Of course they will move to ARM, everyone will. Google is allready running their data centres on ARM based servers, Windows 8 will run on ARM as well, Apple is investing huge amount of money into their A4, A5 chips. The main problem of computers nowadays is power efficiency and not computing power, because most of the computers allready are overpowerd for what their users usually do with them.
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Apple to Move from Intel to ARM Processors in Future Laptops?
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No!
If they do that, and will no longer buy apple computers. I may keep the iPhone but no more iMacs for me. Also with this, I will seriously start conidering selling my stock. Apple has tried to use a custom processor before, and looked how that turned out. There is no way they can catch up to Intel's and AMD's experience making chips. Intel I believe are some the best and AMD is right there with them. All I could see happening is performace dropping and apple profit margins growing. I don't think this would be a smart move for apple, but what do I know, I am just a consumer.
I believe they are starting to move into the "I am big, I am selling a crap load of devices. I know what I am doing."
When they purchased ARM chip manufactures, I knew this is where they were going to be taking it. Just a matter of time.
-- Side note --
I am NOT completely against this, I just hope if they do make the move, I want to see benchmarks against Intel and AMD processors...if performance & relibility surpasses them, then I may reverse opinion....this is my intial reaction.
If they do that, and will no longer buy apple computers. I may keep the iPhone but no more iMacs for me. Also with this, I will seriously start conidering selling my stock. Apple has tried to use a custom processor before, and looked how that turned out. There is no way they can catch up to Intel's and AMD's experience making chips. Intel I believe are some the best and AMD is right there with them. All I could see happening is performace dropping and apple profit margins growing. I don't think this would be a smart move for apple, but what do I know, I am just a consumer.
I believe they are starting to move into the "I am big, I am selling a crap load of devices. I know what I am doing."
When they purchased ARM chip manufactures, I knew this is where they were going to be taking it. Just a matter of time.
-- Side note --
I am NOT completely against this, I just hope if they do make the move, I want to see benchmarks against Intel and AMD processors...if performance & relibility surpasses them, then I may reverse opinion....this is my intial reaction.
Citation needed. Especially in light of this 2 month old article :
Intel, Google Doubt ARM and Atom Have Chances in Servers
AMD is currently a bang for buck chip maker, I doubt you'll see them CPUs in Apple products. Plus until Fusion develops some more the thermal envelope isn't too good.
nor can i.
i just remember all the problems i had with those processors in the past.
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/04/21/google-buys-agnilux-eyeing-processors/
The article doesn't mention the processor architecture, but it is really supposed to be ARM.
The TDP of Bobcat Fusion includes fast DX11 graphics. The TDP of Atom does not include graphics.
Bobcat Fusion is at 40nm bulk. Atom is at 45nm.
In some months Atom will shrink to 32nm with DX10 graphics.
By the turn of the year Bobcat+ Fusion will be out on 28nm bulk.
And how did you go from that acquisition to "Google are running their datacenters on ARM" might I ask ?
Not to mention my article is 2 months old, yours is more than 1 year old.
Nope, you'll have to retract your "facts". As far as we know, Google doesn't run their datacenters on ARM at all.
Why so negative on this news?
As has been said, time and time again, the consumers Apple are tar targeting don't care what's in the box. If the on-screen "user experience" is great then it matters not one jot what brand of CPU or any other parts Apple decides to use.
It's like having a great car and getting upset about the manufacturer of the engine components. This type of consumer does not care.
It works, it looks great, I'm happy.
As has been said, time and time again, the consumers Apple are tar targeting don't care what's in the box. If the on-screen "user experience" is great then it matters not one jot what brand of CPU or any other parts Apple decides to use.
It's like having a great car and getting upset about the manufacturer of the engine components. This type of consumer does not care.
It works, it looks great, I'm happy.
Rumors and Vapor...and for laptops/mobile devices...
...and 2-3 years before it's even rumored to hit.
And how did you go from that acquisition to "Google are running their datacenters on ARM" might I ask ?
Not to mention my article is 2 months old, yours is more than 1 year old.
Nope, you'll have to retract your "facts". As far as we know, Google doesn't run their datacenters on ARM at all.
What I really wanted to say is that Google is going to run their datacentres on ARM and for some reason I wrote that they allready are which was a mistake. But the fact that Google bought a company developing ARM processors and also hired engineers from PA Semi that previously worked on Apple's A4 chips means that they ARE going to produce their own ARM chips either for their own Android phones or more likely for their datacentres.
Makes sense in that apple could control their own destiny in chipsets and CPUs, but it just seems like the PowerPC days all over again.
I can see this happening. I think it's a very clever move for Apple as they will be going away from commodity chips, will have more control over their chip design, will have better power consumption - which is a big thing with their environmentalism push, they will potentially be able to merge iOS and OSX.
I don't see this as a bad thing and to those saying they won't buy another iMac - that could be true, the Mac may no longer be a brand anymore in 2013.
Apple only went with intel because IBM was never going to be able to make a G5 laptop chip. Why are people so closed minded when it comes to change?
I don't see this as a bad thing and to those saying they won't buy another iMac - that could be true, the Mac may no longer be a brand anymore in 2013.
Apple only went with intel because IBM was never going to be able to make a G5 laptop chip. Why are people so closed minded when it comes to change?
Why not? They've already done it twice - don't forget the 68K to PPC transition. I went through that too, and all I can say is: no, no, please, not again! I couldn't stand another transition.
CPU architecture transitions waste years of time, cost Apple and their customers huge amounts of money. The only way it's worth it is if the architecture you're going from is dead or dying, and the new one is much better, faster and cheaper. This was true for the 68K and sadly later for the PPC too, but there's no sign of the x86 losing it's edge in the price/performance stakes for laptops and above.
While it's not totally impossible that ARM might one day challenge Intel's x86 in the low-end notebook and el cheapo desktop space I can't see them ever seriously getting near Intel (or AMD) in the real desktop, server and serious MacBook Pro space. Intel's process lead, now a full generation and soon with 3D transistors too, will likely keep them ahead of any alternative architecture (barring perhaps a breakthrough in quantum computing or somesuch) for the foreseeable future. I can't see how Apple would gain anything real from moving away from x86 for the Mac. In fact, by 2013 the Atom may be seriously challenging ARM in the low-power performance stakes for tablets (and even possibly phones), so it might make more sense for iOS to transition to x86 rather than the reverse. Maybe.
And how did you go from that acquisition to "Google are running their datacenters on ARM" might I ask ?
Not to mention my article is 2 months old, yours is more than 1 year old.
Nope, you'll have to retract your "facts". As far as we know, Google doesn't run their datacenters on ARM at all.
Yeah... ARM servers are like JUST coming to light... let alone actually being used by google in their data centers... that won't come for YEARS.
Hell the CEO even says so...
Change for the sake of change is not a good thing, and I am sure that is not why apple would be doing it. Technologies more than anything else changes rapidly. If ARM has a breakthrough technology in the pipe,and Apple is aware of it, surely they would be prepared to jump ship.
No one can think Apple would change stream, and not know what they were getting into. Innovation is Apples niche, and seems to be working well for them. Imagine if ARM is developing a revolutionary concept in processor technology that makes current transistors look like vacuum tube technology. It could happen! Who would argue that in 20 years computing and processor technology will be vastly different than what we see today. Who's to say that it couldn't happen in 2-5 years.
No one can think Apple would change stream, and not know what they were getting into. Innovation is Apples niche, and seems to be working well for them. Imagine if ARM is developing a revolutionary concept in processor technology that makes current transistors look like vacuum tube technology. It could happen! Who would argue that in 20 years computing and processor technology will be vastly different than what we see today. Who's to say that it couldn't happen in 2-5 years.
Microsoft isnt switching over to just ARM. They're just making Windows compatible on ARM. For their Windows 8 Tablets most likely.
There you go again with facts. Citation needed. I think what you want to say here is :
"There was some speculation last year that Google might switch to ARM for their datacenters and servers after an acquisition of an ARM technology company".
There is no way you can state what you are stating as a fact right now.
Yes, that is a fact you can state.
Not all acquisitions end up in workable projects. Google does a lot of acquisitions, some of them just end up as IP port-folio fodders, some of them get recycled into products, some of them just get abandonned. Who knows what Google is planning ?
How is it more likely for their datacenters, in light of Google's staff saying ARM isn't ready for the datacenter ? I'd say at this point, it's more likely for the Chrome OS based netbooks that will probably never see the light of day officially beyond the Cr48.
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