os x running on a intel chipset
how hard would it be for apple to make a verson of os x to work on a machinie that is currently runing a version of windwos? They want people to swtich and boy would that make it a hell of a lot easier, just install mac os x on ur current computer, and than once they are hooked, mabye they would look into buying their next computer direct from apple. Just thought mabye that would increase sales for those that want "a computer that never crashes" without having to buy a new computer. Anybody else see what i am saying here ? John
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<strong>how hard would it be for apple to make a verson of os x to work on a machinie that is currently runing a version of windwos? They want people to swtich and boy would that make it a hell of a lot easier, just install mac os x on ur current computer, and than once they are hooked, mabye they would look into buying their next computer direct from apple. Just thought mabye that would increase sales for those that want "a computer that never crashes" without having to buy a new computer. Anybody else see what i am saying here ? John</strong><hr></blockquote>
The Core of OSX, Darwin, already runs on X86 however what apps are you going to run...none of the apps for PPC will work so you have an OS with now apps...look what that did to Be OS.
explain your idea more.
I re-read and i think i get what you mean. nevermind.
[ 07-18-2002: Message edited by: cecilb.demented ]</p>
The problem here is twofold. I'll simplify it a LOT here. Someone else can go into more details.
First, there can be no Classic in OSX if Apple transitions to another chipset. This is lessening in importance now, but is still a major issue for many users (Quark anyone?).
Second, developers. The big boys are just finishing their transition into carbon and retooling all the optimizations for PowerPC and AltiVec. What will they do if Apple tells them they that to remove and rewrite all their optimizations... AGAIN? That ain't gonna fly. Apple practically got on its knees to get Carbon adopted. To tell developers to start over agani would be suicide.
Just the possible one billion Apple could potentially make with the iPod shows how big the market really is. If OS X was available for that hardware as well as Apple branded PPC machines, the potential for software revenue would be huge.
Apple has enough good software that could remain free on the PPC side, but cost on the Intel side. .Mac is a great example. It could be given away for free with the purchase of an Apple machine while the Intel/AMD users would end up paying for the ability to use iCal. Heck, iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto, and whatever is coming down the pipe could all be $30 apps for the other people while remaining free for the PPC crowd. A slightly different codebase would keep the free versions from being pirated.
This would also keep two distinct markets. Apple hardware would continue to sell because there would be a distinct added value. Shrinkwrapped OS X boxes would sell to a lot of people looking to get rid of WinXP.
However unlikely it is, Apple seems to have positioned itself perfectly if the need should arise.
Oh yeah, they lost a ton of money.
Apple Has been unsuccesful at untieing itself from its hardware. As many people have said, and keep having to pound into my head, we buy Apple because of the Software, but they make money from the Hardware.
It is possible though that because of all the recent sofware aquisitions apple has been making, they are trying to actually create a software based bussiness model. If they succeed in that then it would be possible for them to move OS X onto intel and license it.
If you notice Apple is doing things similar to what MS does to keep/gain users. Example: Emagic, who Apple just bought, is going to stop producing software for MS, so that you NEED a Mac in order to run it. They are trying to do the same with Final Cut Pro, and doing a good job with that. MS does this with all their apps.
So Apple may indeed be moving in a direction to get OS X onto other platforms, and start licensing it...
When Intel puts out a next-generation desktop processor, Apple could switch to it, but the x86 is a bloated old piece of garbage and should be replaced within the next five years.
<strong>Some version of the PowerPC is still Apple's best option. Fundamental changes in the processor present a very irritating challenge to everyone involved.
When Intel puts out a next-generation desktop processor, Apple could switch to it, but the x86 is a bloated old piece of garbage and should be replaced within the next five years.</strong><hr></blockquote>
According to Intel it was supposed to be replaced 2 years ago... <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
If Apple ports OSX to X86 systems, they might as well give up on the PowerMacs and become a software company.
The future is Apple getting with AMD to create somekind of new PowerPC based chip. I think, though, that the architecture will be pretty new and will still not allow for Classic to run (except maybe in emulation).
Instead of having an "AIM" (Apple IBM Moto) alliance, we will have an AMA (Apple Moto AMD) alliance... unless Moto sells its rights to PowerPC/AltiVec to Apple (who will do a bulk of the R&D) and have the processors made by AMD fabs and technology. ALthough I would still prefer for Moto to be involved somehow since, while we love to hate them, they still have some kickass people there. At least I like to think so.
So dont hold out for OS X on X86 architecture, it aint gonna happen. Expect somekind of PowerPC/X86/AltiVec hybrid maybe...
<strong>the future is NOT OS X on an X86 architecture.
The future is Apple getting with AMD to create somekind of new PowerPC based chip. I think, though, that the architecture will be pretty new and will still not allow for Classic to run (except maybe in emulation).</strong><hr></blockquote>Why on earth would Apple want to drop IBM in favour of AMD? No trust me if Apple decides to abandon Motorola they will go to IBM long before AMD.
Besides any of which AMD can't afford to try and widen their markets in that way right now. Not unless they want to put themselves out of business of course.
<strong>Why on earth would Apple want to drop IBM in favour of AMD? No trust me if Apple decides to abandon Motorola they will go to IBM long before AMD.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Correct me if Im wrong, but didnt IBM leave the alliance around 6 months ago? They still make PowerPC chips of course, but they are not part of the AIM alliance anymore
No, it really does sound like a good idea (at first), but if Apple brought OS X to the PC they would have to support all the kajillion manufacturers of pc peripherals (and vice versa)and then it would just be another bloated Windows! (albeit, better looking) <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
<strong>OS X on a PC!? <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
No, it really does sound like a good idea (at first), but if Apple brought OS X to the PC they would have to support all the kajillion manufacturers of pc peripherals (and vice versa)and then it would just be another bloated Windows! (albeit, better looking) <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Not necessarily. If Apple's goal was simply to obtain faster processors, they could easily design OS X to run only on Apple's x86 machines (though really, the Opteron would make more sense).
The big thing is that transitioning to a non-PPC chip would mean that a whole of of software would have to be ported by third parties to the new platform. I can assure you that one piece of software would never get ported to Mac OS X/x86: Microsoft Office.
Without Office, well... the case is less compelling.
What I could see happening is that Apple and AMD get together and build a proprietary version of the Hammer (X86-64) on an Apple specific motherboard. This keeps the platform proprietary and Apple only, but makes it much easier for 3rd party add-in card manufacturers since there would be little modification necessary to make the parts Apple compliant.
Apple would port OS X over to the new platform while continuing to sell PPC boxes alongside the new ones. Porting OS X would not be too difficult, it runs on an abstraction layer just like Windows. All that has to be done is to change the HAL to read the new platform. Recompile and the OS is done. Depending on how modular third party OS X apps are, it may not be too difficult to transition them as well. Most software use calls specific to the OS, not the hardware. If the OS is transitioned, it should be mostly transparent to the apps. The only thing is that since Altivec works differently than MMX, any programs that access that instruction set directly would have to be modified.
The problem will be to get OS X app writers to make the change. They've already been slow to adopt OS X, getting them to support another platform might be a bit difficult. However, the speed advantage alone of the Hammer chips would make it worthwhile. Since most of them already make WinXP versions of their software, they really have all they need to convert to an X86-64 version of OS X.
Will it happen? It should, but I'm not betting my house on it.
Here's a link to someone else who shares my opinion:
<a href="http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=1393"; target="_blank">http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=1393</a>;
[ 07-23-2002: Message edited by: Thresher ]</p>