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Computer_Phreak

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 15, 2002
375
0
I think that a version of Mac OS X on the x86 platform (Intel, AMD) would be very beneficial to Apple. Apart from the PPC architecture of the Mac's processor, the hardware is pretty much the same as PeeCees. Currently, the Athlon XP's and the P4's are quite a bit faster that the fastest G4's. I realize they are not so much faster the the G4 because of the pipeline, but there is no way a 1 Ghz G4 can compete with an Athlon Xp 2200+. If OS X was ported to the peecee, then Apple may seriously challenge Microsoft's dominance in the OS department. People would have no reason not to try OS X (because it would be compatable with .exe files, etc). I think Apple should make their own hardware, but use an x86 compatable processor (like the ClawHammer AMD processors). What does everyone else think about this?
 
Re: Mac OS X on x86

Christ, not again...
Originally posted by Computer_Phreak
I think that a version of Mac OS X on the x86 platform (Intel, AMD) would be very beneficial to Apple. Apart from the PPC architecture of the Mac's processor, the hardware is pretty much the same as PeeCees.

That's like saying, "apart from its color, green is pretty much the same as red."
Currently, the Athlon XP's and the P4's are quite a bit faster that the fastest G4's. I realize they are not so much faster the the G4 because of the pipeline, but there is no way a 1 Ghz G4 can compete with an Athlon Xp 2200+.

Yes, they are, so?
If OS X was ported to the peecee, then Apple may seriously challenge Microsoft's dominance in the OS department.

Be tried and failed. NeXT tried and failed. IBM tried and failed. All had the vastly superior OS. Mandrake, Lindows, Red Hat etc. are trying and failing. What makes you think Apple would have any more success?
People would have no reason not to try OS X (because it would be compatable with .exe files, etc).

It wouldn't be able to run .exe files unless it had a Windows compatibility layer, which would require a license and a great amount of effort to develop.
I think Apple should make their own hardware, but use an x86 compatable processor (like the ClawHammer AMD processors). What does everyone else think about this?
x86 OS X and an x86 Mac would:

1) Require years of intensive development
2) Piss off millions of PPC Mac users - we're talking riots in the streets here
3) SERIOUSLY piss off hundreds of major Mac developers
4) Reduce Apple's profitability to nothing and bankrupt them all because a few geeks want a little more speed.

The customer's thought process:

"I can get an Athlon 2100+ From Dell for $x. Or I can get one from Apple for $x+200 (because Apple can't sell their computers for what Dell does and still make money). The Dell runs more software, is compatible with more hardware, and runs the same OS everybody else's computer does so I know that I won't have any problems switching. It's also more easily upgradeable. The Apple is... uh... it has a pretty case, and one less mouse button. Uh... um... Yes, dude, I'm gettin' a Dell."

Apple needs to do the EXACT OPPOSITE of blurring the line between PCs and Macs. It needs to make the hardware and software is so unique and cool and different that nobody has any problems paying what they do for it. They need to either get their **** together in the CPU performance area, or they need to de-emphasize CPU performance and sell Macs based on their other qualities. PORTING OS X TO X86 WOULD KILL APPLE DEAD. Thank you, good day.

Alex
 
Re: Well...

Originally posted by MacAztec
Everyone would be buying PeeCees, and apple would loose sales

apple would lose "some" hardware sales but gain a lot of software sales (with giant margins) which would more than make billions for apple in the long run

really, man, who wants to stare at windows 40 hours a week?

have some mercy;)
 
hmm, peecee users would no longer have to skin hexpee to look like osx..instead they'dd *cough get it illegally cough* and install that instead...so it'dd be alot better not to transport it to x86
 
Originally posted by SilvorX
hmm, peecee users would no longer have to skin hexpee to look like osx..instead they'dd *cough get it illegally cough* and install that instead...so it'dd be alot better not to transport it to x86

with that type of thinking, microsoft, adobe, macromedia, oracle, sun, corel, and all software companies would be out of business by next year:p
 
Re: Re: Well...

Originally posted by jefhatfield
apple would lose "some" hardware sales but gain a lot of software sales (with giant margins) which would more than make billions for apple in the long run

really, man, who wants to stare at windows 40 hours a week?

have some mercy;)

No mercy for you spunky...

I look at the Mac OS at work and about 95% of the time at home (5% is when I fire up the game peecee for some killin).

Apple would have to charge at least 2x what they charge for the OS now in order to stay alive. They would also have to increase the price of their software to compensate for the sales/profit loss on hardware.

You would STILL need the software companies to write code for OS X, no matter what hardware it sits on. THAT is the main problem here, while many companies ARE writing the software, many are not.
 
Re: Re: Re: Well...

Originally posted by AlphaTech

while many companies ARE writing the software, many are not.

os x will get more devotees and i think that's where the developers will start coming writing for os x more and more over the next several years

btw, alpha...my butt hurts

sorry, everybody, it's an "inside" joke:p
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Well...

Originally posted by jefhatfield
btw, alpha...my butt hurts

sorry, everybody, it's an "inside" joke:p

An inside joke that should NOT be. :rolleyes: Serves you right though... shoving foreign objects up it like you do... :eek:
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Well...

Originally posted by AlphaTech


An inside joke that should NOT be. :rolleyes: Serves you right though... shoving foreign objects up it like you do... :eek:

how is my own fist a foreign object? i am going to work it up to the point so i can go to canada and bring across a whole caseload of cuban cigars

how do you think americans get cuban cigars over here?

come to think of it, those cigars do have a strange aroma:p
 
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