Apple Recruiting Sony VAIO Engineers?

[Don.Key]

Centrinos don't yet out perform a high end G4. If the PB gets a new 2 ghz 7448 Freescale PPC, it will easily be the highend machine, even if the iBook gets a low power centrino in 2006.

Suuuuure they don't. But they surely will once they are in Apple Laptops, THEN they will be much faster then G4 and non-apple Laptops as well.

 

[Fabio_gsilva]

It's time, im my opinion, for Jobs and Ive return to their origins, rescue their roots, to restart thinking much more in Apple products. Alone, without external help.

I don't know, but sometimes visiting that "you" in the past could be very helpful fou you today's "you". You have the chance to capture something that you lost in your journey to the future, what's pretty humam, understandable.

It's my 2 cents.

 

[Hunts121]

Suuuuure they don't. But they surely will once they are in Apple Laptops, THEN they will be much faster then G4 and non-apple Laptops as well.

Of course, I mean I own a powerbook, but even I know that the Pentium M owns the current crop of G4s....and it should..how old is the G4? I can only imagine what my buddy's 2.13GHz Pentium M would be like if running OSX, pretty soon, I won't have to. The Pentium M is a great chip, no coincidence we're seeing it in desktops now too.

In reference to the G4 being faster comment (not by you)

Sorry I still think a 2GHz G4 (even with projected 1 MB of cache and 200mhz FSB) would get owned by a Pentium M of equal clock (2MB of cache, and a 533MHz FSB...which can actually take advantage of DDR-II memory it supports, those make a big difference). I believe the Pentium M is already at 2.3GHz actually, but I could be wrong.

I love my PowerBook but I have to give credit where its due

 

[iGary]

You know, I don't know why this surprises anyone...

The original iPod team was from several different companies...the G4 iMac team took several engineers from G.E. and IBM...

Why is this surprising/unblieveable?

 

[davidwes]

You know, I don't know why this surprises anyone...

The original iPod team was from several different companies...the G4 iMac team took several engineers from G.E. and IBM...

Why is this surprising/unblieveable?

No wonder I disliked the imac g4, my sister has one and now her screen is crooked, seems slow, has noise, etc.

My blueberry imac is still running perfectely on 10.3 though!!!!!!

Who helped to make that orginal mac?

 

[SiliconAddict]

We apparently have a bunch of comedians in the audience or people who have been around Steve’s RDF so long its permeated their cellular structure. First off The Centrino isn’t the freaking chip. That is the sum package of the Pentium M + Intel’s WIFI radio + chipset = Centrino. Secondly the Pentium M kicks the living snot out of the G4. Period. It’s not up to debate. Go here: Barefeats G4 Powerbook vs. a bunch of PC laptops Since that time there are no direct comparisons (wonder why.) but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to look at the other benchmarks on the site that compare Powerbook vs. Powerbook. The latest and greatest PowerBooks (1.67Ghz What no 1.678?) you can see next to no benchmark increases. Oops my bad. *pulls out his magnifying glass* Yah there is something there.
Now go and compare benchmarks of that series of Pentium M’s vs. the latest round (Tomshardware.com is a good one.) and simply extrapolate that info and you will see that Intel is kicking the crap out of the G4 on all fronts. And when I say ALL I mean ALL.
-The M currently is being fabed on the 90nm process.
-The M has a much larger cache.
-The M’s chipset supports DDR2 RAM
-PCIe graphics
-SATA hard drives
-a FSB that is at least triple that of the G4’s
-The replacement for PCMCIA called ExpressCard
-support for High Definition Audio at 7.1 surround.

I pity anyone who actually thinks the G4 is anything other then an old dilapidated POS. Can it get the job done? Sure. So can a 233Mhz Pentium II. Doesn’t mean I would use one at this point though. The G4 is a CPU that should have been discontinued when Apple wisely got the hell away from it on their desktop line. Apple simply had no viable solution for their laptop line so time and again they speed bumped the G4 overclocking the living crap out of it. (Anyone wonder why its 1.67Ghz and not 1.7Ghz?) Prior to the Pentium M the G4 was an outstanding CPU. Intel M has changed the ballgame. Apple should have suited up for it. Instead they have been sitting on the sidelines probably screeching at their chip manufacturers like a baboon who lost their banana that they want a mobile chip solution NOW. NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW! Moto had “plans” IBM had. Well god know what IBM told Apple. But it apparently wasn’t enough.
Pentium M PowerBooks are going to make the current gen PowerBooks look "sad". Its as simple as that.

 

[~Shard~]

VAIO 505 Extreme (japanese model) is an excellent art-piece.
http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Style-a/Special/X505/

780 gram / 9.8 mm Pentium M machine
how amazing if it runs OSX

This is the kind of design I'm referring to - I think that looks really slick. 😎

 

[~Shard~]

No wonder I disliked the imac g4, my sister has one and now her screen is crooked, seems slow, has noise, etc.

That's too bad. I love my G4 iMac and have not had one bit of difficulties with it.

And SiliconAddict, very well said - thanks for setting the record straight. I was getting tired of reading people state how G4s still outperform Pentium Ms, etc. I know we're all fans of Apple here, but come on, don't let Jobs blind you - we need to keep an objective view on things. So thanks, as that was a much needed dose of reality for some people on this Forum. 😎

 

[JDOG_]

I trust Engadget, they're one of the most enjoyable sites I visit on a daily basis. If you listen to their podcast you'll find they're extremely knowledgable about the inner workings of the gadget world and usually get the scoop well in advance of others because of it.

I think this is a good rumor, but there are some flaws. Apple's own design team is pretty amazing, and I find it hard to believe working with a different motherboard can be that difficult for them. On the other hand, this is relatively new ground for Apple...but I can't help but think they've been working on these in the labs for quite a while, "Just in case."

 

[oskar]

I'm not going to debate that some Intel processors are faster than my G4, but I don't understand why the complaining never stops. I guess it doesn't stop until you actually buy a computer.
For those saying the PBG4 sucks so bad, why didn't you get a PowerBook 2 years ago?

 

[weldon]

Here's my take on this "news" item. Tech companies recruit people from other companies all the time. Of course, if they do hire engineers out of Sony they still can't use specific techniques that Sony developed in-house to make laptops. The engineers can apply what they know to new problems, but Apple isn't buying Sony "know-how" or IP. They are hiring good engineers.

If Apple is hiring good engineers, it seems unlikely that they are trying to get help in fixing a particularly vexing, immediate problem in the first-gen Intel laptops. If that were the case, they would just get a team of hot-shots from Intel to drive across town. My guess is that the laptop team is split between building new G4 laptops and new Intel laptops and they are recruiting to help fill some spots and ease the strain on those split teams.

If you were going to hire new hardware engineers into your laptop group, where would you look? You might as well hire people familiar with Intel hardware since that is the future, right?. Sony, IBM/Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, etc. I'm sure that there are other recruiting teams out looking in these other spots too - it just happened that someone in Japan leaked out the Sony story. I doubt it's the ONLY place they are looking for engineers.

 

[Quartz Extreme]

Who helped to make that orginal mac?

Which original mac? The first Macintosh with 128k?
Open one up and you'll find the signatures of all the developers on the inner case in raised plastic handwriting.

 

[CiBoys]

let this be ture... Please take more time to develop this powerbook too 😀, so i can still cherish my new 15" for 2 more years.

 

[jefhatfield]

First off The Centrino isn’t the freaking chip. That is the sum package of the Pentium M + Intel’s WIFI radio + chipset = Centrino.

i am a techie and i used to correct people all the time on this and the pesky little habit of calling the pentium m the centrino has caught on like wildfire, even to the point that techies use that term

it's kind of like the term kleenex being used for all facial tissues, even if the facial tissue in question is not of the kleenex brand/trademark

so soon we will be hearing how john doe's mac laptop down the street with the centrino processor just whoops jane doe's old g4 mac laptop 😉

 

[bret]

did any of you ever think that maybe... just maybe... they are hiring engineers for a project not yet even rumored?? Something 4 or 5 years from being manufactured? There is no way apple is looking for engineers to work on the next to be released x86 portables. Those [x86] machines are already developed and are probably months from being manufactured.

 

[Quartz Extreme]

There is no way apple is looking for engineers to work on the next to be released x86 portables. Those [x86] machines are already developed and are probably months from being manufactured.

This is very likely. I wouldn't make a Mac X86 laptop release date prediction based solely on the hiring of a former Sony employee! They've likely been working on this thing for quite a while now, besides, SJ said that we can expect some x86 machines one year from WWDC, which is now only 10 months away...

 

[SiliconAddict]

I'm not going to debate that some Intel processors are faster than my G4, but I don't understand why the complaining never stops. I guess it doesn't stop until you actually buy a computer.
For those saying the PBG4 sucks so bad, why didn't you get a PowerBook 2 years ago?

Because two years ago G4 vs. Pentium M still showed how sad POwerBooks were. The hope of many after the G5 came out was that Apple was going to come out with something. That they and IBM were working on some top secret notebook chip that would even the playing field with Intel's stuff. Well its 2005 and we know the scorecard and where Apple is right now. That is why people waited. A 2 year old PowerBook still wasn't anything to crow about. My 1.5 year old 1.5Ghz thinkpad could probably keep pace with the latest and grestest PowerBook. Don't know about you guys but I'm not spending 4 figures on any system that can't keep pace with the ind. As I said before The Pentium M changed the game and I honestly think is one of the reasons (Not the only one mind you.) why Apple is going x86.

 

[SiliconAddict]

i am a techie and i used to correct people all the time on this and the pesky little habit of calling the pentium m the centrino has caught on like wildfire, even to the point that techies use that term

it's kind of like the term kleenex being used for all facial tissues, even if the facial tissue in question is not of the kleenex brand/trademark

so soon we will be hearing how john doe's mac laptop down the street with the centrino processor just whoops jane doe's old g4 mac laptop 😉

Well I think the main reason is simply the name. What sounds better?

Hey Bob I got a new PowerBook with a Centrino dual core chip inside.

Hey Bob I got a new PowerBook with a Pentium M Dual core chip inside.

Centrino sounds like an Apple word. Just sort of rollllllllls off the tip of the tongue. Apple Centrino PowerBooks. If it wasn't for the whole...not being what it really is I'd prob call it a Centrino too.
*Homer Simpson voice* Mmmmm non existant particle goodness

 

[NewSc2]

EEK, yeah sure, if you like horrible battery life and outdated overpriced hardware.

Everyone I know with a Sony portable has these problems + others.

Yep, same here. I have 3 friends with VIAO's and they've all crapped out on them. Some Viao's look kind of cool, but IBM definitely has them beat in all categories

 

[SiliconAddict]

I pity anyone who actually thinks the G4 is anything other then an old dilapidated POS. Can it get the job done? Sure. So can a 233Mhz Pentium II. Doesn’t mean I would use one at this point though. The G4 is a CPU that should have been discontinued when Apple wisely got the hell away from it on their desktop line.

Let me clarify on the above. I made it sound like the G4 should be burned at the stake. In instances like the eMac and Mac Mini the G4 is a fine chip. Hell I'll get a Mac mini. (Just give me my upgraded GPU to go with my 24" widescreen.) But at that price point I have no issues with the G4. My issues occure in a product that is 4 figures and is defined as a POWERBook. NahAhh. Not buying it, literally and figuratively. That is where I stand. Flame away but that's how I feel on the subject. Spring 2006 all this will change. *drools* What a thing that will be. We basicly have a roadmap for Apple for once. Its kinda vague like here there be dragons and such but we at least have a rough sketch.

Before: Apple rumor headlines: OMG OMG G5 PowerBooks at [Insert an Apple event here]!! I was as bad about this as everyone else. I at least TRIED to keep things in perspective with not saying it WON'T happen. 😛

After: We are getting at minimum a Pentium M PowerBook in '06. Prob a dual core and realistically in the first half of the year.

*DROOLS*

 

[SiliconAddict]

Yep, same here. I have 3 friends with VIAO's and they've all crapped out on them. Some Viao's look kind of cool, but IBM definitely has them beat in all categories

IBM pwns the x86 industry with their Thinkpads AFAIC. They have some of the most innovative hardware out there. They were the first to implement locking the hard drive when it accel. They have a built in security subsystem that handles encryption freeing the CPU to do other things. So encrypting your Documents dir on your computer doesn't slow things down since the subsystems is doing all the grunt work. And I will never forget their line of laptops in the mid 90's that could almost literally be run over by a car and live. I will miss the Thinkpad. *sniffs* They didn't always have the most cutting edge stuff but their hardware was rock solid, innovative, and dependable. Apple could really fill a hole if their hardware really can run Windows out of the box. companies may buy PowerBooks to run Windows on. Yah I know its kinda sick (Sorry for those that just threw up a little bit in their mouth.) to talk about but it could happen.

 

[sinisterdesign]

did any of you ever think that maybe... just maybe... they are hiring engineers for a project not yet even rumored?? Something 4 or 5 years from being manufactured? There is no way apple is looking for engineers to work on the next to be released x86 portables. Those [x86] machines are already developed and are probably months from being manufactured.

my thoughts exactly. i've still got some fingers crossed for a media center. sony engineers would make a nice addition to that team...

 

[pjkelnhofer]

This is very likely. I wouldn't make a Mac X86 laptop release date prediction based solely on the hiring of a former Sony employee! They've likely been working on this thing for quite a while now, besides, SJ said that we can expect some x86 machines one year from WWDC, which is now only 10 months away...

And Steve has never predicting something happening "by this time next year" and not had it work out... or has he? 😀

 

[digitalbiker]

Just FUD

We apparently have a bunch of comedians in the audience or people who have been around Steve’s RDF so long its permeated their cellular structure. Now go and compare benchmarks of that series of Pentium M’s vs. the latest round (Tomshardware.com is a good one.) and simply extrapolate that info and you will see that Intel is kicking the crap out of the G4 on all fronts.
I pity anyone who actually thinks the G4 is anything other then an old dilapidated POS. Can it get the job done? Sure. So can a 233Mhz Pentium II. Doesn’t mean I would use one at this point though. The G4 is a CPU that should have been discontinued when Apple wisely got the hell away from it on their desktop line. Apple simply had no viable solution for their laptop line so time and again they speed bumped the G4 overclocking the living crap out of it. (Anyone wonder why its 1.67Ghz and not 1.7Ghz?) Prior to the Pentium M the G4 was an outstanding CPU. Intel M has changed the ballgame. Apple should have suited up for it. Instead they have been sitting on the sidelines probably screeching at their chip manufacturers like a baboon who lost their banana that they want a mobile chip solution NOW. NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW! Moto had “plans” IBM had. Well god know what IBM told Apple. But it apparently wasn’t enough.
Pentium M PowerBooks are going to make the current gen PowerBooks look "sad". Its as simple as that.

This is just pure FUD. The benchmarks you site are primarily graphics driven and are probably related more to the graphics card than the CPU.

There are just as many Benchmarks that benefit the G4 over the Pentium M. The Adobe suite of products is one that comes to mind, many Photoshop filters and operations in Premier which benefit from Altivec blow the Pentium M away. Maya on the Powerbook also out performs the Pentium M.

Have you ever tried multitasking multiple cpu intensive applications. OSX on the G4 destroys Windows XP on the Pentium M.

Granted the FSB on the G4 is slow, it is the primary drawback. However the Freescale 7448 at a 2 ghz clock speed with a much faster FSB, redesigned chipset which supports Pci-express, and SATA hard drives would not be the lackluster performer that you are spreading all this FUD about.

In fact I wouldn't go Pentium-M in a powerbook until intel at least builds the dual core version.

I also would not count on spring 2006 as the Apple intel PB release time frame because this is just not going to happen. Apple won't go intel in the PB until at least the fall of 2006 and most likely 4th qtr 2006.

 

[mak_suzu1]

Apple Japan wants ...

Apple Japan wants Tooling and Process Engineer in Japan (strange),
who should work in and out of Japan. Good English capability necessary.

I am not good at to translate technical terms in manufacturing:
... He/She must hava experience in Al dicast, plastic encosure production etc.
Material, eclosure surface treatement of metal and plastic, and especially metal mold design, and so on.

I am thinking that this recruiting activities turned out VAIO engineers ?
it sounds somewhat reasonable.