AMD-OSX hybrid

[Mingon]

Have a read here

 

[Tiger]

I've always thought an OS X port on x86 made sense from a business point of view for Apple.
Being *nix based OS X could give Winders a run for the money.
The only thing standing in the way is Job's ego.

 

[AGodspeed]

Interesting stuff.

It'll be interesting to see how a ClawHammer Macintosh would be marketed...

 

[WilsonTung]

Haha very funny! It's no secret that x86 cups run much hotter than PPC cpus. If Apple switched to AMD Hammers, do you seriously think they could make small, quiet iMac 2's based on them?

I can see a PowerMac Tower, but not an iMac or a notebook...

 

[Diable]

WilsonTung, hit on the reason this will never happen. Until AMD can supply a 64bit chip for the iMac, iBook and PowerBook I doubt Apple will release a PM that uses different software then every other computer they sell.

 

[jhu]

The only thing standing in the way is Job's ego.

and the fact that apple is a hardware company

 

[ViRGE]

<< The only thing standing in the way is Job's ego.

and the fact that apple is a hardware company >>


Yes, and it's very hard to get people to buy your hardware when they can't get Outlook, Office, or IE for it; nor support for a gajillian mice.

 

[kgraeme]

Apple may be a hardware company, but that doesn't mean they can't choose a different CPU. It is not only entirely possible, but it is necessarily probable that Apple would create a custom chipset with their OpenFirmware which you aren't going to find on any old VIA, SiS, or nForce chipset.

 

[kgraeme]

<< Yes, and it's very hard to get people to buy your hardware when they can't get Outlook, Office, or IE for it; nor support for a gajillian mice. >>



You may know, but you CAN get Outlook, OE, Office and IE. I personally think the software runs better on Windows, but they are indeed available. Additionally, you can buy any USB mouse for it. (And the Mac does support multiple buttons and scrollwheels.)

 

[jhu]

Yes, and it's very hard to get people to buy your hardware when they can't get Outlook, Office, or IE for it; nor support for a gajillian mice.


i beg to differ. there are plenty of ultrasparc workstations out there.

 

[tomrizzo]

but what about gaming?

 

[kgraeme]

Yeah, gaming sucks on the Mac. No argument there.

 

[ViRGE]

<<

<< Yes, and it's very hard to get people to buy your hardware when they can't get Outlook, Office, or IE for it; nor support for a gajillian mice. >>



You may know, but you CAN get Outlook, OE, Office and IE. I personally think the software runs better on Windows, but they are indeed available. Additionally, you can buy any USB mouse for it. (And the Mac does support multiple buttons and scrollwheels.) >>



kgraeme, I know, I work with Macs for a living. I was just pointing out that if Apple tried to pull x86 customers away from using Windows for their OS, I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't hesitate to quit making/supporting Outlook, OE, Office, IE, and the gajillion mice. And don't bet on seeing those on x86 OS X, either.

 

[Diable]

<< I've always thought an OS X port on x86 made sense from a business point of view for Apple.
Being *nix based OS X could give Winders a run for the money.
The only thing standing in the way is Job's ego. >>



The only thing standing in the way is Job's common sense.

 

[ragiepew]

I'm really not sure why people think that Apple is a hardware company... after all, what hardware do they make? Maybe, and this is a very big maybe, they make the mobo... but I doubt it. Hell even their monitors are Samsung LCD's wrapped in Apple plastic.

Apple is as much of a hardware company as Dell is... IMHO they seem like a far bigger software company to me... at least w/ respect to the number of software v. hardware created by them.

 

[Jman13]

I agree ragiepew. Apple makes good cases, and then loads their OS on the hardware supplied by other manufacturers. They are basically an OEM company that makes the OS, and several good applications. I'd definitely say that they make more software than hardware. However, they reap a big profit on the HW, at least they should, considering the outrageous prices they charge.

 

[kgraeme]

They are considered a hardware company because that is where the profit margins are and why they are still in business. Look at Be. Nice OS that ran on x86 hardware. Out of business. It sounds counter to logic, but Apple having a dedicated hardware platform instead of working on an open platform is what has kept them viable.