I know folks have been saying the transition is to allow time for Mac apps to switch, but I can't understand it from a hardware sales standpoint.
1. S. Jobs has said that they've been making Intel compatible versions of the OS for 5 years. So the OS looks ready to ship (as much as the 10.4 was ready to ship on the PPC anyway).
2. Programs - just run them in emulated mode to start. If the conversion time is as quick as Steve said in his keynote, we should see the native versions in a few months (esp. if there is hardware out there).
3. Hardware design - I'm just observing here that there are a multitude of companies and home-PC builders that can put together new intel systems very quickly. The developers kit is something of an example of what Apple could do quickly, but why not just take the std. components for laptops, notebooks, PMs, etc. and put them into CURRENT CASE DESIGNS? Sure - let's give 'em a few months to get ramped up, order parts, go into production etc. (I note that the folks that make the Macs overseas also reported in the business press to make several PCs). Lord knows theres a sea of components and chips! out there. I suppose a little time for a special bios chip to be made or something along that line that interfaces with the OS so it will only run on the Apple systems. I assume they've been working on that and had some proof of concept when they made the switch. So again, a bit of ramp up production time.
4. Is this a case of "Scotty" type promises? We'll say a two-year transition, but we'll wow-'em with a 6 to 8 month transition to beat the prediction?
1. S. Jobs has said that they've been making Intel compatible versions of the OS for 5 years. So the OS looks ready to ship (as much as the 10.4 was ready to ship on the PPC anyway).
2. Programs - just run them in emulated mode to start. If the conversion time is as quick as Steve said in his keynote, we should see the native versions in a few months (esp. if there is hardware out there).
3. Hardware design - I'm just observing here that there are a multitude of companies and home-PC builders that can put together new intel systems very quickly. The developers kit is something of an example of what Apple could do quickly, but why not just take the std. components for laptops, notebooks, PMs, etc. and put them into CURRENT CASE DESIGNS? Sure - let's give 'em a few months to get ramped up, order parts, go into production etc. (I note that the folks that make the Macs overseas also reported in the business press to make several PCs). Lord knows theres a sea of components and chips! out there. I suppose a little time for a special bios chip to be made or something along that line that interfaces with the OS so it will only run on the Apple systems. I assume they've been working on that and had some proof of concept when they made the switch. So again, a bit of ramp up production time.
4. Is this a case of "Scotty" type promises? We'll say a two-year transition, but we'll wow-'em with a 6 to 8 month transition to beat the prediction?