A new vision.

[mischief]

We've all been arguing for a year over whether or not Apple will resurrect Newton, release a similar device or tweak it's towers. We've also been trumpeting a bevy of technologies we'd like to see but don't look likely. We've seen (in the last 2 months) deals or rumors between Apple and IBM, and Apple and Sony. IBM owns Meta Pad technology, Sony has an in-production tablet/terminal.

Where does it all go? If we step away from all our worldly wierding and just look at the technology a very interesting product emerges. Mind you: We may not see anything approaching it for 5-10 years but, judt the same:

Core device: A 3/4" thick device containing
256Mb DDR L3 cache,2-8 G5 1Ghz, RAM and RapidIO controllers. $300.00USD

Base station: Power supply, 4 high speed DDR RAM slots, Firewire, USB, ATI/nVidia circuitry, HD,Superdrive, Airport. Add a monitor of choice. $400.00 USD

Tower: 1-4 Core slots,8 high speed RAM slots, 6-8 PCI slots (2 AGP, mutliple PCI) SuperDrive, iPod slot, 6 HD bays, Airport, Multi-port (see below), USB, Firewire.$800.00

Portable: Viewable:4"x5", 6"x8", 8x10". Single Core slot, 32Mb GeForce TiMo, power supply, 2 HD bays, Combo Drive, USB, Firewire, VGA out, AV port. $600.00 USD

Or reasonably priced combinations there-of (1800.00/whole set.)

I didn't get into installed RAM or HD sizes/Tech 'cause that's just a measure of WHEN and when wasn't my point.

Multi-Port: The fast serial controller that accompanies the newest Chip designs caught my eye. What if you put all your comm Hardware in one place (maybe put the controller circuits on PCMCIA) ? You could have a Phone jack, Ethernet, and Coaxial right on the case. Just plug in and turn on. I just like the Idea of having DSL/Cable modems on the Mobo. If you use the PCMCIA idea you could have 7 kinds, just pick the set of (say) 4 you like: DSL, Cable, 56K, Gigabit/10/100 Ethernet, Airport/3G and Fibre.

Just thought I'd share that.

;) :D :rolleyes: :eek: :p :D

[mischief]

Are there seriously NO comments on this?:eek: :confused:

[AlphaTech]

I don't see that design scheme ever being implimented.

Most people don't want to have to go out and get different modules just to have a computer. It is easier to get a tower that contains all the needed components (CPU, RAM, HD...). Some people don't even want to get an external monitor, hence the appeal of the iMac and so many laptops.

I'd say, what you put in is a pipe dream, and that's about all. You might have enjoyed the pipe dream, but I don't see many others following it.

[mischief]

Sold as kits and piece-meal.

Basic models and BTO in simple grids by feature: # and type of CPU per Core, how many cores. Base station (iMac) or Tablet (ti/iBook)? Prices were given as a cost/value example, not packaged products.

[AlphaTech]

I still don't think that it would fly any better then a lead brick.

People want easy to buy computers with the minimum of fuss and muss. MAYBE if Apple put in a few more BTO options, it would appeal to that crowd more, but making them all module leaves too much room for error.

What about if they get a bad batch of module A, and couldn't fill umteen orders for another few weeks?? People would be BS (rightfully so). Also, if something gets mislabled, say the optical drive part... Where now, they can simply check the label on the drive to make sure it is the correct one, if it is inside a module it wouldn't be that easy.

All those connections are just begging for something to go wrong. Unless they are made to EASILY LOCK into place, then user error comes into the mix, and the calls to Apple go through the roof.

How many people would really use two AGP slots?? Very few, and those are high end professionals that require huge screen real estate.

The scheme you have outlined still make things way too complicated.

The best analogy that I can come up with at the moment is a motorcycle. Most people buy one and get what comes from the factory and just use it like that (iMac). They might install a few extra parts, but that is about all. Then there are the people that get a motorcycle, change out items right off the bat, and then look towards doing more later (towers). That is the beauty of the choices.

I use that analogy because I have Harley on the brain right now. I am heading to the dealership tomorrow to talk with the salesman in person. Before I get there though, I am stopping to get new memory for my TiBook :D. There are some things that I will be changing right off the bat, and having them install. What I am having done will help the performance some, but the look of the bike more. I am looking at modifying it over the next several years.

[Durandal7]

Way too complicated. The point of many of Apple's new products was to have a simplified computer,in Apple's eyes this would be a step backwards.

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by asurace
Way too complicated. The point of many of Apple's new products was to have a simplified computer,in Apple's eyes this would be a step backwards.

Exactly!!

[voicegy]

Originally posted by mischief
Are there seriously NO comments on this?:eek: :confused:

Geesh, you only gave it an hour between your original post and wanting a response. Easy there, big fella!:p

[teabgs]

Though that would be great. Divide your vision in half and then we'll see a portion of that. I;d love it but its too complicated and: if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

[mischief]

But the design strategy is very powerful. Regardless of how it is presented to a consumer, this could be an amazing leap in technology.

As to the "bad batch" phenomenon: That already happens. No matter how simple the design, once you have more than 2 parts stuff goes wrong. I was really thinking more in the overall strategy and technology department. Keep in mind- I was thinking in the 2-10 years out arena.

The connector issue is IBM's problem, they own the module technology. BTW: how many bad PCMCIA connectors do you see? That's the style of connection we're talking about, a real solid "click" fit.

I think if you tried to sell it to consumers, you'd be quite subtle about the whole modular issue at first. You'd spend like a year or two just integrating the tech into the build process. Eventually you incorporate the modularity into the BTO options, but no I don't think you could just do a BTO module grid and expect consumers to navigate it. That'd be suicidal for Apple.

I think it's more likely we'll see a company like Alien PC doing this at first rather than Apple. Which gives me another Idea: How about a company building Linux PPC's with Cocoa/Darwin compliant HW? Build custom boxes for Geeks. All thumb screws and cards. How small CAN you do a Mobo if pretty much all your components are 3rd party cards?

Oh, the multiple AGP thing: Apple Towers are aimed at exactly those professionals and it won't be long before dual cards are neccessary again. V-RAM and video processor tech is evolving so fast that 2 slots would make the versatility of the case infinitely greater. It's not just a multiple monitor issue but genuinely a multiple card issue. For example: If you are a game head AND do serious CGI or Video capture, having an AGP for a game card and another for Capture or Rendering would be very nice indeed.

[AlphaTech]

I have seen the pcmcia connections go bad (more then a few too) in different laptops (both Mac and peecee). They can also be tricky with getting them to actually lock into place, and almost never eject far enough to make it easy to grab the card. Most of the time, you need a dongle, or pair of pliers to get the card out (without tipping the laptop, or lifting it up). I also see speed issues with pcmcia card slots. I don't think that the type 1 and type 2 cards are fast enough for what you are talking about. Maybe going with a higher transfer firewire type connection would work. Then again, that also could open up another can of worms.

How many bad firewire connections have you seen?? They are also more compact and can only fit one way (people could try and put the pcmcia module in the wrong way and break it). Firewire connections already power hard drives, and the next revision or two could probably carry enough power to do what you are talking about. There are going to be major hurdles to get over either way.

I don't see this working on the consumer level, maybe for some of the extreme pro level. Apple has a good thing going, and I would prefer to see their resources directed at getting the system bus higher, add support for DDR memory, faster hard drives interfaces (ATA133 and faster) as well as getting the G5 out.

I think a more marketable solution would be for Apple to come out with cordless monitors, keyboards, mice, and such. Think about it, using your Mac laptop with your 17-22" Apple LCD screen without having to plug it in. Initially, there could be modules that you connect to both the laptop and monitor, but later the technology could be built in. I think that idea would really catch on. Apple could do that right, unlike other peecee makers.

The modules would also allow you to use a non-Apple monitor as a wireless/cordless unit.

Mate that with an even faster Airport technology (please put it at a frequency other then the 2.4GHz that portable phones use) could pump up Apple's sales numbers, and then market share.

[OSeXy!]

I am surprised Apple doesn't do more with PCMCIAs. They are the kiss of life on older PBooks. Seems like putting at least one PCMCIA slot on the 14" iBook and iMac would have been a good idea. Without that it just makes the built-in obsolescence of the 'consumer' line all the more obvious...

[mischief]

I never said it was likely, I just thought It'd be cool in the extreme for Apple to be the company to exploit this technology.

Point taken about Consumers and breaking stuff. I've met more than a few morons who don't understand the Gently-But-Firmly principal. It's not that I want Apple to waste resources on developing this Idea, I just want someone to and Apple is the only platform I tolerate.

I would like to see SOMEONE do this and I think a PPC/G4 based system is the way to go. Wouldn't it be nice for Geeks Like Us though? Order a Dual Core, 2 1Ghz G(n), RapidIO, DDR, modular monster system? All decked out with thumb screws and clip connectors...........drool.:p I think someone will do it, and Yes it's unlikely to be Apple.....it'd just be nice to have Apple be the first with a completely PnP case. They're already so close-it wouldn't be as much of a jump as it would be in the Wintel world where HW compatability is a bit like reading chicken Guts.

[AlphaTech]

Actually, at times, reading chicken guts would be easier. When I built my current game peecee, I spent about a week or two researching products for compatibility issues. I wanted on mobo, but got sold a different one, I had to take that one back because it was either bad, or didn't work with the processor (not an intel). I have a standard brand set that I know works with themselves well, and have yet to have to deviate from that (thankfully).

Fixing peecee's can be a lot harder then reading chicken (or other animal) entrails too.

[mischief]

So what would be involved in building an "unofficial" Mac Clone? I think a box built for ease of HW customization based on G4 or Sahara G3 chipsets and sold with Linux installed could be a great sleeper product. You could stick to optimizing the design for parts that OS X works with or could easily take the Linux driver for. That'd be fun: Build a hotrod G4 that just happens to be Cocoa/Darwin compliant.:cool:

Whadaya think? Are there too many variables in Mobo design to pin down OS X compliance or could it be done?

[OSeXy!]

Originally posted by mischief
So what would be involved in building an "unofficial" Mac Clone? I think a box built for ease of HW customization based on G4 or Sahara G3 chipsets and sold with Linux installed could be a great sleeper product. You could stick to optimizing the design for parts that OS X works with or could easily take the Linux driver for. That'd be fun: Build a hotrod G4 that just happens to be Cocoa/Darwin compliant.:cool:

Whadaya think? Are there too many variables in Mobo design to pin down OS X compliance or could it be done?
Someone posted this link before, on a similar subject:

http://www.bplan-gmbh.de/news/pegasos_e.html

[mischief]

But from the looks of that site the company isn't quite to the level I'd want to throw money at. It'd have to be a bit more ambitious and actually show the product to get my attention.

I was thinking a bit more upscale, what all of us HW geeks would like to see the present G4 case become but with a few nice little touches like say a PRAM battery with some sort of charge indicator and a duplicate battery slot so they can be changed out without having no battery on the board. I'd like to see a generic OS X compatible case that's built specifically for compitant technophiles. All with tool-less mounting screws and a reel-out grounding strap inside the case. Call it the iGeek PC.:D

[mischief]

With G4 1Ghz out on the Mac, will that make 500s cheap enough to get in large enough quantities for Quad Towers?

Better questions:

Will that make Moto's low end G4 Apollo's cheap enough?

Would said Apollos support a faster Mobo?

Would said Apollos support DDR? How much?

What does all this crap cost?

What would it take to fabricate a prototype Mobo?

[AlphaTech]

Without getting actual prices on the 500MHz G4 chips, I would say that a quad processor system would cost at least as much as the dual 1GHz does. It would require a new processor card, and maybe even a new connection type to handle the 4 processors. All that would add up, especially the development costs of doing this.

DDR memory is currently selling for about the same as the PC133, but that also depends on what the motherboard requires. I have seen it between 1-1/2 and 2 times the cost of PC133.

To develope, prototype and then produce a motherboard to incorporate all the items you are looking for will not be cheap. I would guess between tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. The cost would have to include paying the egineers to design the board.

A second pram battery would be more then a little overkill for a minor (very minor) convience. From what I have found, the only thing that really suffers when you change the battery is you loose the date and time settings (big whoop). Also, the batteries usually last for at least a few years (depending on use, from 2-5).

Currently the only DDR that the Apollo chips support is the L3 cache. I'm sure that Apple will be coming out with a mobo that has DDR memory slots (instead of the PC133), it's just a matter of time. I also think that they will opt for a higher bus speed to allow people to use the PC2700 memory that is available now. That costs a little more, but gives you better performance. Who knows, maybe they will make the bus fast enough to use whatever the next memory speed jump is (PC3100??).

[mischief]

Some of the development cost can be offset by changing the market: Build cases pre-designed to be racked. Real Geeks Want Racks.

Working from that position case design can be reduced significantly. From the sound of it a modular Mobo almost makes MORE sense.

How much DDR can an Apollo use as a L3?

What IS RapidIO and can it be used with PC-133DIMMs?

How about:

Each of 4 processors has a DDR 64Mb module for it's level 3 cache and that processor card sits on a 133 Mobo with PCMCIA and PCI. Run a daughter card for the system RAM, allowing for newer RAM spec and processor upgrades (there must be a way to do this). RAM cards range from 3 to 6 slots. Use daughter cards for the PCI controller and the PCMCIA controller. 4 PCI slots, 2 AGP, 4 PCMCIA. Antenna kits available for Airport, 3G wireless and PCS.

Case is fanned, sound proofed, front-ported (4 USB, 4 FW, 2 AV) and Rack mountable. 2 Units per case, split into 1U for 5 drive bays,1U for the guts. components can be stacked into a "desktop" or Racked and Clustered. Built in 3Hr Powerbook Battery per Unit. Case designed with tool-less connectors for drives and cards. Built in Grounding Strap. Comes with a grounding mat, drive (thumb) screws, drive trays, choice of drive hosting protocol and RAID config. It'd be expensive as hell but I think Lucasfilm would sell their teeth for one.

[AlphaTech]

ok, what are you smoking and where can I get some???

For a configuration that you are saying is a few years off, you are using low end tech from today. I wouldn't do that.

I think only Apple and Motorola know how much is the max of L3 cache that the Apollo can handle (2MB right now)

I believe that the reason that the L3 cache is on the chip, and DDR is for speed. Making a removable module is just begging for problems, as well as making the processor card larger.

I know that rack mounting a G4 sounds great, but how many people have server racks at home???

The Mobo speed should be at least 266 if not 400, since that is what the peecee's are using currently (at least the newer ones).

You are mixing too much old tech with too much future thinking... If you are going to project for the future, use tech that is either in the rumor mill, or listed as in the works.

peace :D

[mischief]

If you were in the Bay Area I might hook you up but alas MA is out of range:D

Okay so 5 years out: Quad G5/8Mb L3 per chip. Modular Mobo as above running@333Mhz with Rapid IO and DDR. ATA-333x4 drives.

The key to the above product is the modularity: It would have a longer lifespan in being designed with continual upgrading in mind. Is it possible to set a Mobo up to be re-oscillated several times?

I have a 6 foot, 19" rack at home (It's an SGI Predator case). Lonesome and ignored. If I didn't have to butcher an existing system to put a Mac in it I'd have it packed and be seriously in debt. :D But I could start a fairly ugly home business relatively cheap considering the alternatives. Who has the money for a 6 foot IBM? Who would want a 6 foot Dell(retch,barf,puke)? with a rack and 2-4 of these......(Evil grin).

This is a product for those of us who want a current system but DON'T want a new box and a whole bunch of HW that's inapropriate or Duplicate. Buy 1, update continually and (if possible) cheaply. Geeks like to continually tweak their machines. If this were 1970 these would be the guys that put chrome Blower packages on their Camaro or Mustang.

[krossfyter]

someones somking some of that multi COLORED WEED FROM MEXICO.

why is APPLE still with motorola. Apple should get with AMD.

[mischief]

Texada (an Island within a 20 minute skiff ride of the small town in BC I spent my first 9 years in) has produced a strain that was Best in the World at Amsterdam.

[mischief]

Originally posted by krossfyter


why is APPLE still with motorola. Apple should get with AMD.

ACK! I KILL YOU!!! AMD is an agent of the Dark Empire! May your Bong emit noxious black gunk- smoke!

If Apple drops Moto it would ONLY be appropriate if it was to IBM and Moto liscence Altivec to them for it.

[AlphaTech]

Marathon makes rack mounting hardware for the current G3/G4 cases, as well as many of the older Mac systems (mostly from Apple). With that, you can rack mount your G4 and then get other items as you want/need. They even have them from your monitor. You can find rackmount RAID systems, tape drives... jsut about anything either comes rackmountable, or can be made so with a little work.

[krossfyter]

Originally posted by mischief


ACK! I KILL YOU!!! AMD is an agent of the Dark Empire! May your Bong emit noxious black gunk- smoke!

If Apple drops Moto it would ONLY be appropriate if it was to IBM and Moto liscence Altivec to them for it.


why is AMD such an evil agent???

i dont get it. motorola aint doing apple justice and you know it man. APPLE should be over 133mhz bus speed and over 2ghz sdram.


maybe im wrong but this motorola thing just pisses me off.

[mischief]

IBM buys out AMD and Moto's PPC rites, splitting those rites with Apple. AMD becomes Power PC Inc. and exists solely for manufacturing the G4/G5/G6 series.

[AlphaTech]

I agree, AMD is not evil... intel, now THEY are evil. Charging $300+ more for a chip with the same performance as one from AMD... the balls of some companies. Considering how the top processor from intel runs about $550-$700 when AMD lists their top processor for about $265.

I do agree about moto not doing justice to Apple though... By now, we should have 2GHz+ G5 processors in our towers. Instead of just now reaching the 1GHz G4 level.

Someone needs to b-slap the exec's over at moto to get on the ball again:D.

[mischief]

If apple and IBM use some of their cash on hand to buy out Moto's PPC rites and IBM buys AMD for it's manufacturing,Power PC chips could be produced in truly rude quantities and AMD PC nuts would be left high and dry. M$ would s*** their collective eyes.:D

[krossfyter]

what makes you think ibm is going to in the least bit buy out anything from motorola? that might seem far fecthed...good for apple an us but not practicle. am i wrong?


or Apple needs to migrate their whole line to Altivec so developers have an incentive to add it to their software.

[mischief]

Originally posted by krossfyter
what makes you think ibm is going to in the least bit buy out anything from Motorola? that might seem far fetched...good for apple an us but not practicle. am i wrong?

Not particularly practical but devistatingly effective at shifting the market. AMD has been in the toilet since the economy tanked and Apple/IBM have stayed relatively unscathed. Most Wintel Geeks prefer AMD. If AMD ceased to exist, what would they buy? :D


or Apple needs to migrate their whole line to Altivec so developers have an incentive to add it to their software.

Of course Apple needs to go all-Altivec, that's why you want to buy out Moto: They OWN Altivec. As long as they own it they make the chips. IBM and Apple are basically stuck unless Moto gets a clue or sell out to them. If Moto sold out it would only follow that IBM would take up the slack and acquire a Chip manufacturor like AMD to keep momentum.

[Xapplimatic]

Originally posted by mischief


ACK! I KILL YOU!!! AMD is an agent of the Dark Empire! May your Bong emit noxious black gunk- smoke!

If Apple drops Moto it would ONLY be appropriate if it was to IBM and Moto liscence Altivec to them for it.

Apple and Motorola are working with AMD to a point already.. HyperTransport. That does have a direct bearing on the PPC line already.. G5s are almost guaranteed to be using AMD's brainchild.. and in this case, it's a good thing.

[Xapplimatic]

Reading this message gave me a slightly different idea...

Why doesn't Apple make truly modular systems? Imagine for a second:

You buy an iMac. It has the following "cards" which slide out the back (out the back because they won't be seen that way, won't "uglify the machine"):

Processor card.. all processors, coprocessors, caches.
Memory card.. DDR RAM, cache, slots for SmartMedia or whatever upgrades.
IO card.. all io chips (firewire,usb,ata, etc) and connectors on outside and also in the meat of the card is a hard drive.

These cards all slide out of the computer and simply insert into any Apple product you own.. want a laptop? You buy the case which has the screen, shell, keyboard, and battery stuff.. then just add your processor, memory, and i/o cards by sliding them into the back.. Voila! You have the same computing power and stored information that was in your desktop to go, and you have a laptop for only the price of a shell, battery, charger, keyboard, and LCD.. all the guts are supplied by you, the end user instead of having to buy them all twice. It would be more economical and would make it easier for users to be in sync.. since the desktop and the laptop are the same computer (sort of)..

Also, it would allow an upgrade path for each machine (laptops included) where when new processors come out, you simply replace the card instead of the computer.. more memory? Easy, slide out the card and replace or add the DIMM of choice. Hard drive upgrade? You don't have to tear apart the computer, just slide out the hard drive card, unclamp/unplug the drive and put the new one in place.. It's taking the modular ideas of servers and applying it to the home. Why not?

[Grokgod]

I think its a great idea, yet if you really want to see it happen, I most certainly want it to.

You have to start the ball rollin in a more current manner.

Built a machine that out specs the current Mac's!
In a unique box, not a rack cause you want to attract attention
and Macs are all about design.

I could help there, i am a designer.

Get a motherboard that will support ddr etc with dual 1 ghz.
After the newer chips come out the 1 ghz will be cheaper.
Build a killa computer and sell it under ground and a mint and freak out Apple , that will get their heads swimming!

The only hard part about this is getting a motherboard with DDR specs. If there is such a thing why doesnt Apple use it!

I live in on the Oregon, california border, and am ready to drive , hook me up! :)

[AlphaTech]

only one problem with your mobo item.. Apple is the only people to produce the motherboards.. you can't take a peecee one and try to use it. Who has the resources ($$$$$$) to get a new motherboard produced like that?? Companies do it and chock it up under R&D expenses. That is one reason it can take so long for new ones to be produced.

I can see Apple doing the DDR and such, maybe even as soon as the next revision to the G4 line. Definately by the time the G5 comes out. I would hope that they won't go with the 266MHz memory bus, but rather the 333MHz (allows for even faster DDR). By that time, the video cards with 128MB of DDR on board should be in production long enough for them to be stock.

Only time will tell what Apple does to the Mac line, and where to moves to. I just hope that in 20 years, they will be teaching about m$ in schools as a company that went out with a wimper, or is that a temper tantrum???

[Grokgod]

All this talk about computer parts etc .
Has brought up my ire in a particular area that may be a bit off target, but i would love to get a good understanding of this subject.

WHy, WHY, Do the Ti powerbooks have 4200 rpm drives in them and not a 5400? I mean even a 5400 drive is SOoo slow, why put such a pitiful drdive in Powerbook and then claim that they are the super fast laptopms of the world? Freaking Wintel have fast drives, its not an impossible order like getting motherboards that run DDr ram after years of them being on the market. Because of Moto, etc.

Hard drives are plentiful and cheap!
Does Apple really have to gouge us this way?
THey have the Ti upgrade for a 5400 rpm drive at a huge additional cost, and its not even a 7200 rpm drive.

As you can tell this really gets my goat, can anyone tell me why this is, what am I missing>? Save me from myself!

:confused:

[AlphaTech]

The reason for the 4200 rpm drives is that is all that is available in those sizes. Until VERY recently only the IBM 48GB drives were at 5400 rpm. They have released the 60GB in 5400 rpm, and only VERY recently offered smaller sizes in the 5400rpm drives.

For most daily tasks, people would rather have a virtually silent drive, over one that spins a bit faster.

Have you seen what the 5400 drives cost?? Buy one from a third party vendor and you will see why Apple has to charge extra. Go and price the 48 or 60GB drives either as internal models or as external firewire drives and then get back to me if you think that Apple is charging too much.

They are simply charging the difference in price between the drive sizes. Granted, it might take them a little time to update to the newest prices, but get real.

My 60GB IBM Travelstar hard drive should be arriving on Tuesday for me to install into my TiBook. Between tax and such, it is coming to about $450, which is cheap compared to many other places where you can purchase drives. Many either want more money for the same drive, or don't have it in stock. I haven't decided yet as to what I will be doing with the 20GB that currently is inside my system, but I am sure I will find an use for it. In a couple of months, I will find a firewire external enclosure that I like and put the drive in that.

[mischief]

Originally posted by Grokgod
I think its a great idea, yet if you really want to see it happen, I most certainly want it to.

You have to start the ball rollin in a more current manner.

Built a machine that out specs the current Mac's!
In a unique box, not a rack cause you want to attract attention
and Macs are all about design.

I could help there, i am a designer.

Get a motherboard that will support ddr etc with dual 1 ghz.
After the newer chips come out the 1 ghz will be cheaper.
Build a killa computer and sell it under ground and a mint and freak out Apple , that will get their heads swimming!

The only hard part about this is getting a motherboard with DDR specs. If there is such a thing why doesnt Apple use it!

I live in on the Oregon, california border, and am ready to drive , hook me up! :)

Okay, let's do it. The world's first Open Source PPC!

First step:

For those electrical Engineers out there: Get the spec for Apollo, it's gonna set the bar for G5. Let's start with the processor daughter card. On the card: 2-4 PPC chips. Card must have a ZIF like socket for connecting to the next card down: the RAM daughter card. What's the highest data-throughput tech for the dollar spent? The whole machine should be designed from the processor out as wide as possible.We will use this thread and E-mail for debating and sharing ideas and "publishing" results.

[mcrain]

When Apple, Motorola, IBM, AMD and whoever else sues for copyright, patent, licensing and industrial espionage violations, I'm sure your good intentions and macrumors membership will be a complete defense.

Before you go off half cocked and build your own supercomputer based on someone elses technology, spend the money and hire an attorney to explain to you the legal ramifications of your actions.

Some things you can use without a problem. Others, you may need to license. Still others, you may license, but not resell. Finally, there are some tech owners who will bar you from your goals merely to stop you.

You are about to navigate a minefield, hire an attorney before you spend a bunch of money on new motherboards or whatever. I can't tell you how many times I've seen or heard of people with "great ideas" get in trouble due to poor foresight.

Good luck if you choose to build a new computer.

[mischief]

No problem.

Worst case: it goes nowhere.

Best case: Apple quietly buys out the contributors.:D

[Skandranon]

Dude. This forum sucks.

[mischief]

http://e-www.motorola.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=MPC7455&nodeId=03M943030450467M98653]

For those of you who want a crack at this.........

[ilikeiBook]

Originally posted by mischief
Are there seriously NO comments on this?:eek: :confused:

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