reflection on future Apple processors...

I've been thinking on what strategy Apple is going to take with it's processors (currently the IBM G3, Motorola G4, and IBM G5) in the near future.

Apple currently has these processors divided in 3 categories,depending on the individual characteristics of each processor. But with Motorola having a rather large amount of trouble with it's G4 production, and it's selling off of it's semiconductor buisiness, the G4's future remains "foggy". We all know that IBM has bought the rights to include AltiVec in it's PPC processors and we all know that a Altivec enabled G3 is deffinately in the works. Anyways, here's what i'm getting to:

Apple most probably will drop the Motorola G4, opting for an IBM PPC750 with Altivec when G3 speeds reach those of current G4's. This process might first occur not with desktops, but with powerbooks. We've all heard rumors that future Powerbooks might have dual G4's or somehow squeezing a G5 in it. I believe that these rumors are completely untrue and impossible to do so in the near future. Also Apple's pursuing fuel cell technology to power powerbooks is only to increase it's running time off AC power.

Apple has allways boasted about long battery life, all bells and whistles laptops that out do PC's in most areas of design. That deffinately isn't going to change anytime soon. As new iBook are released, their speed will start coming close to Powerbook maximum speeds. As for my best guess, the next generation Powerbooks will run a G3 with Altivec at a minimum of 1.25/1.33 GHz, up to 1.4 GHz.

All I can say for an end is that with tremendous incertanties that Apple has with Motorola or the new company that has taken over Motorola's semiconductor buisiness is going to lead them away from the PPC7400 series rather quickly (note, there are still some good G4 versions for consumer desktops that haven't been implemented in iMacs or eMacs).

Thanks, but my observation is pretty obvious. Motorola started going no where with the G4. Difficulties in production and high levels of diffective chips in each batch keeps pushing faster G4's release dates back. This sole fact had almost crippled Apple with the G4 PowerMacs (they were fast, but not fast enough to fight off competition). Without the G5 arriving when it did, it would be possible to think that Apple in a few years being "stuck" with Motorola and it's G4's might end up more like Amiga (another PPC computer producer which is trying to re-enter the market with AmigaOne G3/G4 systems) and start producing more software than hardware.

All I can say that Apple is going no where with the PPC7400 series. the PPC750 is equal or faster in speed on non Altivec application comparing to an equal frequency PPC7400. The introduction of Altivec in the PPC750 is a normal evolutionary step with the processor's development. Besides, IBM supports the Pegasos I/II standard for PPC motherboards and computers (which happen to currently use G3 processors), IBM utilizes the G3 in it's own servers and hardware, IBM practically is it's own biggest customer of PPC chips! Apple can be considered IBM's trojan horse into the home computer market (and not to mention "free" pubblicity from Apple saying that it's processors are produced by IBM)

Here's a diagram of what I was thinking about.


I purposely left our XServes due to my limited experience with them (none that is ). My best guess is a jump to G5's in the near future (single processor 1U models, and multiple processor models with larger cases).

you're talking about a possible apple program in 2 1/2- 3 years from now. My idea of what apple will do goes from the next hardware updates on all platforms up to a year and a half to two years from now.

The G3 with Altivec is probably only meant as a speed bump inorder to reach near G5 speeds in iMacs, eMacs and PowerBooks. An eventual introduction of a G6 is possible, but not probably in 18 months, it would be more like 24. We all know that the G4 took it's sweet time to reach iMacs and PowerBooks. All I can say is that Apple needs to boost eventual G4 processor speeds to come close or equal to current G5 speeds in order to design eventual G5 PowerBooks. G5 iBooks are probably not going to be seen for quite a while (2 years or more).

Apple probably will divide the lines of each computer similarly to what it is now.

PowerMacs, PowerBooks Running G5's. Probable implementation of G5 iMacs. G4 (G3 with altivec) eMacs and iBooks.

Hell yeah. If I remember well, the Gobi architecture G3 is supposed to be the one with Altivec

Putting in a G3 with Altivec into PowerBooks and labeling it a G3 IS suicide. But remember it's Apple that gives the processors it's desegnation. A G3 with Altivec is more a replacement processor for iBooks (thus giving them a rather fast "semi" G4. If it would be implemented in PowerBooks, then Apple might only make one group of PowerBooks with it. It would mainly be intended as a speed bump to keep the series afloat until the G5 becomes suitable for notebook implementation (notably that it doens't get too hot, low power drain on battery, and that it out performs by a good deal older processors).

I would note that the G3 with Altivec PowerBook might be a "quirk" in the PowerBook line (much like the original G3 PowerBook that used the 3400's case) It would be used ONLY as a speed booster in order to get PowerBooks close to PowerMac G5 speeds.