and the iBook of last generation (since May 2002)!
Then, a second life for G3Â*? IBM being able to market given rhythm models with 1 of them GHz, APPLE could decide to continue to make use of it in spite of the advanced age of its models - the iMac G3, introduced in May 1998, will be five years old and the iBook, although recently top spin, approach the four years of service. It is even said, if one believes the site Think Secret of it , that the founder still works on more quickly turning G3. Code name: "GOBI". A good reason to revive the two machines of entry of range of APPLE. At all events, the plans of development of PowerPC do not seem any more at the dead point (see edition of October 10, 2002 ). Motorola, on its side, announced a few million dollars of benefit for its electronic branch, and the time of survival of its G4 could be some prolonged. According to Geek.com , its next version, Motorola 7457, would reach 1,4 GHz as of February, then 1,8 GHz at the next summer. What to make last Power Mac in their current configuration, if a processor of replacement were long in coming.
PowerPC 970 of transition
However, APPLE would have some already at its disposal in quantity, currently in test: PowerPC 970 of IBM (see edition of October 16, 2002 ). One speaks even about first Mac equipped of the aforesaid processor for the summer. If that were to intervene before this date, APPLE would be found then with three processors at its disposal: 970 (marketed under the name of G4 Extreme?), G4 and G3. A desirable option bus IBM prepares already the continuation, PowerPC 980 planned for the summer 2004 and posting nearly 3 GHz, as well as very an other generation of chip materialized by PowerPC 990, in 2006. From this news a probable scenario emerges: 970 to make the transition and to save the face during a few months (PowerMac, Xserve and PowerBook could, one after the other, to profit from it), a processor much more powerful in the tread. Assumptions? Admittedly. We wait however, as of the introduction of the 970 into Power Mac, to see the frequencies of the portables and general public Mac to pack. As for the iBook, it would remain on standby of G4 until 2004!
<a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http://www.vnunet.fr/actu/ar ticle.htm%3Fnumero%3D10600%26date%3D2003-01-24&langpair=fr%7Cen&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&prev=%2Flanguage_tools" target="_blank">Google translation</a>
Text of the tranlation as written:
Speculations on PowerPC
By extending the line of PowerBook, last 7 January, Steve Jobs meant the continuation of the use of G4 on the professional portables. As much to say that the processor seems well left to last. It gives it will be changed with the probable introduction of PowerPC 970 of IBM into the machines of office? Nothing sure! Even G3 could survive it since Quartz Extreme gave again a little fishing to him...
Will there be three types of chips in Mac this summer? The renewal of PowerBook in their last form almost does not leave a doubt: the professional portable of APPLE is condemned to preserve G4 during all the year 2003, even beyond. And although this year is, according to APPLE, that of the portables, the iBook should not either change chip and continue to be satisfied with G3 from IBM. It should be said that to pass it in G4 would not fail to sap the sales of PowerBook. However, to 800 MHz at best and with its bus system turning to 100 MHz, G3 seems exceeded! Remain that when one compares, under Mac OS 9, the eMac, the iMac G4 and the iMac G3, at equal frequencies (700 MHz), the performances of the three machines prove to be comparable. There is only in the fields of complex calculations, the sound, the video and posting 3d that notable differences are perceptible. All that makes Mac, will say to me you! Admittedly, but of office automation use, force are to note that the iMac G3 as the iBook still prove of excellent machines, extremely well positioned in terms of price. Moreover, reductions of production costs are undoubtedly still possible. Then why throw the stone in these Mac which took again a little strength since Mac OS X version 10.2? A renewal of vitality due to Quartz Extreme (see edition of May 29, 2002 ), the technology embarked by Jaguar which delegates to the graphic controllers nVidia or of ATI image processing (2d, 3d, video...). But still it is necessary that the latter have at least 16 Mo of memory. Here are which falls well, it is the minimum embarked by the iMac G3 and the iBook of last generation (since May 2002)!
Then, a second life for G3Â*? IBM being able to market given rhythm models with 1 of them GHz, APPLE could decide to continue to make use of it in spite of the advanced age of its models - the iMac G3, introduced in May 1998, will be five years old and the iBook, although recently top spin, approach the four years of service. It is even said, if one believes the site Think Secret of it , that the founder still works on more quickly turning G3. Code name: "GOBI". A good reason to revive the two machines of entry of range of APPLE. At all events, the plans of development of PowerPC do not seem any more at the dead point (see edition of October 10, 2002 ). Motorola, on its side, announced a few million dollars of benefit for its electronic branch, and the time of survival of its G4 could be some prolonged. According to Geek.com , its next version, Motorola 7457, would reach 1,4 GHz as of February, then 1,8 GHz at the next summer. What to make last Power Mac in their current configuration, if a processor of replacement were long in coming.
PowerPC 970 of transition
However, APPLE would have some already at its disposal in quantity, currently in test: PowerPC 970 of IBM (see edition of October 16, 2002 ). One speaks even about first Mac equipped of the aforesaid processor for the summer. If that were to intervene before this date, APPLE would be found then with three processors at its disposal: 970 (marketed under the name of G4 Extreme?), G4 and G3. A desirable option bus IBM prepares already the continuation, PowerPC 980 planned for the summer 2004 and posting nearly 3 GHz, as well as very an other generation of chip materialized by PowerPC 990, in 2006. From this news a probable scenario emerges: 970 to make the transition and to save the face during a few months (PowerMac, Xserve and PowerBook could, one after the other, to profit from it), a processor much more powerful in the tread. Assumptions? Admittedly. We wait however, as of the introduction of the 970 into Power Mac, to see the frequencies of the portables and general public Mac to pack. As for the iBook, it would remain on standby of G4 until 2004!
Comments
The G4 has nothing but bad performance associated with it (in the Power Mac line).
What's wrong with Power Mac G5 featuring the PowerPC 970?
Barto
<strong>Yeah, G4 Extreme makes absolutely no sense as a product name for the 970 Power Macs. There's nothing G4 about the 970 -- it's a totally different chip that certainly shares less with the G4 than the G4 shared with the G3. These Frenchmen don't know what the hell they're talking about.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Are you sure? They have hit the nail right on the head several times... Maybe the 970 is only 10-15% faster than the G4 at the same clockspeed? <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />
[quote]Originally posted by snoopy:
<strong>I like Barto's suggestion of calling it a PowerMac G5. The processor numbers change too frequently.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Maybe so... But I think too many people connect G5 to Motorola and their famed chip...
The translation gets the main gist of it but there are some pretty bad spots:
"As much to say that the processor seems well left to last."
Humerously reminds me of the G4/Pentium race, but what the author really wants to say is that the G4 will not be disappearing from the scene any time soon.
"All that makes Mac, will say to me you!"
Couldn't stop laughing at this one. How about: What does this make of the Mac lineup? you tell me!
"A desirable option bus IBM prepares already the continuation ..."
Change the word "bus" for "because".
The author, Marc Geoffroy, does not reveal his sources so it is unclear if the "G4 Extreme" suggestion is his own or from someone on the in.
His description of the introduction of the 9X0 chip series reminds me of the PowerPC introduction: start cautiously and ramp up quickly.
<strong>I prefer "Powermac 970", "Powermac 980" and so on... Sounds coolest..
Or they could just call it the "PowerMac".
This is interesting news, as is the stuff on Geek.com (although they're not entirely reliable). It's nice to have some idea that there's a whole family in the wings, waiting to come out and scale up quickly. Here's hoping IBM doesn't hit a snag.
Barto
<strong>
Are you sure? They have hit the nail right on the head several times... Maybe the 970 is only 10-15% faster than the G4 at the same clockspeed? [oyvey] </strong><hr></blockquote>
not the same frenchmen.
svm mac is your run-of the mill mac 'zine. they're only compliling rumors, and have a track record about as good as ryan meader's.
No G anything...no 9xx anything... just power.
Feb intro...March release. Just wait for it.
<strong>PowerMacintosh would perfectly suffice for me, as long as they all have the same family of processors in em. i am against numbers used in nomenclaure in general. gives the computer a more 'human' feel.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Agreed! I think the direction of the iMac line is good...iMac, iMac SE, iMac (with the LCD, but no name change)...just Powermac!
Mandricard
AppleOutsider
<strong>Powermac GX?
Mandricard
AppleOutsider</strong><hr></blockquote>
For our generation X? A mac for the gen-XPower's. PowerMac XP ould be funny
Or if they were honest: RealPowerMac. In opposition to the last three years.
[ 01-27-2003: Message edited by: thegelding ]</p>
<strong>PowerMac G-Spot....no further explanation needed...i processor so fast with an OS so sexy it will make you....insert restaurant scene for "when harry met sally" here...g</strong><hr></blockquote>
... work faster than ever before...
other g