Macintosh Moving to Intel Processors [Updated]

[Bonte]

The big question is whether OSX x86 software will run on PPC. If not then PPC is dead in the water

Fat binaries from now on, oow that brings on some memory's. 😀 Not all bad, i think the transition is going to be as good as it possibly can be. Apple has a fair amount of experience one might say 🙄

 

[Mr Maui]

i going to med-school as well, thankfully i have a bit more funds, as i work in a hospital now. but my next purchases must last me through medical school, can't spend 4000 on computers every year

Take out a loan against future earnings, doc! 😀

 

[Dr.Gargoyle]

um, someone with this craaaaaazy desire to buy a computer that runs OS X? But seriously, I share some of your concern: I imagine marketing the next speedbumped PowerPC 'Mac/'Book is going to be a wee bit more difficult.

sliiiiightly.... 🙄
This is a complete nightmare

 

[coyoteshawn]

How seamless?

I am still in awe over tha fact that they did not have machines ready for sale as new Apple hardware is not going to sell for quite awhile. I for one will not buy a PPC based system as of today. Also, what does this mean for all the "New" mac users that switched? Now they will have to buy a new system again? I am not opposed to Apple/Intel (Aptel) but I am worried that this will alienate our new PC converts and some die hard mac users as well. And what about all the hype of 64bit? Other than Itanium2 and EMT64 on P4s, what does intel offer? Thinking here AMD would have been the better choice. The fact that this is a year off means Intel will have new chips out by then. The current G5 towers have CPUs on plug in modules, is it possible that they can be upgraded tp Intel CPUs? Wow so many question and I am so impatient!!!

 

[shompa]

Since when does Bill Gates make Intel chips?

Bill made Intel.
If Bill moved to PPC, Intel would be making PPC or beeing dead.

I really think that Apple should have bought freescale a couple a years ago.

Intels Xeons are more expensive than G5.
Why will this be better for me as a consumer?

It better for Jobs/Apple, but not me.

 

[ruud]

Why does everyone think Apple is abandoning the PPC? They didn't abandon the G3 when the G4 became available, and they didn't abandon the G4 when the G5 became available. Heck, even Tiger still supports machines that haven't been sold in 5 years or so.
I am pretty confident that the Macs I own will continue to be valuable and supported as well as could be expected.

 

[840quadra]

To add to that. Here are the specs. I would pay 2999 in an instant for a machine like this. If the new design means that I can run WIN AND OSX - booyah. More important, EVOLCRE wouldn't spend the money. The procurement department of his company would as long as I can justify compatibility with the rest of the network.

We have over 20 OSX Macintosh computers on our Windows 2003 WAN. There are a few functions you cannot do on these, when compared to the XP computers, but the users don't often need to do them, and it isn't that big of a deal. Getting an OS X computer to work on a Microsoft network isn't hard, if you know what you are doing.

As far as the new Macintosh being able to run Windows, I doubt that will happen unless Microsoft decides to attempt to make an OS for the new Macintosh. IBM has servers that contain PowerPC 970 chips, but as far as I know, you cannot run OS X Server on these, because of uniqueness in the IBM chipset. I believe that Apple will have a somewhat unique chipset, and ROM for their X86 based Macintosh computers, when compared to X86 PC clones.

just my thoughts

840

 

[Mr Maui]

Why does everyone think Apple is abandoning the PPC? They didn't abandon the G3 when the G4 became available, and they didn't abandon the G4 when the G5 became available. Heck, even Tiger still supports machines that haven't been sold in 5 years or so.
I am pretty confident that the Macs I own will continue to be valuable and supported as well as could be expected.

Finally, a remark that makes sense concerning the future of the existing (and or possible future) PPC machines. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

 

[SiliconAddict]

I am most concerned about all of the recent switchers with Mac Minis. Now that they have jumped ship, they may feel like Apple is abandoning them.

Why? Don't you guys get it? Most apps will be able to run on both PPC and X86. The tools Apple is deploying will make sure of that and I can guarantee you that if you asked a typical switcher what a Power PC is they will say "Is that Apple's next computer name?" When the time comes to upgrade I'll bet the average switcher who got a mini won't even know there is a x86 chip in their system. All they will know is that they used Apple's import tools and BAM! Away they go. like a bat out of heck on their 2Ghz Mac Mini.

 

[Laurent]

Why does everyone think Apple is abandoning the PPC? They didn't abandon the G3 when the G4 became available, and they didn't abandon the G4 when the G5 became available. Heck, even Tiger still supports machines that haven't been sold in 5 years or so.
I am pretty confident that the Macs I own will continue to be valuable and supported as well as could be expected.

5 years is the magic number... Starting next year!

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Cell is not more powerfull than any PC processor in terms of general computing...

But, how much of that "general computing" can take advantage of the strengths of the Cell. Between Core Image and multimedia contents, how well wouldn't a couple of Cells run OS X on "normal" users day-to-day, surfing, mailing, exposé-ing 😉, music- and video-playing and even gaming...?

 

[Dr.Gargoyle]

Yes, analysts are predicting that this could hurt Mac sales, just as switching to the PPC did 10 years ago and switching to OSX did a few years ago.

Heaters in the Sahara? Don't know if it would be that bad...

We are talking two years... Will the new x86 computers run PPC programs. Does Rosetta support that?
We only know that Rosetta supports PPC -> x86 not x86 -> PPC

 

[afields]

This will be the largest thread in macrumors history.


I really hope apple updates their website, and sheds some more light on this tranisition.

 

[evilernie]

Fast

This has got to be the busiest thread I've ever seen on Macrumors. When I start at the top I think I'm on the last page. By the time I get to the bottom, there's at least one more page.

I can't keep up! 😀

 

[Laurent]

When will we get a QuickTime Stream of that event?

 

[PCMacUser]

And if they put one Intel sticker on the case of any Apple machine, I'm done, OS or not.

You could always peel it off - I doubt it'll void your warranty. Surely your loyalty to Apple can stretch beyond a bit of adhesive backed plastic! 😛

Give it time dude, I think you'll start to see that this will benefit everyone in the end!

 

[SiliconAddict]

You are assuming Apple is still around... I don't
Just as you said... who is buying a new Mac today?

Just for the hell of it I think I will get a Mini in July. Now that I know there aren't going to be any real updates to the PowerBook for around a year....yah...mini.

 

[Dr.Gargoyle]

People. Stop and use the brain a second. Who gives a crap about what chip is in the bloody computer?!?! As long as X is snappy. As long as its stable. As long as it CAN run your old apps.

Right, as long as you can do that... Do we know that?
Steve demonstarted Rosetta x86 -> PPC but not PPC - > x86

 

[SpookTheHamster]

I don't see much wrong with moving from the PowerPC chips. However, I would have envisioned Apple moving to AMD, rather than Intel, due to AMD's RISC history.

Apple once licensed their OS other companies, it failed miserably because the other machines were cheaper than Apple branded ones. I can't see Apple letting other machines run OS X, to stop the same thing happening. Likewise, I can't see Apple letting us run Windows or Linux distros on our Apples (however cool it'd be to have a 3 OS computer).

 

[Laurent]

You could always peel it off - I doubt it'll void your warranty. Surely your loyalty to Apple can stretch beyond a bit of adhesive backed plastic! 😛

Give it time dude, I think you'll start to see that this will benefit everyone in the end!

I don't think we'll get stickers or the Intel sound at the end of Apple commercials... Do not worry...

 

[iN8]

I was a little shocked when I found out al this was true, but after thinking about it for a while I am ok with it. Mainly because Macs will still be running Mac OS X, that is why I use a Mac. Apple will still be controlling the whole process; OS and Hardware design and implementation. Apple will have more options for processors now and can switch back to PPC more easily if IBM/Moto has any breakthoughs.

 

[shompa]

This is the best thing Apple could do. IBM didn't deliver the performance that was promised, and Apple shouldn't have to suffer the consequences of their lost. On x86, if Intel doesn't delivers, Apple could always turn to AMD as their major supplier. Lots of options with x86, as oppose to PowerPC with Motorola (or Freescale) and IBM as their only options...

Intel and AMD is SLOWER today than G5.

Intel and AMD is more expensive than G5.

This is not a move for us consumers, but for Apple to make more money selling software.
Apple IS the new Microsoft. They dont care about their customers best, but the companys best. They should care about their customers since that its we who give apple all their Money.

Back to the architecure.
Intel Xeon: 37 stages, 266mhz bus quad pumped. Sucky in dual operation,
AMD: 2.6 ghz. = good
G5 17 stages, 1.25ghz bus. Excellent in dual operation since each processor have its own channel.

Jobs it trying to sell us the Intel Myth.

F' him.

 

[xli_ne]

People. Stop and use the brain a second. Who gives a crap about what chip is in the bloody computer?!?! As long as X is snappy. As long as its stable. As long as it CAN run your old apps. Who cares?!?! I mean how many of you have pictures of the G5 CPU sitting next to your nightstand which you kiss goodnight every night? Its a bloody chip. If Apple can craft a box that is just as pretty as the current Mac systems who cares? God some of you guys really are being a bunch of babies. This isn't the end of the world. Its actually a new beginning. And IMHO a bright one for Apple as long as they play this right. My biggest concern was if Apple was going to have the tools ready to go at the announcement. WEll considering that they have had FIVE YEARS to fine tune it I would say that's a big HECK YES! Provide the tools. Provide the time. And provide the superior hardware and watch OS X for x86 fly off the launch pad.

amen

 

[addicted44]

PPC is good only in specialized applications?

With switches by MS, Sony and Nintendo towards PPc, there is the concern that the IBM processors will be faster. Even if this is true, the fact is that there is barely any personal computing done on PPC's (i mean desktops and laptops), unless the Xbox 360 is supposed to be a computer replacement, which I realy doubt. Remember, MS has no PPC windows version, and the few linux variants on it are negligible in terms of markets. So even if Intel is the slower processor of the two, all the competition is also on the same processor, so Apple is at no disadvantage. Although, I hope Apple sticks with Intel's dual core, and 64 bit processors only.

I would have been even happier if Apple had gone with AMD, since they seem to be far ahead of Intel in nearly every field right now, save laptops, but I think in the long run, even in the next few years, Intel, because of the money it has, could easily outstrip AMD. Also, AMD is a very unreliable supplier, barely being able to supply any of its latest chips, so I really doubt they would have been able to ramp up production to support Apple, which is a big reason apple chose intel. Another factor could be that Intel is maybe footing some of the bills arising from this transition. I think they are hoping apple can turn their fortunes in the consumer electronics market, considering how IBM seems to have cornered this segment which some predict will be the biggest in the near future. I am sure if there is one company that can help them make great products, then it is apple.

Hopefully this shall be a great turning point for apple.

BTW I needed some advice. I wanted to buy a powerbook for school in august or so, however i dont mind waiting a few months. Being a newbie to the mac world, i don tknow when it would be cheapest, before, or after the school buying season. When would everyone recommend I buy the powerbook or even if I should buy the powerbook or not?

 

[cptcaveman]

I hate to say it and may be accused of being a troll, as I am sitting in front of my Dell X1 Pentium M laptop (don't worry kiddies, you'll get yours in 2007 😛 ), but hasn't Steve Jobs been bs'ing you all for some time about the performance of the PPC in relation to Intel?

Isn't today the final proof of that?

Maybe when the Pentium III was around it could be accused of being a rather hot-running processor, but it was pretty damn quick for it's time. Two generations later I am running a Dell X1 Pentium M that doesn't even have a fan!

Intel ain't that bad, my laptop is 2.5 pounds and less than an inch thick (closed) and runs as silent as the grave.