PPC kernel architecture remaining in SL???

[mac2x]

So I went down to the local Apple store to have a gander at the new iMacs the other day. Think I'm going to get one.

The weird thing is that I opened up Terminal on one and had look at mach_kernel in the / directory, expecting to see two kernel architectures, x86_64 and i386. Lo and behold, there was a third one; architecture ppc. What gives here? I thought SL was supposed to eliminate that.

 

[mac2x]

No one?

 

[cjmillsnun]

There is probably just enough there to allow Roseta to work.

 

[mac2x]

I wasn't aware that Rosetta needed any ppc kernel to work. Could be wrong, though.

 

[old-wiz]

It's probably a placeholder for the table. Unless you know the internals, having something marked ppc doesn't prove much.

 

[Amdahl]

Snow Leopard betas had PPC kernel in them as well.

The only PPC stuff removed from SL is the ability to boot from PPC(i.e., Extensions), and the 64-bit PPC libraries. All of the other 32-bit PPC stuff has stayed in to support Rosetta.

 

[mac2x]

Ah, that explains it. Thanks everyone!

 

[Ganesha]

Clearly it's because the iTablet will use a PPC processor.

 

[J the Ninja]

Clearly it's because the iTablet will use a PPC processor.

You never know...P.A. Semi did build them once, if they want to run Mac apps and don't feel the Atom would do the job...