If this turns out to be the case, I won't be buying from Apple anymore...
Naturally, not being an expert I'm allowed to be wrong.
But isn't the switch from custom chips to intel one of the main reasons Apple started gaining a foothold in consumer/developer interest?
You would need to know what ARM has in the next few years. For that we wait and see.
Maybe we'll get an ARM powered PowerBook G5
Unlikely that ARM has compatibility with Intel chips. So Windows won't run and tons of software will need to be repurchased. Regardless how good ARM chips get compared to Intel at that time the switch will be a pain.
Apple is getting good at getting into bed with manufacturers and then screwing them over.
Remember how Apple had x86 OS X being developed alongside PPC OS X? Wouldn't surprise me one bit that Apple has the same going on with ARM
Unless they have a way to be able to run windows as well as it is run now in Fusion etc., this will be a very bad idea. Doesn't matter how much power they save etc., the ability to run windows was one of the reasons I came back to the mac.
Remember how Apple had x86 OS X being developed alongside PPC OS X? Wouldn't surprise me one bit that Apple has the same going on with ARM
This is the reason I;m waiting for the 2013 iMacs and beyond, I can sit and wait as I have 2011 Model but like the design of new iMacs besides Apple always bumps things on 2 Gens. Hope this is one of them.
Although the article says they won't change for a few years, hope thats wrong.
Stop panicking. Microsoft is testing the waters with the ARM based surface right? Are you panicking over that?
Remember how Apple had x86 OS X being developed alongside PPC OS X? Wouldn't surprise me one bit that Apple has the same going on with ARM
One of the huge advantages of Apple going x86 was the ability to basically run any x86/x86-64 OS at close to native speeds (not including GPU). I do this now with daily running Windows XP, Windows 7, RedHat EL 4,5 and 6 VMs.
Going to ARM or some other custom route would negate that.