beng

Looks like Apple is doing the intelligent thing.  Until significant software titles are written for the M series, the only option for many pros is Intel.  Apple knows this and is offering both the M series and an Intel series.  I expect the Mac Pros to be at least 2x faster/better than the Intel machines.  This will help drive the push for Pro apps to be converted over to the Mac.

I don’t see any confusion over this.  Bottom line: Apple will discontinue the Intel series If and WHEN enough pros are satisfied with M series applications.  AND, they will want the Pro machine performance to be a great incentive for this to happen.

So, will Rosetta 2 run 32 bit apps?

I think Apple’s roadmap with ARM is not the MacBook, but the iPad. It seems obvious they are slowly converting it to a full fledged computer, running on ARM. Why the iPad and not the MacBook? Another simple answer. The instruction set of the iPad and iPhone has always been ARM. The instruction set for their computers has always been X86 (post PPC). As the iPad grows in power and utility, developers will continue to expand their SW offerings and Apple can gauge if ARM can overtake or match X86 in consumer SW. When they are happy the transition is sustaianble, they can start moving the ARM chips into thier computers. Whatcha bet?

Photovoltaic panels have a theoretical peak efficiency of about 30%. Add a glass cover for environmental protection and the number drops to about 24%. Drop the expensive crystaline substrate for an amorphorous one (needed for car roofs) and the efficiency falls to 10% or less. The peak solar radiation is about 1kW/m2, so assuming a 2m2 roof area, 1kWh/m2 * 2m2 * 0.10 = 200Wh charging rate. To charge 75kWh, requires 75,000kWh / 200Wh = 375 h and that's at PEAK solar power, which is about 4 hrs max on a sunny day. The point might be to to trickle charge the accessories, such as the radio, GPS, lights, etc.