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Apple's move to Intel 'could confuse' consumers

updated 09:45 am EDT, Tue June 7, 2005

Intel could confuse users


The news that Apple is switching from PowerPC to Intel chips could , some analysts are warning. "Apple has sent a strong signal that it would be sensible to wait a year if you want to buy a new Powerbook," Gary Barnett, research director at Ovum, told BBC News. Mr. Barnett said he would have been more impressed if Apple had decided to switch to AMD processors. AMD had "out-innovated" Intel in terms of its 64 processor technology, he said. "Everything around PowerPC seems to interesting and optimistic - AMD can be classified as that too. Intel is just the current leader, albeit it by a big margin."


by MacNN Staff

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  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

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    06/07, 09:53am | report spam | Reply |

    AMD

    You know, a couple of years ago everyone was happy apple went to IBM because they were out-innovating Intel. Look what good that did.

    BTW, if it works for Intel, is it really that hard to switch to AMD?

  1. driven

    Addicted to MacNN

    Joined: May 2001

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    06/07, 09:58am | report spam | Reply |

    Exactly ...

    Jobs took a risky move with the PPC G5. It didn't pay off .... this time he has to play it a little safer.

  1. telem

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    Joined: Dec 1999

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    06/07, 10:06am | report spam | Reply |

    AMD

    Steve undoubtedly knows what innovations Intel is working on and perhaps they will be ahead of AMD in the near future. I'm sure we don't know the complete story on all of this -- much thought went into this decision.

  1. winterlandia

    Forum Regular

    Joined: May 2001

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    06/07, 10:13am | report spam | Reply |

    scary

    The only thing that scares people is that developers could stop making 'universal binaries' that would not include PPC code anymore essentially making their machines useless. In the XCode demo yesterday I winced when I saw the fact that you could 'uncheck' PowerPC as an option in the compile options. This is EXACTLY what would scare customers away from purchasing new PPC hardware-- seeing new software that was compiled for intel only (and trust me it will happen eventually) will make investments in PPC hardware as useful as 68040 hardware is right now. Apple should make it so developers CANNOT uncheck this box-- in fact there should be no choice, it should make only universal binaries.

  1. alextr

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    06/07, 10:19am | report spam | Reply |

    Intel Vs AMD

    I bet Jobs has lots of plans and things we would never imagine...

    AMD could have been ideal and less costly eventually as currently they are way cheaper processors than Intel.

  1. gunnar

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Feb 1999

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    06/07, 10:28am | report spam | Reply |

    News flash

    "It would be sensible to wait a year if you want to buy a new Powerbook."

    I think the same would be true if Apple had stuck with IBM. There wouldn't have even BEEN a new powerbook within a year.

  1. wymer100

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    06/07, 10:28am | report spam | Reply |

    x86-only apps

    There's going to eventually be x86-only apps in the future just like there are PPC only apps now. If Apple didn't include the ability to make x86-only apps, then developers would forever have to support the PPC. It's not like people are going to drop PPC development overnight. There are too many people who have them. It's going to be like the transition from 68k to PPC or OS9 to OSX. The transition is going to take a while. By the time people start making x86-only apps, it'll be time to upgrade anyway.

    Look, Apple is going to make this process as painless as possible just as they did when they've made the other transitions. The best things Apple can do right now is provide great developer support and sell a bunch more computers. If Apple is able to continue to increase it's marketshare, then developers will be more willing to support the platform. Are there going to be some bumps along the way? Sure! But, Apple is forcing it's users to think long term which is a good thing. The laptop market is half the market right now, and IBM just didn't seem to be committed to making good chips for laptops. If Apple doesn't make this move, we'd be stuck with G4 chips for a long time.

  1. David Esrati

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    06/07, 10:39am | report spam | Reply |

    Since when did we buy IBM

    I'm a little confused about all the worrying- I never bought a Mac because of the processor manufacturer- which has never been Apple- it's been because of the UI- I've also learned that software isn't software for life- so you have to update. This switch doesn't mean Apple will be like M$- or that anything will change that much from now- except we won't have to buy Apple Hardware- but, I know that if I buy Apple hardware- it will be gracefully designed, easy to upgrade and will have the advantages we've come to expect. What this will mean for people who own wintel now-note- Windows plus Intel- is that they can give up the M$ Windows part without a problem- and use the best GUI and computing experience in the world. With the choice- of running M$ or Mac- there will be a whole lot of switchers- and with the bigger user base- we will all get more options, developers and in the end- cheaper computers. What this means for Linux- I don't think it means a thing- Linux is processor neutral. So it should be no change- other than PC people will be able to also choose Mac- which might kill off the argument against M$ since there now is an option. Just imagine the market for iLife if it ran on every machine out there- can we say Billions of dollars? This is the not the end of Apple. This is the beginning of the biggest change since GUI and the Internet. To the developers that are whining- it's an adapt or die business. So adapt. If you look at what SGI had to do- abandon their superior processor- for industry standard- this is no different. Apple will grow like crazy. To the people on Wall Street- you wouldn't know a brilliant move from a stupid one even if you had a time machine. Apple will surpass M$ in revenue 2 years after the Intel platform ships- and will kill Longhorn- which will look like a fat old horse compared to the sleek, proven, established Apple OS that has been tested over the last 7 years.

    That's my prediction, and I'm sticking to it.

  1. pdot

    Senior User

    Joined: Aug 2000

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    06/07, 11:07am | report spam | Reply |

    G5 PowerBooks

    This will finally end those annoying G5 PowerBook rants, predictions, and jokes!

    I'm still a little stunned over the matter, but I look forward to see how this change will pan out and what chips Apple will use in their pro, consumer, and Xserve line.

  1. Sebastien

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Apr 2000

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    06/07, 11:10am | report spam | Reply |

    Well, duh!

    " Intel is just the current leader, albeit it by a big margin "

    Well that's probably precisely why Apple when with Intel - they were tired of having CPUs trying to play catch-up.

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