G"X" term term getting old?

[mc68k]

When Apple first introduced their PowerMac line, the term was PowerPC. This included the 601, 603, and 604 series processors from Motorola.

The third gen or G3 when it came out was a relatively fresh-sounding almost futuristic term. G4 w/Altivec or velocity engine countered MMX in the PC world.

The GX term has lived a long and healthy life just like its predecessor PowerPC. If Apple really does have something "special" in the works, and is doing some major architectural changes, then I think it's time for a new term.

Any speculations? G5 is starting to sound so blah.

[MacAztec]

For all I care...Apple can call it the freakin mach-poop!

As long as it is faster, with a better bus, and....thats all...

[rainman::|:|]

Originally posted by mc68k
Any speculations? G5 is starting to sound so blah.

So is P4, for that matter... I would certainly like Apple to come up with something fresh (if it was as high-tech sounding as G4) but doubt they will until Intel abandons the Pentium designations. That's really the reason they went to Gx in the first place, or at least it seems to me...

:)
pnw

[mc68k]

Pentium is a direct descendent of the x86 series of processors. The name was changed from x86 because the processor clone companies were coming up w/#'s with some small variant of 80x86. And Intel could not patent a number.

Itanium is a fresh sounding term to a new processor not marketed by MHz.

If only Apple would come up with something newer than SDRAM or up-clocked G4's, then I guess they deserve to call it something new and mysterious.

But until then, the G4 is just a G3 w/Altivec. Hopefully, even if they do call it G5 it is truly a next generation machine and not a doctored up facsimile.

Pentium might just be going for bigger sounding numbers. P4 is not king in all areas.

[alex_ant]

How about...

The PowerPC XP!!!!!

No?

Well - whatever you decide, be sure to give it a big number at the end, because big numbers make it sound futuristic and important and fast. I agree that the Gx seems old. I suppose the Motorola AssKicker 5000 will have to suffice. Wouldn't that be great? Keep in mind that the Power Mac and PowerBook are only so named because of the processors they use (PowerPC). With a chip like the AssKicker, they could be renamed to the Ass Mac, and the AssBook! I ask again - wouldn't that be great?!? Okay, I think it's past my bedtime.

Alex

[j763]

what about the whole iApp and iHardware thing... Surely that's getting old too...

[atodd]

How 'bout the PowerPC C4? Explosive power!

[iGav]

I quite like G5, as I liked G3 and G4...... however I don't think that G6 and G7 have the same ring to it........ anyway by the time Apple and co get anywhere near releasing a G6 or G7 we should be on Quantum computers and also be able to beam ourselves anywhere in the world in seconds.......:p

The G5 only sounds old hat to us Mac daddies because some people have been going on about it since Apple released the ********* G4.......

"Oh it'll be released at MWxx 00, 01, 02, 03..... I know I have top secret Apple insider intel!!"

What worries me though is that when the G5 is eventually released, people will start complaining about it, and how they need to release the G6 :rolleyes:

But I'll side with MacAztec on this...... I don't really care either, as long as it's an improvement on an already great product!!! :D

[atodd]

Actually, quantum computers don't give you the ability to teleport (using quantum foam). In "Timeline" (which I'm assuming you got that idea from) they compressed the data using the computer and teleported it using a machine that they themselves didn't know how to work.

Quantum computers will be cool. Using all 48 (how many is it?) quantum states of the atom, we give you a 32-billion processor Power Mac!

Introducing the Power Mac Q32000000000.

[DavidOS]

How about calling it the "Red Delicious" they could paint it red . . . your not laughing, don't you get it? apple, macintosh, red delicious?

[mcrain]

I vote for this new processor name...

Crainium!

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by mc68k

Any speculations? G5 is starting to sound so blah.

Blah? The only reason I can think that you're tired of it is that you're tired of waiting for the new machine. It doesn't matter what its called, Apple should just deliver it.

[Taft]

Originally posted by MacAztec
For all I care...Apple can call it the freakin mach-poop!

As long as it is faster, with a better bus, and....thats all...

Heh. You said poop. I like the mach-poop name. The new Powermacs with the MP processor. Heh.

And I too could care less about what its called. I mean, what's the G even stand for? I have never really cared much.

Matthew

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by Taft

And I too could care less about what its called. I mean, what's the G even stand for? I have never really cared much.

G stands for Generation

the G3 was their 3rd PowerPC, 601 was the 1st, 604 the second, then they started naming them G3, G4, and now G5.

Not exactly original, huh.

[iGav]

Aha I couldn't think of the word Teleport......

Luckily I do know what a Quantum computer is...... I was suggesting that by the time the G6 and G7 is out, it will be so far in the future that we will have Quantum computers and also the ability to have those little handsets and teleport oursleves any where in the world..... as it takes Apple that long to update their processor generations......

I was being ironic........:p

I still like the G factor........ there is nothing wrong with it, and it certainly sounds better than Athlon, Pentium, Hammer, Celeron etc etc.......

They sound cheesy!! :p

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by iGAV

I still like the G factor........ there is nothing wrong with it, and it certainly sounds better than Athlon, Pentium, Hammer, Celeron etc etc.......


What really gets me is Pentium. That was Intels 5th generation chip, then came the Pentium II, which should have been named Hexium - if they kept with the format. P3 - Septium, P4 - Octium (which was used as a name of a super fast CPU chip in an X-Files)

Its all so stupid anyway.

[mc68k]

Originally posted by iGAV

I still like the G factor........ there is nothing wrong with it, and it certainly sounds better than Athlon, Pentium, Hammer, Celeron etc etc.......

They sound cheesy!! :p

Codenames are cool and nerdy! The GX is so predictable and old. They need to come up with something else. Those Apple marketers are pretty sharp sometimes— I'm sure they could come up with something better.

Originally posted by dukestreet

Not exactly original, huh.

I agree. Apple is all about originality. The linear number designations have gone on long enough and so has the iWhatever (even though that's cool because people liked it enough to copy the term).

[Geert]

Originally posted by MacAztec
For all I care...Apple can call it the freakin mach-poop!

As long as it is faster, with a better bus, and....thats all...

:D :D
Nice responce!

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by dukestreet


G stands for Generation

the G3 was their 3rd PowerPC, 601 was the 1st, 604 the second, then they started naming them G3, G4, and now G5.

Not exactly original, huh.

You forgot the 603's... :D

I vote that they put an X into the name... powered by the X1 processor... or a Gx (make the X superscripted over the G).

Personally, the best chip name that I have come across so far, and was actually in the market named such, is Thunderbird. That name has been used in car's, Indian myth (American Indian) as well as a bottle of rot-gut :D.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Personally, the best chip name that I have come across so far, and was actually in the market named such, is Thunderbird. That name has been used in car's, Indian myth (American Indian) as well as a bottle of rot-gut :D.

Yes, Introducing the new Plutonium PowerBook from Apple, powered by the super fast Thunderbird chip. It doesn't need a battery, its so hot it glows....

Sounds like a bad SNL commercial.:D

[ebound]

Originally posted by dukestreet


G stands for Generation

the G3 was their 3rd PowerPC, 601 was the 1st, 604 the second, then they started naming them G3, G4, and now G5.

Not exactly original, huh.

I know a friend who used to have a second generation PowerPC, and, on the inside of the case, the phrase "G2" was clearly marked in many areas.

Wonder why they just didn't call it the G2?

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by dukestreet


Yes, Introducing the new Plutonium PowerBook from Apple, powered by the super fast Thunderbird chip. It doesn't need a battery, its so hot it glows....

Sounds like a bad SNL commercial.:D

Actually, the thunderbird is an AMD chip... sheeesh. :p

How about powered by plutonium nyborg??? :D

Oh, my favorite SNL commercial is for 'colon blow' the breakfast with more dietary fiber then raw wood. :D

[eyelikeart]

I think the G"X" thing could get a bit old...after a while I think it would be good to call them something different...

but what?! :eek:

[eyelikeart]

the more I think about it...

the "G" factor technically points out which processor runs it...not the actual machine itself...

people have made it a household name to call it a "G3" or a "G4"...but the machines themselves (now anyway) do have names...
Titanium PowerBook... (even though "G4" does follow the name)
Quicksilver PowerMac... (and yet..."G4" follows this one too)
the New Imac... (haven't paid attention to be honest)
iBook...

well anyway...point is...it shouldn't depend upon which processor is in it as to what we call them...but unfortunately Macs have been branded I suppose...

[PCUser]

How 'bout the "PowerMac Epsilon" to signify that it has a fifth-generation chip inside?

[eric_n_dfw]

I know this has been posted before, but, for clarity, here's Motorola's PowerPC roadmap and the "G" assosiated with each chip: http://e-www.motorola.com/collateral/PPCRMAP.pdf

In brief:
G1 = PPC 601
G2 = PPC 603/603e & 604/604e
G3 = PPC 750
G4 = PPC 75xx
vvv-- future --vvv
G5 = PPC 85xx
G6 = PPC 86xx

To see what Mac's ran on each, go to http://www.everymac.com/systems/by_processor/index.html

[cleo]

Originally posted by AlphaTech



I vote that they put an X into the name... powered by the X1 processor... or a Gx (make the X superscripted over the G).



Can you imagine the poor Apple Store employees trying to explain that one to hapless PC converts?

"Well, see, when 'X' comes after 'OS' you say 'ten.' When it comes after 'G' you say 'ex.' And if there's three in a row you say 'porn.'"

:D

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by cleo


Can you imagine the poor Apple Store employees trying to explain that one to hapless PC converts?

"Well, see, when 'X' comes after 'OS' you say 'ten.' When it comes after 'G' you say 'ex.' And if there's three in a row you say 'porn.'"

:D

Actually, I was thinking that the X could also stand for eXtreme or eXcellent :D or eXperimental, just like the military does all those years ago with the prototype jets... X22 just to name one. Later, when they are in production, they receive a F designation (if a fighter at least).

Just a few thoughts... take them with your drink of choice. :D

[mc68k]

Funny how we end up calling them by their codename anyway. I guess they could go on with the GX term indefinitely. I wasn't as "into" the mac scene when they introduced the G4. If I recall correctly, they started out as almost the same thing as the G3/350 then gained some muscle later. Wonder if history will repeat itself?

They can't improve too much on the case design so this will probably keep any wildy different nomenclature to a minimum. The naming seems to have been after elements lately:

Quicksilver
Mercury
Titanium
G4^3 -> Trinity (Strange!)

What's the next element/diety for it to be named after?

[PCUser]

A wild guess about those names...

Quicksilver is actually another name for Mercury (Edit: I'm talking about element names... "Quicksilver" is another name for the element "Mercuy"...). Titanium and Mercury are both silvery in color. Trinity (also called 'triunity') means any group of three related members. (Not the theological definition.)

Therefore, Quicksilver, Mercury, and Titanium all refer to elements that are silvery in color, so the next name was Trinity, to signify this fact.

:) Logical progression has unveiled to me the deeper meanings of Apple's naming scheme. Or, more likely, I need sleep.


(BTW, what the heck is "G4^3"? I hadn't heard of any mac being dubbed 'trinity'...)

[kevine]

Originally posted by cleo


Can you imagine the poor Apple Store employees trying to explain that one to hapless PC converts?

"Well, see, when 'X' comes after 'OS' you say 'ten.' When it comes after 'G' you say 'ex.' And if there's three in a row you say 'porn.'"

:D

That reminded me of how if Apple maintained their naming conventions, the SE/30 would've been named SEX.

Apple could probably come up with a better sounding name, but I wonder if that in of itself is old...the new 2000-X1-Pro

Personally, I think Apple should've named the Quicksilvers with the newer revision of the G4s as G5s, and the upcoming G5 should've been called a G6. This was in marketing-speak, Apple would've leapfrogged Intel still struggling with it's puny little "4".

[tortus]

I am all for the new High End Macs to be called "Tits."

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by tortus
I am all for the new High End Macs to be called "Tits."

Hmmmm... interesting code name for a Mac... and what would you call the low end systems???

[mc68k]

Originally posted by PCUser
A wild guess about those names...

Quicksilver is actually another name for Mercury. Titanium and Mercury are both silvery in color. Trinity (also called 'triunity') means any group of three related members. (Not the theological definition.)

(BTW, what the heck is "G4^3"? I hadn't heard of any mac being dubbed 'trinity'...)

G4^3 -> G4 Cube (shorthand - carat to symbolize superscript 3)

Titanium I guess is not an actual codename for the powerbook g4. I heard it was code-named Mercury becuase the Mercury capsule that they found and salvaged was made from Titanium— for anyone who cares.

[astronun]

QuickSilver refers to the case design. The Powerbook does not go by "titainum powerbook" it's call the PowerBook G4 and the PowerBook G4 (gigabit Ethernet)

Before you had the quicksilvers you had the digital audios and the gigbit eithernet. PowerBooks were the powerBook G3 firewire and the bronze before that they were the G3 series

[Rower_CPU]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Oh, my favorite SNL commercial is for 'colon blow' the breakfast with more dietary fiber then raw wood. :D

Don't forget "Quarry"!

I think a rock based name would be appropriate...how about the new Motorola PowerPC Granite...slow as hell but very stable;)

[alex_ant]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Hmmmm... interesting code name for a Mac... and what would you call the low end systems???
Hmm.... if you mean "low-end" literally, I can come up with a few names. :)

Alex