Mac OS X Snow Leopard Drops PowerPC Support

[amac4me]

It makes sense for Apple to drop PowerPC support on Mac OS X eventually and the sooner the better for the firm moving forward.

The PowerPC Mac era died the day the Apple announced the transition to Intel processors (Summer 2005). We are now 2.5 years into the Intel Mac era (since MacBook Pro announcement @ MacWorld 2006) so dropping PowerPC support in Snow Leopard is the wise decision for Apple.

Mac OS X, the 'world's most advanced operating system' needs to drop legacy support to continue to push the envelope.

 

[SkyBell]

It makes sense for Apple to drop PowerPC support on Mac OS X eventually and the sooner the better for the firm moving forward.

The PowerPC Mac era died the day the Apple announced the transition to Intel processors (Summer 2005). We are now 2.5 years into the Intel Mac era (since MacBook Pro announcement @ MacWorld 2006) so dropping PowerPC support in Snow Leopard is the wise decision for Apple.

Mac OS X, the 'world's most advanced operating system' needs to drop legacy support to continue to push the envelope.

As stated before, the PowerMac G5 was produced through june and perhaps July of 2006, Just at 2 years old. That is not nearly old enough to even think about dropping it. Plus, dropping the PPC code would not make OS X any faster, it would just take up a little less space.

 

[ReanimationLP]

Well people, if you have PPC Macs and no Intel ones and want to upgrade, I recommend doing so before this new OS comes out and the market for PPC used Macs plummets and crumbles.

Like look at the ol' Blue G3 towers back when Tiger came out, they went from an average of 150 or so to 50-60. And now? You cant even give them away. (Yes, I know Tiger can run on them. But the value started to plummet at the same time it came out.)

Look at how Leopard is killing the resale value of anything below its requirements.

 

[SkyBell]

Like look at the ol' Blue G3 towers back when Tiger came out, they went from an average of 150 or so to 50-60. And now? You cant even give them away.
Look at how Leopard is killing the resale value of anything below its requirements.

I'll take one.

I don't know, this is exactly what people said when the Intel switch was announced. "PPC Macs will be worthless in a few months." But it didn't happen. The prices dropped, but you could still end up paying a pretty penny for one. Perhaps this time will be different, but somehow I doubt it.

 

[andy721]

ppc

Yeah we need to get rid of the ppc anyways sorry but its true what is it 1999 still or 2008 come on we need to get with the program here. Were not going to get a better OS if we don't drop the ppc support. We need a cleaner more advance OS anyways.

 

[timb]

As stated before, the PowerMac G5 was produced through june and perhaps July of 2006, Just at 2 years old. That is not nearly old enough to even think about dropping it. Plus, dropping the PPC code would not make OS X any faster, it would just take up a little less space.

And by the time Snow Leopard is released (Summer 2009), they'll be 3 years old!

I guess what I'm getting at is this: Cry more about it?

Seriously. This is why we can't have nice things, people.

 

[ReanimationLP]

And by the time Snow Leopard is released (Summer 2009), they'll be 3 years old!

I guess what I'm getting at is this: Cry more about it?

Seriously. This is why we can't have nice things, people.

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist this.

TBH though, people who bought the PowerMac G5 Quads knew that the Intel models were coming out eventually. -Shrugs-

Its a great way for them to sell people new machines.

 

[sr5878]

Yeah we need to get rid of the ppc anyways sorry but its true what is it 1999 still or 2008 come on we need to get with the program here. Were not going to get a better OS if we don't drop the ppc support. We need a cleaner more advance OS anyways.

yeeeeahhh....

how exactly is leopard limited by PPC support? you seem pretty convinced

 

[koobcamuk]

I was always leaving the PowerBook with 10.5.X as the maximum anyway. It runs nicely, but anything else on it would really tax the little G4.

 

[timb]

yeeeeahhh....

how exactly is leopard limited by PPC support? you seem pretty convinced

It takes a lot of work to keep the OS going for two architectures. It's not just a simple source code recompile, it's far more work than that.

Right now, the OS team is stretched thin between Leopard and the iPhone, and it shows. Removing the monkey on their back that is PPC will be a huge help.

 

[ppc_michael]

Maybe they'll release PPC and Intel versions separately so one isn't all crapped up with the other?

 

[timb]

Maybe they'll release PPC and Intel versions separately so one isn't all crapped up with the other?

No.

 

[Eidorian]

Maybe they'll release PPC and Intel versions separately so one isn't all crapped up with the other?

Careful you might make some user's head explode with that idea.

Apple use different SKUs...wait a second!

 

[steamtoy]

Maybe they'll release PPC and Intel versions separately so one isn't all crapped up with the other?

definitely no

 

[plinkoman]

In late 2005 you should have been well aware of the Intel transition announced in the middle of the year. The "Intel PowerBook" was even announced in early November of 2005.

of course I was well aware of the transition, but unlike so many on these forums, I couldn't just keep waiting for the next revision; I needed the computer then, and I thought (correctly) that 3 years from then it would still be a very capable machine. It still is a very capable machine, I just didn't realize I'd start hearing reports of the end of ppc support 6 months before my applecare has even expired. That is far too quick to drop support of a $3000 product. 10.7 I would expect it, not 10.6

from a business standpoint, I can understand the decision, because a) it streamlines the operating system and makes it smaller, b) it frees up people, time, and money to go into development of other things, and c) because people in my situation will get over it and still remain as mac users, and people in my situation with more money might use that as an excuse to buy a new mac altogether. but it is still really lame.

 

[toxicbomber]

Apple no longer includes that chip on newer Macs from what I hear.

No. They still do. It's decrypted in a way that NO ONE can crack it.

 

[plinkoman]

PPC owners who whine:
You want (not need) the latest OS but you work on outdated machines.

we work on what you call outdated machines because we want, but don't need new machines. I actually budget my money responsibly instead of buying a new computer every time I want to. On that note, I'm still on my first iPod from 2003. why? because it still works fine, outdated or not; I have other things I need to spend money on, like food, rent, and paying back student loans.

and do tell me how my powerbook is outdated? aside from being able to run snow leopard apparently, it is able to do every single thing I ask of it, and to do so at a speed not so bad as for me to want to replace it. not so bad for the ancient relic you make it out to be.

this isn't "hanging on to the past", it is choosing not to waste money on something I don't need. you are right that I don't need snow leopard either, but it is considerably cheaper than a new machine althogether.

 

[mmulin]

slicecom ... I bought my computer less than 3 years ago and it runs Leopard fine. I just don't see how they can cut PPC support for those G5 owners who bought late in 2006.

If Apple wants to sell high end computers that are going to last their customer base 3-5 years (which I would say is a good amount) they need to keep the support running.

I mean, how would some of these new Mac Pro owners feel if 10.7 wouldn't run on their computers in 2 years...

As it was mentioned earlier, I am also sure, Leopard will stick around for a while. Hey, even Tiger was just upped to 10.4.11 and gotten Safari 3. If Apple may decide to drop PPC support in the next version, it doesn't mean your PPC computers will become useless. You still can do the same things with them, you could do before; and a lot more until Snow is out and may turn some software developers into Intel-only. Now go home and play!

 

[avkills]

It takes a lot of work to keep the OS going for two architectures. It's not just a simple source code recompile, it's far more work than that.

Right now, the OS team is stretched thin between Leopard and the iPhone, and it shows. Removing the monkey on their back that is PPC will be a huge help.

Ummm, it didn't seem to be stretching them thin when nobody knew they had x86 versions of every version of OS X running in a secret lab.

Really Apple has brought this upon themselves; although the only serious reason they "HAD" to switch to Intel was the fact that IBM did not deliver on a low-power high performance laptop chip. Intel has been slobbering over an Apple deal for so long it is no wonder they have a devoted team giving regular rectal exams to Mr. Jobs. The die-hard Wintel geeks must really be throbbing when Apple seems to get new hardware from Intel first.

-mark

 

[Eric S.]

love it. wanted to see the response. So the older chips are 64 bit ehh. Well then there has to be some good reason that they are being dropped.

Yeah, it's called "profits" and "Apple stock price." But don't feel left out; you'll be grist for the mill someday too.

Whatever man Don't have the old or classic or whatever you want to call the not new chipset anyway. Sorry dudes and dudaz. time to upgrade

Thanks for the advice. You can go back to sleep now.

The PowerPC Mac era died the day the Apple announced the transition to Intel processors (Summer 2005).

Really. Then why did that same announcement claim that PPC machines would be produced for another 2.5 years (which didn't happen), and that PPC would be supported "for a long time"?

TBH though, people who bought the PowerMac G5 Quads knew that the Intel models were coming out eventually. -Shrugs-

It seems like a lot of the fanbois have woken up in the last hour or two.

 

[Amdahl]

Because Apple is a business that makes money selling hardware. After they sell you the hardware they milk you for a while with software. When they add sufficient features to the software to cause your hardware to run slowly, they offer you new and faster hardware. At this point the cycle repeats.

How in the heck could they stay in business if the hardware lasted forever and never needed updates?

Producing Security Updates for at least five years are not going to prevent Apple from making money.

 

[stephenli]

It takes a lot of work to keep the OS going for two architectures. It's not just a simple source code recompile, it's far more work than that.

Right now, the OS team is stretched thin between Leopard and the iPhone, and it shows. Removing the monkey on their back that is PPC will be a huge help.

I suppose iPhone is not running on x86 architecture right?
and P.A. Semi's expertise are designing on sth for iPhone which is PPC based right?
we know iPhone is running on a varient of OSX...to drop PPC support officially doesnt mean that OSX for PPC is dead...

and u never know if PPC version would still have a secret life at the campus, just like the x86 ver. in the past. haha.

 

[Amdahl]

As do I. Tell me, how many internet-related attacks has your Mac been subject to?

Why don't you go read the holes fixed in each security update. The security holes are there. The Pwn to Own contest shows it; they exploited a known hole in software that had been fixed a year earlier in the open source software, but Apple never bothered to update it. There are tens of thousands of web sites right now that are hijacked so that infectious data can be placed on them. All it takes is one good hole in an unsupported Apple system, and hackers will start attacking it through the web sites users connect to.

Apple users are going to be exploited if hackers know there is a growing community of unprotected users.

A miniscule user base is no longer a defense in Apple's favor.

Apple has announced nothing to either of us in relation to support, future updates or pricing, so both our speculations on these matters are our best guesses and somewhat futile.

The future hasn't happened yet, but the current policy is the current policy. If we agree that Apple needs to be providing security updates for a longer period, now is the time to tell them.

 

[queshy]

it's easy for us with intel macs to brush this off...I think it's a good thing though because it'll help lighten up the OS and speed it up.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

The ironic thing about dropping PPC support for Snow Leopard is that the PPC machines are the ones that would MOST benefit from an optimized, less CPU and memory intensive version of Leopard. Geeze, a G3 might even run OK on Snow Leopard if they can get it as optimized or more so than Tiger. Whereas the Intel machines are the ones that run OK already with Leopard.