Apple HAS switched to lntel!!!

[caudor]

[I started this thread before WWDC and updated it afterward]...it's TRUE!

Apple evidently has a big accouncment to make at WWDC on Monday. This accouncement by cnet is spreading like wildfire across the net:

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

This is also the lead story at macrumors.com with over 1100 comments both positive and negative. If this rumor is true, then what will this mean for Apple users?

Also, what will it mean for RPGT (if anything)?

Your thoughts?

 

[Ranger REG]

You mean they've been using IBM microprocessors until now? Wow, never did crossed my mind.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I won't believe it until I hear it officially announced. They have had talks with Intel before but they never came to anything. Still it would be quite ironic if they move away from PowerPC chips just when Microsoft has started using them in the XBox 360

 

[IronWolf]

Monday could prove quite interesting if they really make this announcement. I wonder how low they could drop the Mac Mini price if they switched? Could be interesting times for Apple.

 

[drothgery]

Monday could prove quite interesting if they really make this announcement. I wonder how low they could drop the Mac Mini price if they switched? Could be interesting times for Apple.

The G4's not all that expensive, and Intel doesn't have a high-volume, 64-bit chip that would work in that form factor yet (and won't until mid-year 2006).

 

[drothgery]

I won't believe it until I hear it officially announced. They have had talks with Intel before but they never came to anything. Still it would be quite ironic if they move away from PowerPC chips just when Microsoft has started using them in the XBox 360

Depends on what the Xbox 360 CPU really is. If it's a triple core PPC970 (aka G5) derivative, then that's really odd. If, as is widely rumored, the Xbox 360 CPU is pretty close to 3 of the main Cell cores strung together, then it's not so odd. If the Xbox 360 CPU is it's own branch of the PowerPC family tree, then who knows what the implications are?

 

[Dimwhit]

If Apple does in fact move to Intel chips, it could be real trouble. Unless Intel starts making a PowerPC (Apple own most of the patents for it, apparently). Otherwise, everything, including all third-party apps, will have to be rewritten. I just can't understand why they'd want to do that.

But I'll wait and see what the announcement is before getting too worked up over it.

 

[IronWolf]

They could always use emulation software to help ease the transition in the short term. Not the greatest solution, but it could work. I think an article mentioned this is how they handled the transition from Motorola chips.

In any event, tomorrow will be the big day I guess to see if this is really announced.

 

[jaerdaph]

Goodbye Moto.

 

[drothgery]

Goodbye Moto.

Err... Apple's not a large part of Freescale's (formerly Moto's CPU division) business, and probably wasn't counting on anything from them long-term anyway (with IBM designing and fabbing the G5).