The assumption on this board is that if there ever was an OS-X port to Intel/AMD hardware, the clones would kill Apple. But what if Apple simply locked them out?
They do that now with pre-G3 Apple Computers on OS-X, even if equipped with upgrade processors. How hard would it be for Apple to create an install program that would only allow OS-X to be installed on a Apple branded AMD machines? Sure, Sonnet provides a workaround for installing the software anyway, but I'm sure Apple could come up with a way to truly lock the door to clones running OS-X.
And that way, Apple could continue to maintain quality control over the peripherals (not to mention their sales margins), but would gain the speed and price-performance advantages of the AMD Hammer processors.
At the very least, it would make sense for Apple to port an AMD version just in case Motorola continues to be a pain in the ass who can't deliver any processor speed bump in sufficient quantities.
They do that now with pre-G3 Apple Computers on OS-X, even if equipped with upgrade processors. How hard would it be for Apple to create an install program that would only allow OS-X to be installed on a Apple branded AMD machines? Sure, Sonnet provides a workaround for installing the software anyway, but I'm sure Apple could come up with a way to truly lock the door to clones running OS-X.
And that way, Apple could continue to maintain quality control over the peripherals (not to mention their sales margins), but would gain the speed and price-performance advantages of the AMD Hammer processors.
At the very least, it would make sense for Apple to port an AMD version just in case Motorola continues to be a pain in the ass who can't deliver any processor speed bump in sufficient quantities.