There appears to be little compelling need to switch chipmakers for the desktop models, since Apple theoretically could use the energy chomper IBM chips in its desktop machines.

However, I wonder if the investment in modifying the OS would be returned by using Intel chips for the PowerBook market, where upgrades have been woefully slow in coming.

You're getting an Intel chip in your Mac and Steve Jobs is going to make you like it. Watch the boards after Jobs Intel announcement, iLemmings will praise the decision as long as an Apple logo is affixed to the box.

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RealityCheck wrote:
…as long as an Apple logo is affixed to the box.

You are correct. We must bow down to Apple they are the rulers of all the land. Don't fight, don't resist. Intel and Microsoft won't lead the resistance against the mighty power of Apple. They are too small and insignificant and soon will be crushed by the wheels of the Mac machine!!!!!!!

What's missing from that $3000 powermac you just bought? (good) Windows compatability! How do you solve it? With a cheap x86 co-processor. Then the mac can do windows in vm-ware like virtualization rather than in vpc like emulation --- much, much faster. I'm guessing Windows compatability mode would then work a lot like classic compatability mode.

Well, as rumors go, I must admit there is a consensus out there about the origin and meaning of leaking out the ongoing talks between Apple and Intel. I read the same analysis all over the various press outlets, NY times, Forbes etc..
At this point all of the points made above could become realitites! Let's wait and see if IBM delivers fast or we are going to get Centrino's laptops from Apple.

Even the local TV news are talking about this. Interesting how they have inside information and are reporting that Apple is replacing the CPU. Of course they don't have any inside info and only a few people know what is in the offing.

"Why, then, lead on. O, that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come!
But it sufficeth that the day will end,
And then the end is known. Come, ho! away!"

Brutus

Oh, and RC...you're such a tool.

Wouldn't want to see a x86 or other little endian chip, but the idea of an Intel-manufactured PowerPC is intriguing. I wouldn't believe it until I see it, but I'm interested.

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Guest wrote:
What's missing from that $3000 powermac you just bought? (good) Windows compatability! How do you solve it? With a cheap x86 co-processor. Then the mac can do windows in vm-ware like virtualization rather than in vpc like emulation --- much, much faster. I'm guessing Windows compatability mode would then work a lot like classic compatability mode.

Apple has been there and done that. Heck, my company even wrote updated drivers for it. Hardly anyone ever used it.

I asked a friend who works at Intel but he's all hush hush about it.
All he can say is "Think of multicore chips from Intel running multiple OSes simultaneously."

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Anonymous wrote:
What's missing from that $3000 powermac you just bought? (good) Windows compatability! How do you solve it? With a cheap x86 co-processor. Then the mac can do windows in vm-ware like virtualization rather than in vpc like emulation --- much, much faster. I'm guessing Windows compatability mode would then work a lot like classic compatability mode.

Why would companies bother coding a Mac version of their software is Macs had Windows built in?

The whole idea is to get away from MS, not invite them to bed.

These reports of Apple going Intel come around every year. They always have some industry source backing them up. And the general press runs with it because they don't know any better.

IBM is not in trouble. Their PowerPC chips are being used in three upcoming game consoles which sell more than APple sells Macs. Versions of the chips are used by NASA and many other companies and organizations needing embedded processors. IBM is fine and would feel no pressure if this was some kind of Apple pressure tactic.

These anal-ysts need to sit on their hands before they type their stories. Well, unless they're writing for the humor pages. These stories are a riot!

(The idea some kind of chip to assist emulation could be included is interesting, but I'll believe Apple is going full Intel when it happens -- even if Steve Jobs himself came out and said so and didn't have a running computer system in his hand.)

I think Apple is saying where is our 3 gigahertz chip? We've been waiting almost a year and IBM has not delivered. Yet suddenly there are 3 manufacturers coming out with 3 gigahertz Power PC chips in there gaming machines. So what gives IBM? How is it you can produce so many chips for 3 different gaming machines yet your always behind to produce chips for Apple.
I think there's some predudice going on here towards Apple. IBM keeps whining they don't have enough capacity yet now they've signed up 3 more vendors that will need 3 times more capacity. How can that be? Why all of a sudden IBM thinks it won't be a problem?

Well I think that the multi core multi operating system future as mentioned above may well be the answer to this little story. Intel has already anounced it plans to produce such a chip and as such it only makes sense that Apple should discuss the options such a chip would offer it. With (please note RC) various computer manufacturers begging Apple to 'lease' them a part of the Tiger action and with its potential partcularly in server and multi media options just maybe there is some depth to this idea. Intel is being steadily cut loose by MS so obviously it would like to bring others on board no matter how small the initial move looks.

However as a replacment for powerpc no but as an addition to it in some initially small but gradual moves into the intel world be it in computer/servers or some other device entirely maybe. Interestingly of course the handheld market is on the rise again and we already know that Apple has a prototype device in this sphere which could be resurected as market (and iPod) dictates so that may be the area of discussion too. Personally a media device for processing or streaming video et al would be the most likely answer with an embedded version cut down or otherwise of Tiger that can be if so wished allowed to be produced by other makers too in various flavours ie a new platform in the way that MS intends to make the XBOX if it can. There are various options if this is indeed more than a rumour but a simple replacement of the desktop PPC is the least likely I think.

Some pieces:
1. We know Darwin runs on Intel
1a. Many rumors that a good portion of OS X runs on Intel
2. We know iTunes, Quicktime, Bonjour already run on Intel (QT7 will soon do so) under Windows

Point: Doesn't seem too difficult to move those software apps to run on Intel under an Intel-based version of OS X.

Speculation: A Wifi video player (and remote) in the form of a tablet running OS X and iTunes/QT. Works with Macs/PCs and Airport Express (old version and new video-enabled version containing a video codec). Also contains 40GB hard drive, video codec, speakers/headphone jacks.

40GB? Better be more like 80GB or even 100GB.

But oh, what will it cost?

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RealityCheck wrote:
You're getting an Intel chip in your Mac and Steve Jobs is going to make you like it. Watch the boards after Jobs Intel announcement, iLemmings will praise the decision as long as an Apple logo is affixed to the box.

I have no doubt that you're wrong as always, RC.

"You're getting an Intel chip in your Mac and Steve Jobs is going to make you like it."

Why would Apple downgrade to Intel processors? The G5 processors have Intel's offerings beat.

http://www.systemshootouts.org/processors.html

Hahah, whoops. I just noticed Apple's share price, Reality Check. It's almost $40, now, isn't it?

That's a far cry from your fantasy that it was sliding down fast and headed for a crash. What do you have to say?

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Guest wrote:
Hahah, whoops. I just noticed Apple's share price, Reality Check. It's almost $40, now, isn't it?

That's a far cry from your fantasy that it was sliding down fast and headed for a crash. What do you have to say?

RC's got nothing to say.... because he's a little bitch.

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Eric24601 wrote:
I asked a friend who works at Intel but he's all hush hush about it.
All he can say is "Think of multicore chips from Intel running multiple OSes simultaneously."

Oh no not this again. Ugh. I'll head this one off at the pass. That's multiple instances of the same OS. Not a whole bunch of radically different OSes. It's an enterprise IT thing. If you don't understand the value of this, just don't worry about it. It has NOTHING to do with Windows and OS X running on the same machine at the same time.

Everybody's missing the point. It goes like this. Being able to run windows on a Mac is the secret weapon. Don't you see? It's a compatability and integration thing. Why not buy a mac? It's cheap, powerful and you can run windows or OSX on it! All my gadgets will work with it. And look at it it's tiny and it's beatiful. I have to have it!

Six weeks later...

Oh my goodness I can't believe I ever used windows in the first place. OSX is so nice to use. I'll never buy another PC!

Three years later...

Dell merge with No.1 hardware retailer Apple Computer.

Ten years later...

All the personal computers contain standard parts, and all work properly. Half the world is having a happy iLife, and nobody is headbutting a blue screen.

In this peaceful future idyll, one teenage kid is idly video chatting to another on the other side of the Atlantic, for free, on their iChat pocket devices:

Did you know that Xbox used to make word processing and spreadsheet software? They used to be so boring! Open the windows, I'm getting a little hot in here. That tiny little mac sure puts out a lot of heat...

Exactly. Microsoft have rather trodden on Jobs's toes with that one. Now he's pissed. So now Jobs is going to release machines that can run both Windoze and OSX, for the same price as ones that just run Windoze. And Apple will take all of the profits. Watch your back Bill. Steve's coming, and he's angry!