Apple's Last PowerPC Temptation

[MacBytes]

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Category: Reviews
Link: Apple's Last PowerPC Temptation (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20051021013423)

Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)
Approved by Mudbug

[nagromme]

"It is also interesting that none of Apple's performance comparisons are against x86 processors anymore"

Yep, looks like Apple's lying low about Intel--good OR bad--until the transition's in full swing. There's no doubt there are real-world tasks that a quad G5 can do much faster than any PC. But opening the Intel-transition discussion isn't what Apple wants on their brochure pages :)

[BenRoethig]

"It is also interesting that none of Apple's performance comparisons are against x86 processors anymore"

Yep, looks like Apple's lying low about Intel--good OR bad--until the transition's in full swing. There's no doubt there are real-world tasks that a quad G5 can do much faster than any PC. But opening the Intel-transition discussion isn't what Apple wants on their brochure pages :)

The problem with the G5 was never its design. A lot of the reasons that the G4 and G5 never lived up to their potential can be traced back to Cupertino. Why should IBM or Freescale spend the same development money on a product as AMD or Intel when you're going to get a fraction of the profit? x86 processors may be inferior products but Intel sells enough CPUs elsewhere to be able to put with Apple and since over nine out of ten computers have them, companies are willing the extra money to program for them.

[CrackedButter]

Why does the statement say that this is a last "PPC temptation". Who says the G5 Powermac won't stay G5 for another 2 years? The design of the powermac isn't hindered like the iMac or the xServe or even the powerbooks. Hence the reasoning behind the fact that the new intel processors will go into the laptops first.

I think the G5 will stay G5 for a long time yet, it has to if the top end is that good looking and advanced. I'd buy one next year even if there are Macintels around.

I mean, does Intel do a dual core dual processor at all? Now even for similar price?

[plinden]

I mean, does Intel do a dual core dual processor at all? Now even for similar price?
Intel doesn't themselves do dual core dual processor anything, but they do have dual core P4s and dual core Xeons. AMD have dual core Opterons. You can configure a dual processor dual core Xeon Dell Precision workstarion (more expensive than the quad G5 PowerMac), and you can get Sun unix workstations with dual dual core Opterons (http://store.sun.com/CMTemplate/CEServlet?process=SunStore&cmdViewProduct_CP&catid=116319)

Edit: Ack, sorry, those Opterons are single core, for some reason I thought the Opteron 252 was dual core. $7,495 is pretty expensive for dual processor workstations.

[nagromme]

The problem with the G5 was never its design. A lot of the reasons that the G4 and G5 never lived up to their potential can be traced back to Cupertino.
Do you mean that Apple should have agreed to PAY more for PPC chips?

With enough money thrown at IBM, much more could have been done by now, that's true. But you and I would be the ones paying for that with far higher Mac prices.

[shamino]

Who says the G5 Powermac won't stay G5 for another 2 years?
Steve says. At the WWDC conference where he announced the Intel switch, he said Apple plans to have their entire Mac product line transitioned over to Intel chips by the end of 2007.

Of course, he may change his mind if there's enough customer demand, or if IBM releases something insanely great, or if Intel doesn't live up to their promises. Whatever you may think about Steve, he's not stupid.
I mean, does Intel do a dual core dual processor at all? Now even for similar price?
They have one or two high-end chips now. They have many more on the roadmap. They'll almost certainly be commonplace by the time Apple is ready to transition the PowerMac line. (Which I predict will be one of the last to go.)

[iGary]

"It is also interesting that none of Apple's performance comparisons are against x86 processors anymore"

Yep, looks like Apple's lying low about Intel--good OR bad--until the transition's in full swing. There's no doubt there are real-world tasks that a quad G5 can do much faster than any PC. But opening the Intel-transition discussion isn't what Apple wants on their brochure pages :)

Yeah, instead they trash my Dual 2.7. :rolleyes: :D

[SiliconAddict]

All right...I'm going to Hell....

Apple's Last PowerPC Temptation


The first thing that came to mind is DaVinci's Last Supper with Jobs sitting in the center with a G4 PowerBook....

[EGT]

All right...I'm going to Hell....

Apple's Last PowerPC Temptation


The first thing that came to mind is DaVinci's Last Supper with Jobs sitting in the center with a G4 PowerBook....

Oh yeah. We need a photoshop of that :D

[shamino]

The first thing that came to mind is DaVinci's Last Supper with Jobs sitting in the center with a G4 PowerBook....
And with the halo over his head replaced with a 30" display (rendering the iTunes visualizer - which often looks halo-like.) :eek:

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Who says the G5 Powermac won't stay G5 for another 2 years?Steve says. At the WWDC conference where he announced the Intel switch, he said Apple plans to have their entire Mac product line transitioned over to Intel chips by the end of 2007.And how long is it until the end of 2007...? ;)

[Nermal]

And how long is it until the end of 2007...? ;)

Thanks, now I don't have to say it :p

[sjk]

Hence the reasoning behind the fact that the new intel processors will go into the laptops first.Until it happens it's only speculation, not fact.

Let's try to be accurate here, especially if we're going to complain about jounalistic inaccuracies.

[BenRoethig]

Do you mean that Apple should have agreed to PAY more for PPC chips?

With enough money thrown at IBM, much more could have been done by now, that's true. But you and I would be the ones paying for that with far higher Mac prices.

No, but they could have done much more to further the PowerPC platform.

[CrackedButter]

Steve says. At the WWDC conference where he announced the Intel switch, he said Apple plans to have their entire Mac product line transitioned over to Intel chips by the end of 2007.

Of course, he may change his mind if there's enough customer demand, or if IBM releases something insanely great, or if Intel doesn't live up to their promises. Whatever you may think about Steve, he's not stupid.
They have one or two high-end chips now. They have many more on the roadmap. They'll almost certainly be commonplace by the time Apple is ready to transition the PowerMac line. (Which I predict will be one of the last to go.)

My point is, that I am sure there will be another update to the G5 Powermac with a G5 processor. So this cannot be a last temptation thats all.