In all seriousness, this is the most intelligent observation I have yet read. Recently their has been a lot of speculation regarding Apple and Intel, if your theory was partially correct then it would make sense.

It seems that the PPC processor has more legs then x86, the main problem seems to be fabrication or engineering. This is indeed something that Intel does well. I am not sure what would happen to Apple if Windows were to move to PPC though.

One by one...until the tipping point is reached. Where do you thing that point is?

This article is really worth reading. Otellini underscores many of the problems in the PC arena, and hits the nail on the head when he says "the desktop business is a zero margin business" that has starved investment in R&D.

Many of his hopes for a solution to the problem seem futile to me - basically increasing complexity to solve the problem. But history shows that increasing complexity typically increases security holes as well. Most of the serious security holes in Windows are due to their "better ideas" that prove to be nothing but great exploits for spyware, trojans and viruses.

And btw, the article reads as such: "And when further pressed about whether a mainstream computer user in search of immediate safety from security woes ought to buy Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh instead of a Wintel PC, he said, 'If you want to fix it tomorrow, maybe you should buy something else.' "

So they mention Apple in the article, but the actual quote says "something else." It's still an incredible statement, and may well prove to be damaging to the Wintel camp. Mossberg really was on his game for this interview - he pressed until he got some revealing quotes. Great work, Walt!

I have no idea what any of this has to do with the Intel and Mac rumors, or how you all can say it does. Its all about just getting away from Windows because its just so clogged with spyware/malware/viruses and if you want a real 'fix', you're going to be waiting a long time for MS to come up with one, so you should consider other platforms.

Because if everyone went out tomorrow and bought Macs, Intel gains not in the slightest if they come with an intel mac in 6 months, because everyone's already owns a mac.

BTW, if you want to keep your computer 100% free of viruses and such, turn it off and leave it that way. Its the only way to be 100% sure.

marketshare can't swing like this. Imagine Apple getting a 900% increase in orders. People wouldn't get their machines until after LongShot shipped (1998?). Right now all of IBM's PPC yield is already sold, retooling all of Intel would be great but not only wouldn't it happen, it would take years. Let's try to keep even a glimmer of reality in the discussion. This is cheery news for us Wintel haters, but not much other than that.

People wouldn't get their machines until after LongShot shipped (1998?).

Are you just stuck in the 90's, using Windows to figure out what three years is from now, anddid you mean 2008?

Now that is funny.

Already discussed for a day on /. before it made its way to Macnn. Who the f**** are the Macnn editors? Otellini said nothing about buying a Mac.

"It's still an incredible statement, and may well prove to be damaging to the Wintel camp. Mossberg really was on his game for this interview - he pressed until he got some revealing quotes. Great work, Walt!"

No, it's not. You only think so because you are an Apple fan. A quote at a digital conference is not going to destroy a two-decade long relationship even in your wettest dreams. Mossberg has always been an Apple and Palm fan, among other brands, so why oh why would this seem like such a big surprise to you?

what a dope huh? everytime I think about windows I guess I'm stuck in the last century. how about we settle on 2010?

"I am not sure what would happen to Apple if Windows were to move to PPC though."

Well, running Virtual PC for Windows apps would be much improved. Other than that, how has Windows effected Linux on x86?

I don't see any real problem with that from Apple's perspective if you meant "what would happen to Apple" in a derogatory fashion. Only benefit.

"Already discussed for a day on /. before it made its way to MacNN."

So what. Pick up your all knowing butt and go act superior somewhere else. I suggest /..

would be a story worth reporting. All these rumors about Apple and Intel in talks is not about Apple going Intel, but instead, it's about Intel going PPC (so that they can get in on selling PPC-derived chips to the game console makers).