Prior to the Power Macintosh debut in 1994 that used PowerPC RISC CPUs, Apple used varients of the Motorola 68000, 68020, 68030 and 68040 CISC CPUs in Macs and Powerbooks.
Also, one main reason why OS X is so great is because the company that makes it also makes all the hardware it runs on. For these reasons, apple would never move to x86 unless they were in dire trouble, which they are not.
Apple's hardware comes from the same manufacturers that PC makers get hardware from.
But Apple can continue to be *particular* about the hardware that goes inside their boxes even after this switch.
The cnet article is a very good example of irresponsibly journalism. The very idea that apple would switch over to intel when the PPC is doing so well is preposterous. Not only is it debatable that intel is any better off than IBM as of now, but also it is debatable as to whether apple could survive in an open market. As of now OS X and the Mac platform are protected by their incompatibility with the x86 world. If OS X was ported over to run on x86 there is no way apple could keep developers producing OS X specific applications--not to mention trying to get developers to port applications over to x86. The transition in affect would destroy apple's hardware business. I suppose it is possible that OS X could flourish on x86 hardware; however, in reality apple is far too deeply ingrained in their hardware image. Also, one main reason why OS X is so great is because the company that makes it also makes all the hardware it runs on. For these reasons, apple would never move to x86 unless they were in dire trouble, which they are not.
Perhaps apple has commissioned intel the make a new mobile chip for them in light of Motorola's failures and IBMs huge amounts of business from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. This chip, however, will most certainly be a PPC chip. Intel probably wants a piece of the powerPC industry as well. Look at all the money IBM gets from the game consoles etc. Works out for everyone.
I repeat: Apple will not be using x86 chips and if they are I would be prepared to drop all your stock in the company as its over for apple.
Stuff like this does not just get made up. This is not some silly MOSR report. It is real. No doubt. I wonder if IBM screwed Apple and that is what is causing them to make this shift.
Will it kill Apple? It might. I mean really, would you buy a Powermac now? Or next year? Apple should make OS X free on all Intel machines and get people developing and using the system. That is their only hope.
i can see apple commissioning a powerpc chip, which i think is the most likely scenerio and a smart move to have multiple vendors for your chips.
osx running on x86 would mean the computer hardware division would be assimilated but...
maybe apple is trying to emulate sony's business model and become more then a "computer company".
even ibm sold off it's pc division and apple split it's company into two divisions.
maybe they are trying to get rid of their computer division. how much money does apple actually make from computers. i think the last earning's report was 60%. what if apple want's to make phones and camera's etc... in addition too or instead of computers.
because of the success of the ipod, their computers have only gained marginal bumps in the last two years. maybe apple want's to deemphasize computers as a revenue source and try and make money from their software and consumer electronics.
since the success of the ipod the computer division has turned into the red headed stepchild requiring the majority of the r&d budget but only marginally more then half the revenue for the company. (last point being only a guess on what they spend on r&d).
just rambling but a 700mhz improvement on the flagship powermac in two years regardless of who's fault it is with no idea of the roadmap for the powermac is disappointing. i love apple equipment but for power i'm looking else where for my next computer purchase and will use my mac as an email websurfing machine to avoid viruses.
since the introduction of the powermac, it has been on a 10 month update cycle with no reduction in price prior to an update annoucement. that's just not right....
Look the bottom line is straight forward and obvious.
1. Above all Apple must stay in the lead with their laptops. Laptops are what sells, they are where the money is, and are high tech prestige for a computer company.
Apple's laptops have been the best and the fastest in the business and they have still been growing more slowly then other computer companies. Perhaps that has changed in the last month or two but if it has the momentum MUST be maintained.
Especially now that Apple has the money THEY WILL DO ANYTHING to keep and gain momentum where they can.
2. Dual core processors with excellent power management has been available on the Intel for a little while now, but IBM only makes promises and does not deliver.
IN LIGHT OF THIS APPLE'S STRATEGY WILL BE:
1. Tell the WORLD your plan to SWITCH:
We weren't to proud to switch, now you don't be either...
2. Ignore the plan and bring out the HOTTEST dual core laptop money can buy as soon as possible with Mac OS Xntel that runs Winwods applications.
3. Fulfill as much of the plan as you have to, to make it look like you are following it.
4. See how the processor companies deliver with features that fit the Apple strategy.
5. Create a NEW plan.
6. Deliver a free reduced version of Mac OS Xntel that just beats Winwods in features and is VERY FAST, to create as much confusion as possible for the Winwods buyer and destroy the market for Winwods if possible.
7. Continue to deliver a high end, high profit market with PPC in the areas that IBM delivers.
This is what they should have been doing all along, the only thing that stopped them from doing it was that their portfolio of software and technology lead with that portfolio was not great enough to give them the leverage they needed to make it all happen.
They also did not have enough money to guarantee that they could execute although they probably did have just enough.
BUT NOW THEY HAVE THE MONEY, THEY HAVE THE iPOD FOR ATTENTION, THEY HAVE THE SOFTWARE its virtually guaranteed that they will be able to create major mayhem in the PC world and gain at least at a handful of market share in the process.
i don't know, the more i think about this the more i like it. i'm just curious how Apple is gonna package this... so far all that has been available to Mac users are the configurations that Apple has put together for us all. in the PC world hardware configurations are numerous. if you want a custom PC you most definitely can get one. there are choices of CPU in single and multi-processor arrangements (Opteron, Xeon, Athlon, Pentium etc.), not to mention many different motherboards, hard drives galor, cases with different looks and sizes and numerous graphics cards.
will Apple provide similar customization or are Macs going to be the familiar "here it is, take it or leave it" models? is Apple mainly interested in eliminating the Megahertz battle? let's face it, if a company is selling to the consumer home market then big 'numbers' win the day. most home PC users don't know that a 2.6 Ghz Opteron will smoke a 3.6 Ghz Pentium, but the bigger number will prevail in sales. it seems like Apple is after this market base. as a Mac buyer i am not that interested in being limited to purchasing a consumer level Pentium chip as my high-end Power Mac, especially when other Intel CPUs are more workstation specific (which reminds me - dual Xeon 2.4 workstations are STILL being sold as high end workstations!?, this has been going for years now).
ironically Power Macs are filled with server level CPUs. i hope they select similarly when choosing the Intel equivalents. geez PPC chips are driving the new cutting edge gaming consoles...
"Our opinion is that if Jobs and his gang from Cupertino succeed in implementing Intel processors in Mac Minis and Power Macs and also manage to provide applications for them, Gates and his gang from Redmond will be in a lot of trouble, the dual-core 64 bit processors and Tiger operating system being a deadly combination to Microsoft."
Softpedia's editors are clearly intelligent well educated individuals !!!
Intel claims to have finally found a customer for its Manitoba mobile phone platform in the shape of British-based operator O2.
The chip giant launched Manitoba in 2003, but to date has failed to secure any customers. However, Reuters reports that Intel execs at an event in San Francisco this week said O2 would use the platform in a music phone it plans to ship which will sell for around £200 in the UK and Germany.
1. Apple switches Macintosh to Intel inside (presumably Yonah variants) starting with low end machines in Summer 2006 and ending with high end machines in Summer 2007.
2. Intel will produce a PPC variant for Apple. Eg, modifying the micro-ops decoder in Yonah to decode PPC ISA instead of x86 ISA.
3. Apple is negotiating with Intel for Xscale CPUs for an iPod thing or Tablet thing.
4. Apple is negotiating with Intel for WiMax chips.
5. Apple is trying to flush out a leaker.
6. Intel will produce a non-x86, non-PPC CPU for Apple.
7. Apple will produce Mac OS X for Intel for x86 OEMs (Dell et al).
8. Apple/Intel will produce a converged home device to flank Microsoft/Sony/IBM game consoles.
Can't think of anything else, but there are others I think.
CNET's transition schedule is crazy. That's the ultimate Osborne-ing of existing Mac hardware. Mac OS X runs on Intel machines deep inside Apple somewhere (with a good Cocoa Finder ), and I wouldn't be surprised if Apple can ship Mac OS X/Intel in 6 months, but an announced transition of 1 to 2 years will make for some lean times. Apple will be an iPod company for those years. Maybe Intel is willing to fork over some cash for getting Apple as a customer which would make up for the lost sales revenue.
Having Intel as a CPU and core logic chipset manufacturer is all good though, be it x86, PPC, or something different. They have the best and most capable fabs. And Intel fabbed PPC CPU is something I've wanted Apple to do for a long long time.
If Apple intends to announce Mac OS X for Intel processors, as opposed to Macs w/Intel processors, then Intel and Intel OEMs are preparing for a gigantic battle with MS/Sony/IBM for the future of PC hardware, and Apple as 2nd fiddle becomes a viable choice for them. In the future, all that is really needed is really good Internet browser and media support. Rich content apps are niche markets while the vast majority of PCs will be running Internet based apps through the browser. MS has to know that development resources are all heading towards Internet app development, not MSFC/.NET development, and have decided to go the proprietary hardware route for revenue.
For all I care Jobs can announce Apple is turning to Mr. Coffee for the next line of CPUs. It doesn't matter a whit to me so long as he announces a new laptop Monday morning.
For all I care Jobs can announce Apple is turning to Mr. Coffee for the next line of CPUs. It doesn't matter a whit to me so long as he announces a new laptop Monday morning.
even if it's announce the new Powerbooks are powered with Moulinex?
"According to the report, Apple plans to move lower-end computers such as the Mac Mini to Intel chips in mid-2006 and higher-end models such as the Power Mac in mid-2007."
hopefully it's just intel branded ppc's...otherwise i might hold off on my college laptop/desktop purchasing til next year...
I sure its just the standard Intel processors, sounds like from the bottom up.
But I bet laptops are actaully first, although that may not stated.
I don't there will be any real changes though Windows quite different from Macs underneath and Unix has been around for a LONG time therefore if Macs were going to have security problems it would have happened on PPC.
Comments
Originally posted by oh_the_humanity
When did apple use CISC CPU's ?
Back when RISC CPUs didn't exist.
Prior to the Power Macintosh debut in 1994 that used PowerPC RISC CPUs, Apple used varients of the Motorola 68000, 68020, 68030 and 68040 CISC CPUs in Macs and Powerbooks.
Originally posted by Algol
Also, one main reason why OS X is so great is because the company that makes it also makes all the hardware it runs on. For these reasons, apple would never move to x86 unless they were in dire trouble, which they are not.
Apple's hardware comes from the same manufacturers that PC makers get hardware from.
But Apple can continue to be *particular* about the hardware that goes inside their boxes even after this switch.
Originally posted by Algol
The cnet article is a very good example of irresponsibly journalism. The very idea that apple would switch over to intel when the PPC is doing so well is preposterous. Not only is it debatable that intel is any better off than IBM as of now, but also it is debatable as to whether apple could survive in an open market. As of now OS X and the Mac platform are protected by their incompatibility with the x86 world. If OS X was ported over to run on x86 there is no way apple could keep developers producing OS X specific applications--not to mention trying to get developers to port applications over to x86. The transition in affect would destroy apple's hardware business. I suppose it is possible that OS X could flourish on x86 hardware; however, in reality apple is far too deeply ingrained in their hardware image. Also, one main reason why OS X is so great is because the company that makes it also makes all the hardware it runs on. For these reasons, apple would never move to x86 unless they were in dire trouble, which they are not.
Perhaps apple has commissioned intel the make a new mobile chip for them in light of Motorola's failures and IBMs huge amounts of business from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. This chip, however, will most certainly be a PPC chip. Intel probably wants a piece of the powerPC industry as well. Look at all the money IBM gets from the game consoles etc. Works out for everyone.
I repeat: Apple will not be using x86 chips and if they are I would be prepared to drop all your stock in the company as its over for apple.
Stuff like this does not just get made up. This is not some silly MOSR report. It is real. No doubt. I wonder if IBM screwed Apple and that is what is causing them to make this shift.
Will it kill Apple? It might. I mean really, would you buy a Powermac now? Or next year? Apple should make OS X free on all Intel machines and get people developing and using the system. That is their only hope.
i can see apple commissioning a powerpc chip, which i think is the most likely scenerio and a smart move to have multiple vendors for your chips.
osx running on x86 would mean the computer hardware division would be assimilated but...
maybe apple is trying to emulate sony's business model and become more then a "computer company".
even ibm sold off it's pc division and apple split it's company into two divisions.
maybe they are trying to get rid of their computer division. how much money does apple actually make from computers. i think the last earning's report was 60%. what if apple want's to make phones and camera's etc... in addition too or instead of computers.
because of the success of the ipod, their computers have only gained marginal bumps in the last two years. maybe apple want's to deemphasize computers as a revenue source and try and make money from their software and consumer electronics.
since the success of the ipod the computer division has turned into the red headed stepchild requiring the majority of the r&d budget but only marginally more then half the revenue for the company. (last point being only a guess on what they spend on r&d).
just rambling but a 700mhz improvement on the flagship powermac in two years regardless of who's fault it is with no idea of the roadmap for the powermac is disappointing. i love apple equipment but for power i'm looking else where for my next computer purchase and will use my mac as an email websurfing machine to avoid viruses.
since the introduction of the powermac, it has been on a 10 month update cycle with no reduction in price prior to an update annoucement. that's just not right....
chung
1. Above all Apple must stay in the lead with their laptops. Laptops are what sells, they are where the money is, and are high tech prestige for a computer company.
Apple's laptops have been the best and the fastest in the business and they have still been growing more slowly then other computer companies. Perhaps that has changed in the last month or two but if it has the momentum MUST be maintained.
Especially now that Apple has the money THEY WILL DO ANYTHING to keep and gain momentum where they can.
2. Dual core processors with excellent power management has been available on the Intel for a little while now, but IBM only makes promises and does not deliver.
IN LIGHT OF THIS APPLE'S STRATEGY WILL BE:
1. Tell the WORLD your plan to SWITCH:
We weren't to proud to switch, now you don't be either...
2. Ignore the plan and bring out the HOTTEST dual core laptop money can buy as soon as possible with Mac OS Xntel that runs Winwods applications.
3. Fulfill as much of the plan as you have to, to make it look like you are following it.
4. See how the processor companies deliver with features that fit the Apple strategy.
5. Create a NEW plan.
6. Deliver a free reduced version of Mac OS Xntel that just beats Winwods in features and is VERY FAST, to create as much confusion as possible for the Winwods buyer and destroy the market for Winwods if possible.
7. Continue to deliver a high end, high profit market with PPC in the areas that IBM delivers.
This is what they should have been doing all along, the only thing that stopped them from doing it was that their portfolio of software and technology lead with that portfolio was not great enough to give them the leverage they needed to make it all happen.
They also did not have enough money to guarantee that they could execute although they probably did have just enough.
BUT NOW THEY HAVE THE MONEY, THEY HAVE THE iPOD FOR ATTENTION, THEY HAVE THE SOFTWARE its virtually guaranteed that they will be able to create major mayhem in the PC world and gain at least at a handful of market share in the process.
Then they will make a new plan and try again !!!
will Apple provide similar customization or are Macs going to be the familiar "here it is, take it or leave it" models? is Apple mainly interested in eliminating the Megahertz battle? let's face it, if a company is selling to the consumer home market then big 'numbers' win the day. most home PC users don't know that a 2.6 Ghz Opteron will smoke a 3.6 Ghz Pentium, but the bigger number will prevail in sales. it seems like Apple is after this market base. as a Mac buyer i am not that interested in being limited to purchasing a consumer level Pentium chip as my high-end Power Mac, especially when other Intel CPUs are more workstation specific (which reminds me - dual Xeon 2.4 workstations are STILL being sold as high end workstations!?, this has been going for years now).
ironically Power Macs are filled with server level CPUs. i hope they select similarly when choosing the Intel equivalents. geez PPC chips are driving the new cutting edge gaming consoles...
http://news.softpedia.com/news/MiniM...ors-2654.shtml
"Our opinion is that if Jobs and his gang from Cupertino succeed in implementing Intel processors in Mac Minis and Power Macs and also manage to provide applications for them, Gates and his gang from Redmond will be in a lot of trouble, the dual-core 64 bit processors and Tiger operating system being a deadly combination to Microsoft."
Softpedia's editors are clearly intelligent well educated individuals !!!
Intel claims to have finally found a customer for its Manitoba mobile phone platform in the shape of British-based operator O2.
The chip giant launched Manitoba in 2003, but to date has failed to secure any customers. However, Reuters reports that Intel execs at an event in San Francisco this week said O2 would use the platform in a music phone it plans to ship which will sell for around £200 in the UK and Germany.
1. Apple switches Macintosh to Intel inside (presumably Yonah variants) starting with low end machines in Summer 2006 and ending with high end machines in Summer 2007.
2. Intel will produce a PPC variant for Apple. Eg, modifying the micro-ops decoder in Yonah to decode PPC ISA instead of x86 ISA.
3. Apple is negotiating with Intel for Xscale CPUs for an iPod thing or Tablet thing.
4. Apple is negotiating with Intel for WiMax chips.
5. Apple is trying to flush out a leaker.
6. Intel will produce a non-x86, non-PPC CPU for Apple.
7. Apple will produce Mac OS X for Intel for x86 OEMs (Dell et al).
8. Apple/Intel will produce a converged home device to flank Microsoft/Sony/IBM game consoles.
Can't think of anything else, but there are others I think.
CNET's transition schedule is crazy. That's the ultimate Osborne-ing of existing Mac hardware. Mac OS X runs on Intel machines deep inside Apple somewhere (with a good Cocoa Finder
Having Intel as a CPU and core logic chipset manufacturer is all good though, be it x86, PPC, or something different. They have the best and most capable fabs. And Intel fabbed PPC CPU is something I've wanted Apple to do for a long long time.
If Apple intends to announce Mac OS X for Intel processors, as opposed to Macs w/Intel processors, then Intel and Intel OEMs are preparing for a gigantic battle with MS/Sony/IBM for the future of PC hardware, and Apple as 2nd fiddle becomes a viable choice for them. In the future, all that is really needed is really good Internet browser and media support. Rich content apps are niche markets while the vast majority of PCs will be running Internet based apps through the browser. MS has to know that development resources are all heading towards Internet app development, not MSFC/.NET development, and have decided to go the proprietary hardware route for revenue.
If it is true, wow!
Originally posted by surfacenuts
For all I care Jobs can announce Apple is turning to Mr. Coffee for the next line of CPUs. It doesn't matter a whit to me so long as he announces a new laptop Monday morning.
even if it's announce the new Powerbooks are powered with Moulinex?
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1110
"According to the report, Apple plans to move lower-end computers such as the Mac Mini to Intel chips in mid-2006 and higher-end models such as the Power Mac in mid-2007."
Just to see which way its going, up or down ???
Originally posted by ghiangelo
even if it's announce the new Powerbooks are powered with Moulinex?
I don't know what Moulinex is but I like the sound of it, and whatever it is it's bound to be at least as good as Pentium.
Originally posted by MACchine
Can anybody get a quote on Apple's stock price in overseas markets.
Just to see which way its going, up or down ???
Any stock movement on this article would be silly but then what are stocks if not silly.
Originally posted by cj171
hopefully it's just intel branded ppc's...otherwise i might hold off on my college laptop/desktop purchasing til next year...
I sure its just the standard Intel processors, sounds like from the bottom up.
But I bet laptops are actaully first, although that may not stated.
I don't there will be any real changes though Windows quite different from Macs underneath and Unix has been around for a LONG time therefore if Macs were going to have security problems it would have happened on PPC.
Intel won't change the security picture for Macs.
Originally posted by surfacenuts
Any stock movement on this article would be silly but then what are stocks if not silly.
Look in my post above: Wall Street Journal CONFIRMS...
... its FACT !!!
Osborn LIVES !!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally posted by MACchine
Look in my post above: Wall Street Journal CONFIRMS...
... its FACT !!!
Osborn LIVES !!!!!!!!!!!!
Dude, you're going to have an aneuyrism before Monday ever gets here if you don't settle down, and get some food and some sleep.
Originally posted by surfacenuts
I don't know what Moulinex is but I like the sound of it, and whatever it is it's bound to be at least as good as Pentium.
Moulinex are blenders. so ur right, they're about as good as a Pentium.