More Evidence Apple is Shifting Towards Intel-Only Software Releases?

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

Sad to see the demise of the powerpc chip. It had to come eventually.

 

[GaryRMumford]

"GarageBand Learn to Play requires an Intel-based Mac with a dual-core processor or better."

I find it strange that if you install iLife '09 on a PPC machine you can still do the lessons by opening them manually! If you go to /Library/Application Support/GarageBand/Learn to Play/Basic Lessons and double click on Guitar Lesson 1.mwand or Piano Lesson 1.mwand Garageband '09 launches and the lesson runs perfectly! So If it can work, WHY PREVENT IT?? I just don't get it!

 

[Tallest Skil]

I find it strange that if you install iLife '09 on a PPC machine you can still do the lessons by opening them manually! If you go to /Library/Application Support/GarageBand/Learn to Play/Basic Lessons and double click on Guitar Lesson 1.mwand or Piano Lesson 1.mwand Garageband '09 launches and the lesson runs perfectly! So If it can work, WHY PREVENT IT?? I just don't get it!

Snow Leopard will probably only work on 64-bit Intel processors.

That means that it won't work on the Core Duo line.

But there's little stopping it from running on G5 computers (also 64-bit), as the port across architectures could be done easily.

Sure, they wouldn't want to waste time porting anything important like Grand Central or OpenCL, but that's not really the point.

 

[andiwm2003]

I find it strange that if you install iLife '09 on a PPC machine you can still do the lessons by opening them manually! If you go to /Library/Application Support/GarageBand/Learn to Play/Basic Lessons and double click on Guitar Lesson 1.mwand or Piano Lesson 1.mwand Garageband '09 launches and the lesson runs perfectly! So If it can work, WHY PREVENT IT?? I just don't get it!

i guess they simply don't want to spend the effeort to test and guarantee that it runs on all power PC based macs. It's sad because the dual G5 and quad G5 macs still can easily keep up in speed with current dual core notebooks.

well, good bye Powermacs. it seems that apple supports technology for four years max then.

 

[yoppie]

Snow Leopard will probably only work on 64-bit Intel processors.

That means that it won't work on the Core Duo line.

Ouch. I want to purchase a new iMac but I might need to look at a new notebook instead.

Oh well.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Ouch. I want to purchase a new iMac but I might need to look at a new notebook instead.

Oh well.

Uh... all Macs sold by Apple today will definitively work with Snow Leopard. All Macs sold by Apple since August 2007 will definitively work with Snow Leopard...

 

[yoppie]

Uh... all Macs sold by Apple today will definitively work with Snow Leopard. All Macs sold by Apple since August 2007 will definitively work with Snow Leopard...

Duh, I know that. You really should try making sense of things instead of offering up rapid fire responses all the time. I notice you get off on that type of thing.

I was talking about my Core Duo notebook not being good enough for Snow Leopard as per your post.

I want to buy an iMac so I can have a desktop along with my notebook but the thing is I would probably continue using my notebook as a primary machine. In that case, it would probably make more sense for me to buy a new notebook instead of an iMac and just continue plugging into a separate monitor. Geez Louise.

 

[Panu]

Next thing you know they will stop supporting the 6502!

My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) is that there's no point in putting Snow Leopard on a PowerPC computer. First, it would only be feasible on G5 computers, and second, the architecture of the G5 is such that there would be no advantage. It very well may be that by not supporting the PowerPC in Snow Leopard, Apple is just saving themselves a lot of pointless work and expense, and G5 owners the cost of a pointless "upgrade."

I think this is what Apple means when they say "no new features." They are hinting that Snow Leopard's new features wouldn't give G5 owners enough added value to make it worthwhile, and that it won't matter anyway.

 

[Panu]

More Evidence Apple is Shifting Towards Intel-Only Software Releases?

Now that I think of it, this kind of goes without saying.

Next thing you know there will be more evidence that the calendar is shifting to March!

 

[Tallest Skil]

I was talking about my Core Duo notebook not being good enough for Snow Leopard as per your post.

You should have make your post clearer. It looked as though you were forgoing the current line of iMacs because you believed them to not be suitable for Snow Leopard.

Nowhere did you say anything about your Core Duo notebook, thus the confusion.

 

[t0mat0]

Now that I think of it, this kind of goes without saying.

Next thing you know there will be more evidence that the calendar is shifting to March!

You mean, like after February? I thought they always did that?

Expect a potential March event, anyhow.

 

[yoppie]

You should have make your post clearer. It looked as though you were forgoing the current line of iMacs because you believed them to not be suitable for Snow Leopard.

Nowhere did you say anything about your Core Duo notebook, thus the confusion.

I guess I could have made it clearer. You're correct I didn't mention it in my post. I shouldn't have assumed that you would see it in my signature. Then again, who would assume that Apple would make an OS that wouldn't be compatible with any computer they have out today (especially the latest lines)? Hmm...

At any rate, I apologize for being unclear and taking a dig at you.

 

[8767092]

Dear PPC and Older Intel Mac Users,

We all knew a time would come when Apple would stop supporting older machines. Has that time come with Snow Leopard? The rumors contradict at some points, but the conclusion is fairly solid. Later PPC Macs will see their last days running Tiger or Leopard. Is that really so bad though? You've had many fine experiences with it and technology inevitably marches forward. Your PPC Mac might be running Leopard to view this post. That is an excellent example of how far technology can take you even years after your purchase.

Love,

Those of us with the latest Intel Macs who really want you to just read how much better our newer Macs are than your old Macs.

Tongue-in-cheek sure, but the message is simple enough. Snow Leopard is written for the future in mind while PPC Macs represent the past. Regular old 10.5 Leopard will run just fine for many years to come just like Windows XP has. Windows Vista isn't compatible with every Windows XP computer released over the years and no one expects it to be. Technology marches forward at some point and you have to accept that your computer will age.

My 1998 Linux desktop with fans that sound like a pissed off monkey in a cage running Ubuntu 9.04 feels your 4 year old Mac's pain. You can't always run the latest software. And that is okay.

 

[Elijahg]

I suspect the only reason for this is that Learn to Play features HD video content which requires a fairly high spec CPU to decode. I don't think we can take this as a sign of a more general move to Intel-only distributions even if Apple is planning to drop PPC support in Snow Leopard.

I think this is the case too, on my 2.8Ghz Unibody MacBook the video can get a little choppy, especially when the "Learn" or "Play" section fades in or out. If it's not smooth on the latest Intel machine, I wouldn't like to try it on a PPC Mac.

PPC was great 4 years ago, but as with most things, it has become superseded by better products!

 

[weg]

My main machine is Intel but I had cause to use a G4 1.25 recently and was surprised how fast it was. I don't expect SL to support PPC but I do think G4 was a good processor in it's day and still useful.

I don't know what you've done on that machine, but I just replaced my 12" PB G4 with a MacBook (arriving tomorrow, hopefully), since it freaks me out how slow that thing is (e.g., a 30 page word document is almost too much for it, and forget about using iPhoto with 10MP raw format pictures). Phasing out PPC support after only 4-5 years is a bit disappointing, still (my PB is now just 4 years old).

 

[sushi]

Bottom line is that Apple is migrating from the PPC platform to the Intel platform over time. Some things will get there before the others.

As for those who still use PPC based Macs, Tiger/Leopard still run fine. And most of the current apps run fine.

As long as those apps serve your needs, then the PPC based Mac is still a good solution for the user. When the time comes that newer Intel only apps or OS are needed, then it is time to change.

Personally, my PB15 still works like a champ for what I need it to do and it's 5 plus years old. I will keep it until it dies. And then I will make the decision as to fix it or throw it out.

I also have a MBP15 that serves my other needs. The two laptops complement each other nicely for my needs.

 

[markm49uk]

Understand why but...

I feel kind of sad - I loved my Power Mac G5 but just recently it has been sat rather idle only being used occasionally.

Think it's time to get it on Ebay - 1.8Ghz, 3.5GB Memory, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, dual Sata disks......

 

[slu]

I suspect the only reason for this is that Learn to Play features HD video content which requires a fairly high spec CPU to decode. I don't think we can take this as a sign of a more general move to Intel-only distributions even if Apple is planning to drop PPC support in Snow Leopard.

I agree. I believe the last iMovie did not support HD for PPC either.

 

[Chuck Fadanoid]

As a PPC owner, I'd feel sadder if Apple released more software that I'd actually want to buy, but I have Tiger, and iLife 06 and a bunch of other stuff with no compelling reason to upgrade so I'm happy until it gives up the ghost.

I upgraded from a G3 iMac to a G5 Dual 2.7 because the iMac was too slow to run OS X and OS X generation software properly and was becoming a chore to use. The G5 on the other hand still feels fast, it's snappy and doesn't keep me waiting twiddling my thumbs while it performs tasks, and this even though I have running at 2.0 Ghz ('Reduced') to try and extend the life of my LCS (but that's another story).

Granted, OS X on a G5 is not as snappy as OS 9 on the iMac, but that's modern operating systems for you .

 

[nick9191]

This is the only area where Microsoft owns Apple. Backwards support.

Just as an example, Microsoft only a couple of months ago dropped support for Windows 3.1 on embedded machines, 16 years after they released it. XP will get support until 2012, 11 years after they released it. Apple are dropping support for PPC barely 3 years after they switched to Intel.

Apple will never gain any momentum in businesses with support like this.

 

[rickag]

Dear PPC and Older Intel Mac Users,

We all knew a time would come when Apple would stop supporting older machines. Has that time come with Snow Leopard? The rumors contradict at some points, but the conclusion is fairly solid. Later PPC Macs will see their last days running Tiger or Leopard. Is that really so bad though? You've had many fine experiences with it and technology inevitably marches forward. Your PPC Mac might be running Leopard to view this post. That is an excellent example of how far technology can take you even years after your purchase.

Love,

Those of us with the latest Intel Macs who really want you to just read how much better our newer Macs are than your old Macs.

Tongue-in-cheek sure, but the message is simple enough. Snow Leopard is written for the future in mind while PPC Macs represent the past. Regular old 10.5 Leopard will run just fine for many years to come just like Windows XP has. Windows Vista isn't compatible with every Windows XP computer released over the years and no one expects it to be. Technology marches forward at some point and you have to accept that your computer will age.

My 1998 Linux desktop with fans that sound like a pissed off monkey in a cage running Ubuntu 9.04 feels your 4 year old Mac's pain. You can't always run the latest software. And that is okay.

Well said, if Apple continues to offer updates and fix security patches for a couple more years.

 

[freiheit]

processor-specific video files, w00t!

Arstechnica points out that a portion of Apple's new iLife '09 suite is now Intel-only. Specifically, the GarageBand '09 Learn to Play feature that was demonstrated at Macworld will not run on a PowerPC:This represents an expected shift of support away from Apple's older PowerPC Macs. Apple first announced that they were switching from PowerPC to Intel processors in June 2005 and finally completed the transition in August 2006. Since then, all shipping Macs have contained Intel-based processors.

Considering Learn to Play seems to just be a collection of videos, I find it sad that it would be processor specific, but we all knew the end of PPC support was coming, so no big surprise.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Just as an example, Microsoft only a couple of months ago dropped support for Windows 3.1 on embedded machines, 16 years after they released it.

Because their interim OS' sucked.

XP will get support until 2012, 11 years after they released it.

Because their interim OS' sucked.

Apple are dropping support for PPC barely 3 years after they switched to Intel.

Because they want their newest machines to scream so that people buy more of them. This is a bad time for support. We're leaving an entire architecture behind to optimize for the foreseeable future (what is there to switch to from x86?). We're also leaving 32-bit behind to optimize for the foreseeable future (64-bit for... how many more years? I don't see 128-bit processors any time soon...).

 

[slu]

Note that in this entire thread there is way more complaining about PPC users who may complain then actual complaints by PPC users.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

This is the only area where Microsoft owns Apple. Backwards support.

Just as an example, Microsoft only a couple of months ago dropped support for Windows 3.1 on embedded machines, 16 years after they released it. XP will get support until 2012, 11 years after they released it. Apple are dropping support for PPC barely 3 years after they switched to Intel.

Apple will never gain any momentum in businesses with support like this.

Of course the back end architecture of Windows hasn't evolved much in 16 years either. And of course, you forget about the issues people had and still have w/ Vista, especially if you don't own THE latest hardware. What kind of support is that?