Apple made PPC apps work on Intel Macs but why can't they reverse it?

[togermano]

Its possible so why don't they do it so intel apps can load on the gs?

[adrianblaine]

They do don't they? I thought most programs were being made "Universal" so that both could use them. Any specific apps you are referring too?

http://www.apple.com/universal/

[Scarlet Fever]

Because PPC is old technology now. They have no need to make new apps backwards compatible. Stuff runs faster on the Intel chips than it did on the PPC chips, sometimes even through Rosetta. Mac OS X will support PPC for a while, but it won't stick around for long.

[Steve Jobs=God]

tbh thats like asking why the Xbox 360 games don't work on the original Xbox

[adrianblaine]

Because PPC is old technology now. They have no need to make new apps backwards compatible. Stuff runs faster on the Intel chips than it did on the PPC chips, sometimes even through Rosetta. Mac OS X will support PPC for a while, but it won't stick around for long.

There are still quite a few people out there with quad G5's. I'm sure they will be around for more than just a short while.

[bousozoku]

They do don't they? I thought most programs were being made "Universal" so that both could use them. Any specific apps you are referring too?

http://www.apple.com/universal/

Some companies decided to only create Intel-based applications, unfortunately. Others, like Adobe, have a lot of Universal applications with a few being Intel-based only.

Still, it's been over a year since Apple's transition. Why would those various companies want to make money on the largest part (PowerPC) of the installed base?

[Imidazole]

tbh thats like asking why the Xbox 360 games don't work on the original Xbox

Best answer yet.

[paddy]

^^ Not really. They're both worlds apart in terms of techonology as the original Xbox is incapable of running 360 games whereas some PPC (the latest) should be able to run intel software comfortably...

[The Stig]

Don't blame Apple, they make all their stuff their stuff Universal (assuming it could be used with PPC). Blame the third party companies who aren't making Universal apps!

The Stig

[shakastange]

Well Intel is the future for now so it would make sense to expend little effort on the old stuff. Who knows, Apple may decide to support PPC in the future, again. After all, they were developing and Intel version of OSX all along. A mve back to PPC is not unfathomable. Nobody knows what the future holds with the exception of Steve Jobs.

[gnasher729]

Its possible so why don't they do it so intel apps can load on the gs?

They could. The question is: How many new Macs would Apple sell more because of that? I think the answer is about zero.

[jimsoff]

Well Intel is the future for now so it would make sense to expend little effort on the old stuff. Who knows, Apple may decide to support PPC in the future, again. After all, they were developing and Intel version of OSX all along. A mve back to PPC is not unfathomable. Nobody knows what the future holds with the exception of Steve Jobs.

I really, really doubt that. I see no reason for apple to go back to PPC processors.

As for why stuff isn't universal, I have no idea. It's probably quicker, and cheaper to program for just intel.

[szark]

If there was enough demand for it, I'm sure somebody could get a hacked copy of OS X (Intel) running under an old version of Virtual PC... :p

[spencecb]

I really, really doubt that. I see no reason for apple to go back to PPC processors.

As for why stuff isn't universal, I have no idea. It's probably quicker, and cheaper to program for just intel.

This is certainly not true. When Steve first annonced the switch to Intel, he made mention of how easy it is to code for both PPC and Intel (Universal apps). All need be done is check a box, and the PPC code is generated as the Intel code is being written.

[dontwalkhand]

This is certainly not true. When Steve first annonced the switch to Intel, he made mention of how easy it is to code for both PPC and Intel (Universal apps). All need be done is check a box, and the PPC code is generated as the Intel code is being written.

Its the stupidity of the developers is what it is.

[Nall]

Some companies decided to only create Intel-based applications, unfortunately. Others, like Adobe, have a lot of Universal applications with a few being Intel-based only.
Plus some of the popular Intel-only apps, like VMWare or Parallels, wouldn't even run on reverse-Rosetta.

[GPSJane]

First of all, Apple should have included an emulator like Rosetta for those people with PowerPCs. It is possible to own a PowerPC that is only a few years old and not supporting a product that you have just sold is just plain wrong.

BUT, the application developers and third party distributors should really make their software Universal. As already mentioned here - it's is incredibly easy to compile for both. Apple has made Universal available so why don't people use it?!

I am sick and tired of downloading applications that won't run on my computer just because I have a PowerPc!

[Thermonuclear]

Actually, many new applications from Apple do not run on PowerPC Macintoshes. For example, any product that is OS/X 10.6 only is Intel only. Sadly, this includes the latest Xcode SDK.

You can be sure that Apple wants to kill off the PPC as soon as possible and you can expect the original 32 bit only Intel Core CPUs to also get the boot. As I understand California state law, products like computers made by California corporations (like Apple) must be supported for seven years. Well, the last PPC Mac came out in 2005, so there's not too much time left on the clock. It's like the 680x0 to PPC transition and will be done at the same speed - as fast as possible.

Apple will save lots of cash by focusing on a single desktop/notebook architecture (64 bit Intel/AMD) and a single handheld CPU (Apple's A4).

[leman]

Its possible so why don't they do it so intel apps can load on the gs?

Because it would be slow as hell. That is what universal binaries are for.

[GyroFX]

OP posted in 2007...it's 2010. time to move on

[The Russian]

I already owned 3 different intel Macs.

MacBook intel coreDuo 2 Ghz 2Gb ram
Mac Mini intel core2Duo 1,83 Ghz 1Gb ram
Mac Mini intel core2Duo 2,26 Ghz 4Gb ram

Recently I got myself a Power Mac G5 Dual 2GHz 2Gb ( late 2005 model )

I have to say that it's weird that a 6 year old machine kicks ass of all above intel models. ( And I am planning to upgrade the ram and the video card for even more power ).

So I hope that developers will realize that still a lot of people getting a G5 machine and just put a little more effort to make universal programs.

[Aldaris]

Your argument is flawed by comparing Apple's Workstation class machine to it's low end offerings.

Yes your G5 will run lots better than those machines mainly based on how they are built. Seriously though, the PPC is dead, if you can still use it great, but the only updates coming from Apple will be security and itunes updates.

[rkaufmann87]

Its possible so why don't they do it so intel apps can load on the gs?


Great idea, why not make 3D games that run on DOS. :D

[MacHamster68]

just for one reason you have to buy new Mac's every year to run the latest apps efficient , only if you are ignorant enough like me you will keep old hardware longer and use apps that have been already abandoned

welcome in Mac world

[DD4]

Its possible so why don't they do it so intel apps can load on the gs?

It would extend the transition time to intel, selling less new macs.

[eMac1.25]

I already owned 3 different intel Macs.

MacBook intel coreDuo 2 Ghz 2Gb ram
Mac Mini intel core2Duo 1,83 Ghz 1Gb ram
Mac Mini intel core2Duo 2,26 Ghz 4Gb ram

Recently I got myself a Power Mac G5 Dual 2GHz 2Gb ( late 2005 model )

I have to say that it's weird that a 6 year old machine kicks ass of all above intel models. ( And I am planning to upgrade the ram and the video card for even more power ).

So I hope that developers will realize that still a lot of people getting a G5 machine and just put a little more effort to make universal programs.

I agree completely. I can't stand intel processors on Windows, let alone on a Mac. Anything but intel is a good system. I have owned a new iMac 27", and i sold it online. My old Windows PC was an intel based x86 system, and again i sold it. My Windows laptop i currently own, mostly for travel, is an AMD system with Windows 7. But, my favorite computer is my eMac 1.25Ghz model. Its 10x better than any intel Mac. I run games on my eMac, and it is the one computer i've dumped money into for hardware upgrades.

@Aldaris (following The Russian's post): Saying PowerPC is dead is like saying the Holocaust never happened.

[The Russian]

I agree completely. I can't stand intel processors on Windows, let alone on a Mac. Anything but intel is a good system. I have owned a new iMac 27", and i sold it online. My old Windows PC was an intel based x86 system, and again i sold it. My Windows laptop i currently own, mostly for travel, is an AMD system with Windows 7. But, my favorite computer is my eMac 1.25Ghz model. Its 10x better than any intel Mac. I run games on my eMac, and it is the one computer i've dumped money into for hardware upgrades.

@Aldaris (following The Russian's post): Saying PowerPC is dead is like saying the Holocaust never happened.

I have started collecting the maxed-out models of the PPC Macs the were released and Steve's return.

iMac G3 700 Mhz
iMac G4 1.25 Ghz
iMac G5 2.1 Ghz

Powermac G4 Cube ( with update videocard and processor ).
Powermac G4 Dual 1.42 Ghz
Powermac G5 Quad 2.5 Ghz

[applegigs]

Well the other day my MBP died on me ... I had to send it for repair they said it would take up to 3 weeks. So I turned back to my trusty Powerbook G4 1.67 ghz 2gb ram. Almost everything moved to Intel, the only browser up to date is Safari. I'm kinda disappointed from the new machines this is the second intel mac I had to send in for repair. It was a bit funny showing up in work with a PPC from 7 yeas ago everybody thought I was joking but I've done the same job as I would with the MBP.

[lukaszh]

OK, so the best answer is "buy new mac"? Let's see - I have a G5-based Power Mac (2 GHz, DP), which I bought some year ago for ca. 300$. It still runs great. Some people will say that even the first Intel-based Macs had a faster processor. The won't say that all those old Intel machines which I could buy for less than 500-750$ have also a poor integrated Intel graphics, much slower than graphic cards that are still available for G5 PM. And it is obvious that WE CAN compare older workstations with newer low end machines, as the prices of used machines of both types are similar. PPC is not dead. Apple simply doesn't want to support it anymore.

[NutsNGum]

PPC is not dead, but this thread really ought to be.

[XweAponX]

Don't blame Apple, they make all their stuff their stuff Universal (assuming it could be used with PPC). Blame the third party companies who aren't making Universal apps!

The Stig

...no Thats the best answer yet... I have a nice little G4 powerbook, runs great, but i cant even run the new ccleaner app for mac. and i have precious few PPC apps I can use, I havr office 2004, thats about it.

Not to mention, what processor is in a iPhone? whatever it is its faster than hell for only 1 core and 800 MHz. I was assuming, the way I was able to see it work when I had it jailbroken, it was a motorola processor.