Apple to ditch IBM, switch to Intel chips

[Placebo]

Apple Computer plans to announce Monday that it's scrapping its partnership with IBM and switching its computers to Intel's microprocessors, CNET News.com has learned.

Apple has used IBM's PowerPC processors since 1994, but will begin a phased transition to Intel's chips, sources familiar with the situation said. Apple plans to move lower-end computers such as the Mac Mini to Intel chips in mid-2006 and higher-end models such as the Power Mac in mid-2007, sources said.

The announcement is expected Monday at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco, at which Chief Executive Steve Jobs is giving the keynote speech. The conference would be an appropriate venue: Changing the chips would require programmers to rewrite their software to take full advantage of the new processor.

IBM, Intel and Apple declined to comment for this story.

http://news.com.com/Apple+to+ditch+IBM%2C+switch+to+Intel+chips/2100-1006_3-5731398.html?tag=nefd.lede

Thoughts? Reactions? Comments?

[Poiuyt]

1. A little skeptical right now

They just made all their developers rewrite their codes for IBM. Will they be doing it again so soon? I know I don't like the thought of paying to upgrade all my software.

[Poiuyt]

7. I'm not skeptical anymore

It looks like old software will still work, so that's good. Frankly I don't care which processor is in the Mac, It's the OSX that makes it work

[AlCzervik]

2. My thoughts are-wait until tomorrow when an announcement is made

at WWDC until then it's all rumors and so many rumors about Apple have been so wrong b4.

[funkybutt]

3. It's not a rumor anymore.

Announcement has been made.

[TommyO]

4. From Apple Insider's live coverage:

(read in reverse order)

• Under the transformation: Widget/Scripts/Java Just work, Jobs says. Cocoa apps will take a few days to update. Meanwhile, Carbon Apps will take a few weeks. Jobs tells carbon developers to start using Xcode. Over half of developers using Xcode. Next Xcode (version 2.1) will be delivered today. News Xcode generates a single "universal binary" that supports both PowerPC and Intel x86 processors. Available to everybody at registration desk following the keynote.

• Mac OS X has been leading secret double life, Jobs proclaims. Every release of Mac OS X has been built for both Intel and PowerPC-based Macs over the last 5 years. Mac OS X is cross-platform by design. Jobs shows all Mac OS X Tiger running on Intel. All features are already compatible with Intel-based processors. It's not done yet, but will be put into the developer hands for finishing.

• There is no G5 PowerBook yet. Future products can't be build on IBM PowerPC processors, Jobs says. Intel has better performance and delivers much better performance per watt. Starting next year the first Macs with Intel processors will debut. They'll begin shipping by next WWDC (June). The transition will be mostly complete by 2007 WWDC. It's a two-year transition.

• INTEL RUMORS TRUE: Jobs says there have been two major transitions for Mac: 68K to PowerPC and then Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X. Now it's time for third transition to Intel-based Macs. Developers will begin to make the transition now. While users can begin to switch next year. Apple is making the move "because we want to make the best computers for our customers."

More as it becomes available at http://www.appleinsider.com/

[AlCzervik]

10. i'll run this by my husband, he was there today in the room

where jobs gave the keynote. The watt thing is true, the g5 generated the heat of a 130 watt light bulb, the intel chips will run a lot cooler.

[kick-ass-bob]

5. I've heard these rumors for years.

And seeing this:
http://live.macobserver.com/article/2005/06/wwdc2005_keynote.shtml

I guess all that I heard was confirmed.

[Ezlivin]

6. It's true, it's true

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

[Placebo]

8. Damn it to blazes.

And I just bought an iBook G4. x(

[alfredo]

9. Don't worry, it will be supported for years to come.

[hankthecrank]

11. Don't Like Intel

Feels like part of the battle is lost. I've had a Mac since 84. I long said that if Mac was taken over by the dark side I would not use computers. As much as I hate Micro$oft, Intel feels like part of the same dark side. They don't care what they wipe out as long as they make a profit. Intel still stinks. Some have said the OS is only thing that matters. But its like running a car and not caring what engine is under the hood.

Insidemacgames Poll

I guess most people don't agree with me.

In favor of switch to Intel or against

In Favor 63%

Totally Against it 37%

http://www.insidemacgames.com/polls/index.php

[politicat]

12. so that's the third sign that the Apocalypse is pending.....

deep throat revealed, EU dead in the water, Apple on Intel....

All we need now is for * to be impeached and Pop Rocks shown to have AIDS curative effects....

Honestly, I'm not really happy with this. While Apple has used Intel chips before (just not processors) and the G5 really could not go into portables, AMD has a better product line (but not so good portable processors) and Intel is so freakin' RED it's not funny. I'm feeling a little disgruntled, to tell the truth.

I don't care what's inside a machine so long as it works, is stable, is not prone to every goddam bit of malware on the planet. That's why I like Apple. I'm really worried however that if Apple runs on Intel, there's nothing left for me, because some of those protections go away and Apple is not a software company. They're hardware.

Linux, you say? Works and stable, remember? If observing the Love of My Life and his issues with getting a stable installation to work with our hardware and peripherals is any indication, I may never buy another computer.

[meegbear]

13. Saw the Intel machines on Monday at the WWDC

We were a bit shocked when announced and showed that all the demo and sites machines are using Intel. Intel machines will be available starting in January and should take over the Mac market by the end of 2007. The new OS, Leopard will be released around that time; no details yet on it.

It was also told that OS X, since 10.1, has been designed to run on both PowerPC and Intel processors. There is an application called Rosetta that will allow PowerPC based apps to run on the Intel machines without the user noticing the difference. They also released a new devlopment environment that will allow applications to be built to ruin on the chip type or both. Going to start exploring this stuff today.

The buzzword for all this is "Universal" - applications that can run on machines with either chip type.

[reprobate]

14. What's it mean if OS X will run on both chips?

It means Bill "The Cat" Gates had better start diversifying his holdings, cause in a head to head contest OS X will beat Windoze hands down.

I think this move means Sir Steven is preparing to take on MicroShaft. If so, I believe he'll win!

Think about it. This will mean that M$ no longer has a lock on x86 machines. The competition will kill windoze. Who would use it when they have the oportunity to use Tiger or Leopard?

I think Sir Steven is crazy like a fox.

[bettys boy]

15. No

Even with support for Intel, OS X will probably still be restricted to running on Apple-produced hardware. Opening up the OS to run on any old PC with any set of components would kill the sales of Apple hardware.

[reprobate]

16. BB, I question whether it would kill Apple hardware.

If, as I believe, the Mac OS is inherently superior to winbloze, that would also be apparent to others, who would make the switch.

After switching to Mac OS, it would be natural to move to their hardware, particularly if there were an advantage in hardware optimization for the OS.

Of course this is simply speculation, but it sure seems like something Jobs would do.

[bpilgrim]

17. very interesting chat on /.

http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/06/12/130234&tid=179

this is GREAT NEWS for APPLE if we can run OS X on any intel box even AMD possibly :bounce:

peace

(set your filter to high, lots of posts on that thread - i wish du was had a filter)

[all.of.me]

18. ok. i am really confused!

my plan was to ditch my hp pc for a mac mini this summer. is it worth it anymore? should i wait til next year? ack.

what about my pc software (photoshop, dreamweaver)? will it be compatible or not?

i am a computer half-dummy. forgive me (or 'apologize me' as my friend in italy says!) if these are naive questions.

[bettys boy]

19. I would wait

Unless you have a compelling need to replace your computer immediately wait as long as possible.

I'm a Mac enthusiast, but none of us has a clue as to when the x86 Macs will arrive, or what sort of issues we'll see.

If you simply gotta have it, wait until the x86 line is announced - the PPC line will probably be deeply discounted at that time.

[all.of.me]

22. thanks.

no, i was just ready for a change to mac. so if i get a discounted ppc, will it be outdated already? i don't even know what questions to ask! ack! i was all ready to buy the mini, now this changes everything. or does it? see? i know nothing! lol

[Poiuyt]

20. If you need your new computer now, then I would buy it now

Computers change so fast these day, they're obsolete in 2 years anyway. BTW, I just bought a Mini last week and love it (make sure you upgrade the ram).

I doubt your PC software will be compatible though. Mac software should work fine on the new Intel computers, but I wouldn't think that PC software will (it's the operating system that's the deciding factor here, not the hardware) I could be wrong though.

[all.of.me]

21. thanks. i don't need one, i just wanted to switch to mac

i can't stand hp. they make me crazy, as does m$.

[reprobate]

23. Go ahead and switch. Peace in our time is worth it.

I switched in February. Not a moment of regret. Another year of M$ frustration is just not worth the trouble. And it'll be a year before we see the first apple x86 sytems. That's a lot of bile to spew in the meantime.

If we always wait for the next big thing, we'll never move ahead.

[Poiuyt]

24. I agree

Don't wait to buy unless you are absolutely 100% sure that an upgrade is imminent. Otherwise you'll always be waiting. Buy now and enjoy the Macintosh experience.

[all.of.me]

25. thanks!

right. keep moving on. don't stop. i had this conversation with someone else yesterday. keep on keepin' on. thanks.

[rhite5]

26. Here's the initial analysis from MacinTouch ....

Lots of food for thought with several related issues discussed.
Remember, however, this is early days and somewhat speculative.

It does help you think about the kinds of questions you should be thinking about when making a purchase decision now. The MacInTouch guy is very savvy -- many Mac technical people have relied on his advice for years.


http://macintouch.com/macintel.html#commjun09