Macs with Intel processors.

[Aenslead]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=23433

If such story came to be true, it would be the best that could happen to PC users. Mac OS code would then be compatible with x86 and would allow PCs to use Mac OS! That'd be fine, wouldn't it?

 

[Cristatus]

The point is, that the OS would be compatible with an x86 processor, but the other problem remains, that there would be limited hardware. I don't know how it works with Apple, but I guess a manufacturer would need permission to make drivers for an Apple machine, so that it would work with the OS. If that doesn't happen, then it's still pretty much stuck at where it is right now, but with a different processor.

ps. I haven't read the article yet, but I will now.

 

[kamper]

You just have to wait and see if they sue the Wall Street Journal for releasing the story. If they don't, it's probably not true

 

[Bateluer]

Heh, Apple would likely charge royalty fees to hardware makers to make drivers/hardware for Apple products.

 

[chcarnage]

Apple has no motive to switch to the x86 platform. TheReg sums it up nicely.

 

[mdchesne]

why should apple commit to a platform that is completely different? I see no reason how apple would come out ahead if they made their platform interchangable. it would become like linux...a cheap slut that can be passed around on any hardware (and i mean any...VCRs )

 

[jackschmittusa]

I doubt it will happen any time soon. It would require a huge investment for unknown possible returns. Not the kind of senerio that bean counters like.

 

[w00t]

the G5 is better than intel 64bit ( G5 is 64bit)

 

[n0cmonkey]

As I posted in GH, I think they're after Xscale processors. ARM would be almost perfect for future iPods that would play music videos you can download from iTMS. There are few decent compatitors in this embedded arena.

Apple won't be switching to x86 based processors.

 

[Aenslead]

Originally posted by: w00t
the G5 is better than intel 64bit ( G5 is 64bit)

errr... riiight!

 

[kamper]

One comment I read elsewhere was that apple would be interested in something like the pentium M because they're having trouble getting the g5 squished into notebooks. I'm not implying that it might happen but that seems like at least a decent reason.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: kamper
One comment I read elsewhere was that apple would be interested in something like the pentium M because they're having trouble getting the g5 squished into notebooks. I'm not implying that it might happen but that seems like at least a decent reason.

But the G4 is doing just fine.

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: kamper
One comment I read elsewhere was that apple would be interested in something like the pentium M because they're having trouble getting the g5 squished into notebooks. I'm not implying that it might happen but that seems like at least a decent reason.

But the G4 is doing just fine.

But couldn't they get better performance for their money out of a pM than a g4? And I mean Apple's money here, not the consumer's money. I'm not claiming to know which one is better, I'm just curious.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: kamper
But couldn't they get better performance for their money out of a pM than a g4? And I mean Apple's money here, not the consumer's money. I'm not claiming to know which one is better, I'm just curious.

Performance in what way?

Freescale has been doing some neat things with the G4 lately. I think they got it to properly support DDR, and dualcore support is there (or paper released, who knows ).

Besides Apple and cisco, who buys the things?

Now, if they switch to x86 based processors they:

• Alienate 3rd party developers - again.
• Have to kill Steve Jobs, or at least make him shut up (one in the same, I think).
• Release yet another version of OS X. They already have 32bit and 64bit, adding x86 support could be a PITA. This probably requires more developers.
• Come up with firmware for the p-m based systems, more developers or outsourcing.

I can't see something like this coming cheaply. My opinions only, of course.

But purchasing some ARM based CPUs (Xscale) for a portable media device... :light:

 

[kamper]

Oh, I'm not arguing in any way that apple would actually move to a different architecture, just conjecturing on the relative merits of pM vs g5 while ignoring everything else. I assumed that apple would have retired the g4 from notebooks a while ago if they could have and as pM is still a progessing chip, that it would provide better potential for performance while still satisfying power and temperature needs.