Does Intel Rumor Impact planned iMac G5 Purchase

[BlairMALL]

I am planning on buying an iMac G5 20" to replace my G4 450DP. I have been waiting for quite some time to make this purchase. Just when I get the go ahead, the Intel rumor explodes on the forum. I know that there is nothing out there definitive, but I am just curious about how this kind of potential shift would/could/should affect me the immediate consumer.

I submitted a similar post in the rumor section itself, but didn't get any response (I realized that this post is having trouble finding a real home right now.)

I am going to wait to buy until after Monday's revelation, but I really would like some opinions on this.

Peace,

[Mord]

if true which is very unlikely apple would not abandon people who buy a new mac now.

[Willy S]

If this will result in lower prices in the near future, I would be reluctant to buy a highend Mac now.

However, regardless of this, I´m reluctant to buy a highend Mac now because I find them to be over priced. IMO, lowend Macs offer much better value for the money.

[sk8erboy]

If this will result in lower prices in the near future, I would be reluctant to buy a highend Mac now.

However, regardless of this, I´m reluctant to buy a highend Mac now because I find them to be over priced. IMO, lowend Macs offer much better value for the money.




very very true.

[Sun Baked]

Of course, the rumor is for something that is "supposed" to be happening in a year or two. ;)

Then there is the rumor that US currency is hazzardous to your health (use plastic instead), so if you send me your cash I'll gladly dispose of it properly according to any applicable law.

In other words, take rumors with a grain of salt, and wonder why rumor sites have not been buzzing with the news. Especially when news of what Apple is doing in a few months is quite scarce.

[matthew24]

I sold my PM G4/800 SP a week ago ( 600 Euro ). Planning to buy a G5 DP 2.0. I even phoned a shop and asked for some info concerning BTO options, then I made the remark to wait for WWDC announcements, not expecting something special. I don't like the Intel rumors a single bit, but I have to wait for coming monday.

Probably I will buy the G5 anyway, and enjoy the PPC processor as long as possible. I am very satisfied with the hardware and software developements over the past 3 years, the games consoles moved over to the PPC as well. 970MP will come, I hope that Apple keeps her head clear, I feel there is no reason to go over to an architecture with less potential.

[dmw007]

Go ahead and buy your iMac G5. They were just updated and therefore they will not be revised at WWDC.

The intel rumor is not gonna happen (x86 cpus in Apples). Apple may contract Intel to manufacture the PowerPc Processor but they will not put a Pentium in a Mac. So your decision to buy a iMac G5 now is a sound one.


Enjoy your new Mac. :)

[ITASOR]

You should buy it now just to try to avoid having an intel processor. :eek:

[sw1tcher]

The intel rumor is not gonna happen (x86 cpus in Apples). Apple may contract Intel to manufacture the PowerPc Processor but they will not put a Pentium in a Mac.
And you know this for a fact? I woudn't be suprised if Apple has been developing OS X for the x86 on the side as a back up plan in case Motorola and/or IBM can't deliver.

[shadowmoses]

The intel rumor even if it does go through will have no effect for at least a year therefore buying a iMac G5 now will in no way be affected by the intel rumor, so go ahead and buy and enjoI the curent iMac G5...

Shadow :eek:

[apple_g5]

The intel rumor even if it does go through will have no effect for at least a year therefore buying a iMac G5 now will in no way be affected by the intel rumor, so go ahead and buy and enjoI the curent iMac G5...

Shadow :eek:


I have to agree 100%!!!

Even if they were to make this INTEL deal, it would take them at least a year to yank out a semi-working computer (not speaking of recompiling all the apps). Get the iMac now!!! Wonderful computer -> my father has 6 in his office -> they work fast & reliable! :cool: :)

[andiwm2003]

lets assume the rumor is true.
then for mid 2006 the mac mini with intel chip is announced. that means end 2006 it's there. end of 2007 some half baked power macs based on intel ship.

that means no intel imac before spring 2007. that's an eternity in the computer world. you would'nt know whats going to happen to the imac line till then anyway. add to that that in spring 2007 90% of all mac ownwers have PPC macs. then i think its clear that there won't be any "only x86 software" on the market before 2008. robust x86 software will be there earliest end of 2008.

enjoy your imac!

i'm going to buy as soon as a 23" imac is there.

my 2 cents.

[denm316]

I just bought my iMac on Saturday and I love it.

[cube]

If Apple switches to x86 or Intel, don't buy again from them ever again.

[mvc]

If Apple switches to x86 or Intel, don't buy again from them ever again. And what are you going to buy instead, an abacus? :cool:

[Brandon Sharitt]

If Apple switches to x86 or Intel, don't buy again from them ever again.

Then your other option is still an x86 box, but with an inferior operating system(read: Windows). I don't like the idea of x86 Macs, but not because of some point less hatred of Intel, but be cause a platform shift will be a major pain in the ass. This will be nothing like the 68k to PowerPC shift.

[Brandon Sharitt]

Assuming the rumors are true, for the short term, PowerPC Macs would have the advantage, but for the long term, x86 Macs would be the best bet.

At first the x86 Macs will likely use some sort of emulation, and most software will continue to be compiled for the PPC, and just be emulated on x86. Given OS X's NeXT roots, the next major revisions of applications after the shift will use fat binaries(PPC and x86 binaries in one app package) would likely be used to obtain dual compatiblilty, but don't expect a lot of recompiles of current software. Eventually, PPC will be dropped, unless, Apple uses fat binaries to to continue a multiplatform strategy(I would consider this actually rather likely).

[Sun Baked]

Then your other option is still an x86 box, but with an inferior operating system(read: Windows). I don't like the idea of x86 Macs, but not because of some point less hatred of Intel, but be cause a platform shift will be a major pain in the ass. This will be nothing like the 68k to PowerPC shift.Yes, are the newer 64-bit Pentiums bi endian?

Because the switch from one endian to another would cause some problems.

Heck, the switch to the PPC970 caused some endian issues in programs, due to the fact that it was our first PPC chip that wasn't biendian (or include those instructions) any more.

For a long time we couldn't even expect a Mac version of some PC video card unless they were biendian, which most are these days. But it was a big issue for a long time. These days having a big enough ROM to flash the cards firmware to the Mac is the issue.

[cube]

And what are you going to buy instead, an abacus? :cool:

A Solaris/SPARC workstation.

[cube]

Then your other option is still an x86 box, but with an inferior operating system(read: Windows).

Fallacy. See above.

[skubish]

A Solaris/SPARC workstation.

I was planning to continue to use my
Atari 800
Commodore Amiga
Who needs more that 256kb RAM anway :rolleyes:

[mandis]

I reckon you'd better wait till Monday.

In my opinion all this x86 rumors are complete bollocks. No reason why it should happen. In fact it would be easier and perhaps even more financialy viable for apple engineers to design their own chip and have it manufactured somewhere in China than to switch to x86.

The new Imac G5 is an amazing computer from every aspect. (except games perhaps). I'm planning to buy the 20" model myself by the end of the summer.

[Brandon Sharitt]

Fallacy. See above.

You are aware that Sun has already begun an x86 transitions. Sure SPARC isn't compleatly dead, but they are being relegated to servers. Don't expect many updates to SPARC work stations.

[cube]

You are aware that Sun has already begun an x86 transitions. Sure SPARC isn't compleatly dead, but they are being relegated to servers. Don't expect many updates to SPARC work stations.

This is complete BS.

[Brandon Sharitt]

This is complete BS.

Sun has publically stated that SPARC is still around for high end servers and for leagacy support, but Opteron is the future for Sun workstations.

[cube]

Sun has publically stated that SPARC is still around for high end servers and for leagacy support, but Opteron is the future for Sun workstations.

Show the reference. I use Sun equipment every day and it's the first time I hear of such a thing. Compatibility from the desktop to high-end server is essential for Sun.

[Brandon Sharitt]

Show the reference. I use Sun equipment every day and it's the first time I hear of such a thing. Compatibility from the desktop to high-end server is essential for Sun.

You really haven't heard about Sun transitioning to Opteron(they call it X64)?

They still have SPARC stations(just like Apple will probably have PowerPC PowerMacs for years to come), but aside from high end specialized stuff, X64 is where they're going. Of their current offerings, the X64 workstations are the only ones that offer Solaris 10. Tthe SPARC road map is being scaled back. Rather than revolutionary changes, it's filled with evolutionary updates to keep current customers happy, but Sun is treating it more like HP and Compaq started treating the Alpha and the PA-RISC a few years a go.

[cube]

You really haven't heard about Sun transitioning to Opteron(they call it X64)?

They still have SPARC stations(just like Apple will probably have PowerPC PowerMacs for years to come), but aside from high end specialized stuff, X64 is where they're going. Of their current offerings, the X64 workstations are the only ones that offer Solaris 10. Tthe SPARC road map is being scaled back. Rather than revolutionary changes, it's filled with evolutionary updates to keep current customers happy, but Sun is treating it more like HP and Compaq started treating the Alpha and the PA-RISC a few years a go.

Sun is not a dumb company like HP. They are transitioning nothing, just diversifying their offering.

[Beck446]

I would wait until after the announcement. If the rumor is true, I would guess that overall purchases of Macs will drop precipitously. I'm not sure what would then happen. I assume that Apple would discount everything and work to get x86 processors into the machines by the end of this year or early next year. If that is the case, not many people would be buying expensive PPC systems. In other words, I think that this announcement alone will knock off like 20% of the "value" (resale value) of all of the Macs we're typing on right now.

This might be why Wallstreet loves this news and MacRumors members don't.

[Maxiseller]

I would wait too;

In fact Ive decided to purchase a Windows PC and sell my eMac but to keep my iBook as my sole Mac machine because of all these problems (if true). I just cant be having a system that is virtually obsolete, and that is what I believe you'll be buying if you purchase after this "transition" is announced.

You can still update a 200Mhz iMac no? That won't be the case in 3-4 years if you buy yours now. It'l be entirely obsolete I'm affraid.

Then, when Jobs jumps on stage and tells us that "the transition to Intel is finally over - we've managed ten transitions while Microsoft has managed only one" then is the time to buy one!!

Ill be holding tight to my iBook until that day arrives.

[Macky-Mac]

if you need it now, buy it now

it's not like whatever you purchase now is suddenly going to stop working the day that a new "whatever" is introduced by Apple