Re: G4 to become obsolete?
Originally posted by totalr0xx0r
If the ppc970 was to appear in apple products, would that make
the G4 totally obsolete? apple would need to produce a 64bit OS for the 970, but it would not perform on a G4. developers would be also working on products for a 64bit OS. it would be a shame to see that processor out of production as I would love to see a G4 in an ibook someday. imo its a great chip...
a couple of things:
First, the 970 runs 32 bit apps as well. Its much more likely that IF the 970 makes it into macs, there will be a pretty long transitional period where most apps are still 32 bit.
second, apple cannot make the entire product line one chip very easily. its hard to differentiate the product lines then. They've done it before, but I don't see it happening here. This is doubly hard with a a brand new chip architecture, since it will most likely be relateively more expensive, and updating the entire line is a difficult proposition. I can pretty much promise you'll see it in the powermacs, then the powerbook or iMac later on, an trickling through the product line like that in the future.
third, this is a long way away anyway, the 970 doesn't actually exist yet.
even if apple does go to the 970 for everything, they still have a responsibility to not abandon people who bought a machine 3 days before they were announced. In other words, there is absolutely no way they can afford not to deal with prior equipment.
and finally, even if they did, there would be so much older equipment out there that you wouldn't see a lot of development for the 64 chipset. Its like when the G4 came out. Almost nothing used the velocity engine (most stuff still doesn't)
you'll see a G4 in an iBook probably years before you see a 970 in one.