Take a quick look at this:
This graphic is from IBM's website regarding the roadmap for their PPC processors. Note that it does not include the G4, but rather, is a road map of their G3 line. It's small and hard to read, but lets examine the features there in the yellow "planned" zone right *after* the currently shipping:
Multicore SuperScalar
SMP Capable
Integrated SIMD Engine
RapidIO
n-way Crossbaring
The "next generation" of G3s after that have some other esoteric names except for:
New High-speed Interface
Ok... So by IBM's own roadmap... their G3 line will soon be more advanced and clocked higher than Motorola's G4. And I mean... what *is* a G4, really, but a G3 with a beefed up Float unit and Altivec strapped on the back (yes yes, it's more than that, but still, is it really?)?
Sooo... What with Apple's current coziness with IBM, I'm thinking this:
Apple wouldn't be able to "downgrade" the iMac to use a chip which is titled a "G3", however, IBM uses a 3 digit numbering scheme. Right now, the G3 is the 750 series. The upcoming ppc970 is going to be our 64-bit proline chip. What comes between 7 and 9?
<drool>
The IBM ppc8xx series?
These pumped up G3s would be a great addition to the consumer lines. Not only will IBM have them running cheap and small and fast, but they'll have Altivec and RapidIO to make up for the G4s "MaxBus(t)", and subsequent generations would go even faster... sooo...
Does anyone care to comment on the possibility of the usage of a totally ficticious piece of silicon that I"m deriving out of thin air using a gap in an arbitrary numbering scheme and a dated roadmap pic? *grin*
Dharvabinky

This graphic is from IBM's website regarding the roadmap for their PPC processors. Note that it does not include the G4, but rather, is a road map of their G3 line. It's small and hard to read, but lets examine the features there in the yellow "planned" zone right *after* the currently shipping:
Multicore SuperScalar
SMP Capable
Integrated SIMD Engine
RapidIO
n-way Crossbaring
The "next generation" of G3s after that have some other esoteric names except for:
New High-speed Interface
Ok... So by IBM's own roadmap... their G3 line will soon be more advanced and clocked higher than Motorola's G4. And I mean... what *is* a G4, really, but a G3 with a beefed up Float unit and Altivec strapped on the back (yes yes, it's more than that, but still, is it really?)?
Sooo... What with Apple's current coziness with IBM, I'm thinking this:
Apple wouldn't be able to "downgrade" the iMac to use a chip which is titled a "G3", however, IBM uses a 3 digit numbering scheme. Right now, the G3 is the 750 series. The upcoming ppc970 is going to be our 64-bit proline chip. What comes between 7 and 9?
<drool>
The IBM ppc8xx series?
Does anyone care to comment on the possibility of the usage of a totally ficticious piece of silicon that I"m deriving out of thin air using a gap in an arbitrary numbering scheme and a dated roadmap pic? *grin*
Dharvabinky