Intel forms 'Apple' Group

[MacRumors]

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eWeek reports that Intel Corp. has formed an internal "Apple group".

This sort of internal organization is reportedly not uncommon for large customers of Intel, and is, of course, prompted by Apple's announcement that they will be switching to Intel processors over the next few years.

While this official organization is new, Intel has been trying to lure Apple for some time:

Intel has had 'skunkwork' operations over the years to demonstrate technologies to potential customer Apple.

The article notes that Intel does make more than just processors, and one analyst speculates that Apple could use Intel motherboards and chipsets in the future.

[AoWolf]

So what does this mean?

[Lacero]

I think this group is formed to oversee TPM restrictions for Apple's operating system.

[Janakin]

Good to know there will be a dedicated team at Intel handling Apple procs, instead of considering Apple just a minor customer.

[steve_hill4]

This can only be a good thing for apple, as it demonstrates that intel are committed to offering the best service and technology for Mac OS. It shows they are serious in wanting to get the best out of the systems and pushing apple forward in sales.

Look at it this way, intel push apple forward, (who have exclusively intel chips), sales soar, intel gains a greater percentage of the marketplace. The kind of people Macs will begin to snap up are, like myself, AMD users. If that is the case, their sales will rise at the expense of AMD and not Wintel users.

[steve_hill4]

Originally Posted by Janakin

Good to know there will be a dedicated team at Intel handling Apple procs, instead of considering Apple just a minor customer.

Thing is, as a share of the computer market, apple may be relatively small now, but as prices drop, intel processors make it a level playing field and the "halo" effect creeps in more and more, Mac sales could become a lot more significant and so they once again get to 10-15% of the market, which would make them a huge player. Intel know this and want it to happen.

[Sun Baked]

Should be interesting...

Intel does need to react quick enough to Apple's needs for their custom chip business.

After taking care of Apple's fab needs for their chipsets.

Intel would probably like to grab a share of Apple's production business and assemble Apple modules and boards for Apple's products -- becoming an Apple supplier.

Much like the Hon Hai/Foxconn stamps we see on boards and modules at the moment in the machines.

Of course that part of the business could always stay with the current factories.

[iSaint]

I wonder if Apple sent any of their employees over to be a part of that team?

[Piarco]

I just hope that Apple never use Intel Graphics. Ever. That would be a dealbreaker for me.....

[BornAgainMac]

I wonder how big they will be compared to the Dull group?

[SPUY767]

Originally Posted by Janakin

Good to know there will be a dedicated team at Intel handling Apple procs, instead of considering Apple just a minor customer.

The reason that Intel has put an entire team on the Apple project, is that Intel realizes that unlike Microsoft, Apple actually puts something out there that utilizes the processor for something more than simply to handle program bloat and registry creep. Apple's applications are born to run, MS's are born to waddle. Intel is wise in seeing that Apple's software can show what Intel Hardware is truly capable of.

[SPUY767]

Originally Posted by BornAgainMac

I wonder how big they will be compared to the Dull group?

Dull doesn't have a group, dull runs microsoft software, Intel cares bout the software, not the hardware. Dell buys Chips designed to run windows as best as is possible.

[bigandy]

seriously, the next person to say that bloody phrase about a certain laptop appearing next week, sometime after monday but before wednesday, deserves a slap.. it's just not funny any more.

i'm not convinced apple will use intel motherboards, because it would mean it would be far easier to build a cheap mac from components, something they want to avoid. i think they'll do a custom motherboard and have the sofware VERY tightly tied to the hardware...

[killemall4130]

hey, any of tou people know way apple get this new architecture, from the windows based company, or what ever all thats about... is it going to effect the applications that we mac's users can read, ie 3ds max also the gaming ie q4, battlefield 2 and nfs-most wanted. and what have you? any one know?
ide be very thankful!!!

[SPUY767]

Originally Posted by killemall4130

hey, any of tou people know way apple get this new architecture, from the windows based company, or what ever all thats about... is it going to effect the applications that we mac's users can read, ie 3ds max also the gaming ie q4, battlefield 2 and nfs-most wanted. and what have you? any one know?
ide be very thankful!!!

First, intel is not a windows based company, they make processors, Microsoft, in fact, makes an Intel-Based operating system. Second, no, you won't be able to run windows applications. However, the likelihood that most developers will write Mac versions now that Apple is Using x86 processors is quite high.

[revjay]

Originally Posted by steve_hill4

This can only be a good thing for apple, as it demonstrates that intel are committed to offering the best service and technology for Mac OS. It shows they are serious in wanting to get the best out of the systems and pushing apple forward in sales...

Or at the very least...Intel is eager to seperate Apple from a good chunk of money.

[killemall4130]

Originally Posted by SPUY767

First, intel is not a windows based company, they make processors, Microsoft, in fact, makes an Intel-Based operating system. Second, no, you won't be able to run windows applications. However, the likelihood that most developers will write Mac versions now that Apple is Using x86 processors is quite high.

cheers for the answer, so that a NO, but maybe, purhaps?
1 persontells me its windows, another tells me its not???
i originally thought it was microsoft myself, but som1 told me
nope ur wrong, its somthin i cud never understand (prob correct lol)

u dont hav a link that will inlightin me, i cant seen to find the information
i need?

[dr_lha]

Originally Posted by SPUY767

However, the likelihood that most developers will write Mac versions now that Apple is Using x86 processors is quite high.

I don't get this logic. How will Apple switching to Intel chips make a developer more likely to port his application to Mac? The biggest difference in developing for Mac and Windows is how the code interacts with the Operating System and User Interface. Windows applications will need their User Interfaces to be re-written from scratch for example, to work on Mac.

As someone who codes Unix applications, I know that apart from the "endianness" of the CPU, it really doesn't matter what CPU the OS is on, applications can easily be ported across architectures if the code is well written, you just have to look at the Linux distributions for all the different architectures out there to know this, when running they all appear the same, despite the CPU.

I support major application for example that I ported to OS X from Solaris that took me about 5 hours to port due to the fact that it was written for X11/UNIX. To port this application to Windows or Cocoa would be a major effort, perhaps taking many months, and certainly beyond the scope of my funding.

In conclusion: Don't expect to see any major move of Windows Applications to Mac because of Intel, the only reason that will happen is if Mac's market share moves up considerably.

[MacIke]

Originally Posted by dr_lha

I don't get this logic. How will Apple switching to Intel chips make a developer more likely to port his application to Mac? The biggest difference in developing for Mac and Windows is how the code interacts with the Operating System and User Interface. Windows applications will need their User Interfaces to be re-written from scratch for example, to work on Mac.

As someone who codes Unix applications, I know that apart from the "endianness" of the CPU, it really doesn't matter what CPU the OS is on, applications can easily be ported across architectures if the code is well written, you just have to look at the Linux distributions for all the different architectures out there to know this, when running they all appear the same, despite the CPU.

I support major application for example that I ported to OS X from Solaris that took me about 5 hours to port due to the fact that it was written for X11/UNIX. To port this application to Windows or Cocoa would be a major effort, perhaps taking many months, and certainly beyond the scope of my funding.

In conclusion: Don't expect to see any major move of Windows Applications to Mac because of Intel, the only reason that will happen is if Mac's market share moves up considerably.

While I am not a programmer at all... that has been my opnion. I think Apple has a good chance of greater market share. That will bring more programs.

Not to mention DARWINE.

[dr_lha]

Originally Posted by MacIke

While I am not a programmer at all... that has been my opnion. I think Apple has a good chance of greater market share. That will bring more programs.

Yes, there's no doubt that as Apple's Market Share goes up, more software will become available. What I'm saying is that the chip inside the Mac will not matter to the programmer so much. Its not like anyone codes in Machine Language any more.

Not to mention DARWINE.

As someone who has used Wine a lot on Linux, don't expect it to be a magic bullet. Yes, it will make a lot of Windows applications run, but they will look ugly and out of place on your Mac Desktop and often run unstably. Things are getting better, but honestly I would only use Wine to run an application if there was absolutely no other choice.

[zac4mac]

"hey, any of tou people know way apple get this new architecture, from the windows based company, or what ever all thats about... is it going to effect the applications that we mac's users can read, ie 3ds max also the gaming ie q4, battlefield 2 and nfs-most wanted. and what have you? any one know?
ide be very thankful!!!"

Would someone translate???? I don't think I've ever seen that much contiguous gibberish on these boards.

Z

[Bonte]

Originally Posted by dr_lha

In conclusion: Don't expect to see any major move of Windows Applications to Mac because of Intel, the only reason that will happen is if Mac's market share moves up considerably.

If i remember ok there is developer software that allows fast porting to Mactel, its not Wine but a part is translated and a part emulated. Its not great coding but just fine to bring old software cost-effective to Mactel. For as far as i know all new software should be done in X-code that delivers Mac and Windows compatible code.

[Yvan256]

Originally Posted by bigandy

I'm not convinced apple will use intel motherboards, because it would mean it would be far easier to build a cheap mac from components, something they want to avoid. i think they'll do a custom motherboard and have the sofware VERY tightly tied to the hardware...

Yeah, but that custom, Apple-only motherboard could still be made by Intel. Of course, the headlines would then read "Apple to use Intel motherboards and processors", hence confusing the general public into thinking they can run out and buy an "Intel motherboard" and expect to be able to install OS X... Gotta love the media for that kind of (unwanted) misinformation.

[Mainyehc]

Originally Posted by killemall4130

only for powerbooks?

real work??? i dont do any of my real work on me mac (sux). thats the thing that most pisses me of bout apple, they will not get decent apps like 3ds max and whatever (lame). also all the so called games for the macs totally completly S U X.

we want Q4, Batlefield 2 and NFS-Most wanted...something at least to that standard.

im going to have to buy a new pc (wtf). i got a ibook g4 933mhz, and an ibook g3 before that. ( NOT A HAPPY MAC USER ) theres not enuff for me to get up 2 with a mac are any1 as far as i can see...but ahh noo mac users think that the macs are god sends... doods and chicks i cant see it.
plz explane how (inlightin me)

[Pardon me guys, for feeding the troll, but here it goes]

Here's some enlightenment... Have you ever tried using an iMac G5? I'm not even talking about the über-fast PowerMac G5 Quad, that is overkill compared with... iBooks ... Even an iMac G5 will do just fine in most graphics-intensive apps (heck, provably even a last generation iBook G4 1.4GHz with some decent memory will suffice for most tasks!). About those other apps you mentioned, like 3d Studio Max, etc, you should be aware it's not exactly Apple's fault that they aren't avaliable for OS X! Apple is solely responsible for developing OS X itself, iLife, iWork and pro apps like Final Cut Studio or Aperture... Expect the number of 3rd party apps to increase over the next few years, as the Mac's market share increases!

However, I'm sorry, no games for you, boy! Quake III runs acceptably well on my machine (a 20'' iMac G5 1.8GHz w/ 1.25GB of RAM), but yeah, it's not exactly a gaming machine. And this is mainly because game developers don't optimize their titles for the PowerPC/OS X platform (besides the fact that Apple's consumer machines use crappy graphics cards)... And I don't expect things to get sooo much better with the switch to Intel processors, unless, as I mentioned before, the Mac's market share increases dramatically, and Apple starts cranking out killer machines (maybe their pro line will become more affordable, which would probably solve the graphics cards issue).

What I DO know is that Macs will be based on Intel processors (x86)...... (duh)! Don't you get it? Macs will be able to run Windows alongside with OS X, either by dual-booting, emulation, or virtualization. Which means, even if a specific software title isn't avaliable for OS X, you can always resort to Windows when necessary. Not that I'd want to do that myself, but I sure understand how that can be useful for some people, as it represents the best of both worlds: a bug and virus-free computing experience (OS X), with an extremely wide range of apps - and games, yeah - (Windows, and of course, OS X also, since there are thousands of nice apps avaliable already).

Want some more enlightenment?

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=161550
http://www.hardmac.com/news/2005-11-20/#4756

And of course, the obvious Macrumors Guides, Wikipedia, and... Google!!

Try searching there for PowerPC, Mac OS, x86, Windows, Wintel, Apple, Microsoft, Intel, etc... Learn some history, some hard-facts, then ask the right questions... Which means, don't ask for enlightment, search for it on your own! There are ways of not making a fool of yourself, you know? And by the way, I sure hope you're not a M$ Fanboy™ trying to spread FUD around, as these forums definitely aren't the appropriate place to do so (don't know what FUD means? Add it to that list).

Edit: By the way, my best friend, who is a Linux geek, is dyslexic, and that didn't keep him from educating himself about programming (and he's very good at that!), and the basics of the history and concepts of electronics and IT.
Oh, and don't forget: Microsoft != Intel, software != hardware, apples != oranges, etc...

[zac4mac]

Dooood

I wasn't attacking you personally, just your communication skills. Try writing a whole word correctly, if need be, try a spell checker. l33t haxor words are annoying.

BTW dyslexia sees stuff backwards, not inside out.

Peace

Z