Exactly - this has me most concerned about the switch to Intel. Would developers create two ports of the same program, will Rosetta support OSX x86 software on a PPC, or will folks simply say "screw this."Dr.Gargoyle said:
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Macintosh Moving to Intel Processors [Updated]
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I don't understand why people who have recently bought a Mac should be upset!
All major applications will be compiled for both PPC and X86 for at least the next four or five years, if not longer, considering that Apple intents to keep shipping PPC Macs until 2007. Even brand new applications developed with Xcode will support the PPC, as in 95% of cases it won't be any extra work at all to compile for both.
The only effect will be that developers will stop optimising code specifically for the PPC, and if certain API features eventually become X86 only, developers will start to drop support for the PPC, as happened in the 68k to PPC transition.
But this won't happen for years. I expect that a PPC Mac will be able to run almost every single application released within the next four to five years, and most applications even after that.
Having said all that, convincing potential customers that this is the case over the next two years is going to be difficult for Apple.
All major applications will be compiled for both PPC and X86 for at least the next four or five years, if not longer, considering that Apple intents to keep shipping PPC Macs until 2007. Even brand new applications developed with Xcode will support the PPC, as in 95% of cases it won't be any extra work at all to compile for both.
The only effect will be that developers will stop optimising code specifically for the PPC, and if certain API features eventually become X86 only, developers will start to drop support for the PPC, as happened in the 68k to PPC transition.
But this won't happen for years. I expect that a PPC Mac will be able to run almost every single application released within the next four to five years, and most applications even after that.
Having said all that, convincing potential customers that this is the case over the next two years is going to be difficult for Apple.
Dr.Gargoyle said:
Heh, we posted basically the same question at the same time!
Everyone is wondering....
At first I kind of freaked out, but on reflection I guess it's a good thing and I certainly hope it means Apple will give Windows a run for it's money.
My only real concerns are current software issues. I've just invested a heck of a lot of money on apps like Adobe CS2 and although Jobs says Rosetta will run current PPC applications with little or no performance issues I wonder what that will equate to in the real world
My only real concerns are current software issues. I've just invested a heck of a lot of money on apps like Adobe CS2 and although Jobs says Rosetta will run current PPC applications with little or no performance issues I wonder what that will equate to in the real world
People keep asking who will buy a Mac in the next year... I will! I'm saving up for a Mini, it can do everything I need it to do right now. In two years I'll get another Mac. A faster one I do think the laptops are in trouble, they were dated before the keynote, now that everyone knows that new tech is coming, most people will wait.
Isaac
I do think the laptops are in trouble, they were dated before the keynote, now that everyone knows that new tech is coming, most people will wait. Isaac
iGary said:
I always thought that microsoft was the devil to everyone, not intel. If apple chose amd instead of intel, would you be alright with an amd sticker?
There is no way Apple will be able to handle this transition well. They've demonstrated time and again that they can't even deliver bug-free incremental updates to OS X, and now they're claiming they will be able to complete this desperate, radical change? There's no positive spin to put on this "transition." Most people will continue to avoid the Mac, and Apple's installed base will rightly feel sh*t upon. The RDF has worn thin this time. The Mac is truly dead.
Stella said:
Ha, ha, ha....
I bloddy know that. The point, though, is that nobody in their right mind will develop for OSX-PPC now. So that means zero new apps ... oh what fun. Not to mention that rosetta only seems to do PPC->x86 and not the reverse.
Bookmark this page.....In 2008 everyone is going to be singing Apple's praise for their smart move. You people are sad.
This is the best move Apple could have done and for those who are saying they will never use Apple again. Shut up. You know you will. You will be right there with everyone else oooing and awing at the dual core PowerBook Pentium M's at 2Ghz. You will be impressed at the 2Ghz Mac Mini that will probably come out at MW '06. You will freak at the dual CPU cual core PowerMacs at 4Ghz in 2007. So please stop. You are acting like a bunch of babies.
This is the best move Apple could have done and for those who are saying they will never use Apple again. Shut up. You know you will. You will be right there with everyone else oooing and awing at the dual core PowerBook Pentium M's at 2Ghz. You will be impressed at the 2Ghz Mac Mini that will probably come out at MW '06. You will freak at the dual CPU cual core PowerMacs at 4Ghz in 2007. So please stop. You are acting like a bunch of babies.
Because they have to build the hardware with whatever model of CPU they've designed in, and that chip may not be available in volume yet. It would be very silly to assume that Apple would carry in support for all the PC legacy goo that allows DOS to still run. These are going to be Macs, not PCs.MacTruck said:
Not quite that bad, but definitively a little feeling of nausea, yes...iGary said:
I've been a Mac user since 1994, seen a change from 68k to PPC and a Microsoft $150M rescue operation, but this is worse, much worse... potentially...
Please, Apple, make it better...
How about some more info on those "roadmaps". I really hope that P4 isn't your "solution"...
This is great news, OSX will absolutely rock on high-end Intel chips.
Also, Macs will finally be great gaming machines.
Why is everyone fretting over new apps only working with Intel chips? Xcode will compile new apps into a file that runs on both chips with little or no extra effort. Why woudn't a developer release for both, especially as Mac users are known to keep their hardware for years.
I'm more interested in exactly what the Intel chip will be. I'm guessing it will be an extended Pentium, that by nature prevents OSX from running on standard PCs.
I'm just slightly perplexed as to why MS and Sony are switching to PPC for performance reasons, while Apple is going to Intel (for performance reasons)!....
Also, Macs will finally be great gaming machines.
Why is everyone fretting over new apps only working with Intel chips? Xcode will compile new apps into a file that runs on both chips with little or no extra effort. Why woudn't a developer release for both, especially as Mac users are known to keep their hardware for years.
I'm more interested in exactly what the Intel chip will be. I'm guessing it will be an extended Pentium, that by nature prevents OSX from running on standard PCs.
I'm just slightly perplexed as to why MS and Sony are switching to PPC for performance reasons, while Apple is going to Intel (for performance reasons)!....
This just in HELL HAS FROZEN OVER!
I really didn't fear this as much as others and seemed like Apple would do something like this sometime in the future. I didn't think it would be this soon though. But everyone should relax, Apple wouldn't do something like this if they didn't feel EXTREMELY strong with supporting this decision.
IBM must have really pissed them off.
I really didn't fear this as much as others and seemed like Apple would do something like this sometime in the future. I didn't think it would be this soon though. But everyone should relax, Apple wouldn't do something like this if they didn't feel EXTREMELY strong with supporting this decision.
IBM must have really pissed them off.
So, who's gonna be the first person to punch a Windows fanboy in the throat when they start flapping their gums about the whole switch?
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