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http://www.macnn.com/articles/02/08/13/forbes:.apple/

Forbes: Apple unlikely to move to Intel

updated 12:55 pm EDT, Tue August 13, 2002

 
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A move by Apple to Intel-based PCs (advocated recently by a Bear Stearns analyst and AnchorDesk's Executive Editor) is unlikely due to the logistics and effort involved in porting/converting existing applications to the new architecture and because Apple "doesn't want to go head-to-head with Microsoft," according to Forbes Magazine.


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  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    08/13, 01:27pm | report spam | Reply |

    additional drivers

    If Apple did start using intel/amd based processors, I think we would still only be able to use Apple computers with Mac OS X. I don't think Apple will want to start supporting all the various drivers and configurations that Windows workstations try to support.

    Also, I don't think it would be wise for Apple to jump platforms every 4 years just cause something else has the better specs.

    I wish that Apple would look more closely at the IBM PowerPC offerings, but I feel that IBM will be out of the hardware industry in a few years to focus on being a service industry.

  1. TechLarry

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    08/13, 01:46pm | report spam | Reply |

    Bad thinking...

    First, why do some people think that this would put them head-to-head with Microsoft? It doesn't.

    And from what I am understanding, the Application issue is not that big of an issue either. Recompile? Yes. But most of the work would be done by the compilor.

    Apple will NEVER gain serious marketshare as long as it's hardware is so seriously under-powered compared to the PC Platform. Motorola has shown it has little interest in moving the Mac platform forward, and it is time to drop-kick them.

    Unless IBM has something very serious up it's sleeve, then Apple has NO CHOICE but to move to other processors. If they don't, they will fall further and further behind, and I GUARANTEE you that content professionals will move to the PC architecture.

    I use both Windows and MacOS X. The useability and stability gap has shrunk considerably.

    And since developers are now writing their major App's for BOTH platforms (especially Adobe and MacroMedia), Apple has lost it's Mac-Only edge with serious content-creation Apps.

    In short, there really is nothing _stopping_ professionals from transferring to the Windows Platform.

    Apple better get on the stick, and FAST.

    And they can't keep on pricing their top-end Desktops at $3300 like they are. They just can't. The amount of PC horsepower you can buy for that kind of Money is mind-boggling.

    I am not restricted to either platform. I own and use both. I call it like I see it, with no bias intended.

    IMHO, Apple is getting it's a** kicked right now in both performance AND price at the Desktop level.

    The iBook and iMac continue to be great values though.

    TL

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    08/13, 02:41pm | report spam | Reply |

    We don't know

    "And they can't keep on pricing their top-end Desktops at $3300 like they are. They just can't. The amount of PC horsepower you can buy for that kind of Money is mind-boggling."

    What the performance of the top end desktops are yet. It may just smoke anything from the other side....

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    08/13, 03:02pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: We don't know

    I just configured a Dell Precision "Workstation" with 2.5Ghz and nothing special (500MB, 80GB) for $2,961.00. What's mind-boggling there? The dual 1 Ghz PowerMac is $2,499.00

  1. gtabbott

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    08/13, 03:24pm | report spam | Reply |

    finally some cooler heads

    This whole debate has been ridiculous. One analyst, a species that has proven nothing over the last few years except their own, complete incompetence, floats a balloon that Apple might switch to Intel. That's the "evidence" that has fueled this entire debate. Regardless of clock-speed, the PowerPC does certain tasks much faster than the AMD or Pentium. Only by leveraging AltiVec is it possible to compress DVD video in a reasonable amount of time (on a desktop or laptop).
    While the numbers may not add up, Apple machines provide great value in terms of "solutions" and what they enable their users to do. Much more value than Windows machines if you're interested in the "digital hub" technologies. If you're not, then a move to Intel by Apple isn't going to matter.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    08/13, 03:33pm | report spam | Reply |

    re:we don't know - sucke

    "I just configured a Dell Precision "Workstation" with 2.5Ghz and nothing special (500MB, 80GB) for $2,961.00. What's mind-boggling there? The dual 1 Ghz PowerMac is $2,499.00"

    Yup, Dells are overpriced also.

    Get a dual Athlon 2000+ made for $2000 ... yes, that's right ... two ~1.8GHz CPUs ...

    Come January, Apple needs dual 1.4Ghz on the lowest end to even try and keep up now.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    08/13, 05:52pm | report spam | Reply |

    Dual vs. a single 3 Ghz

    I've owned a Dual 1 Ghz mac since Feb and use PC's all day at work. I would much rather have my dual over any single high-speed intel/amd processor. It's even more impressive when I boot into Jaguar.

    The fact that we are "stuck" at 1.25 Ghz doesn't bother me.

    I am glad Apple is tackling the speed myth by releasing all the PowerMacs with dual CPU's.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    08/13, 06:03pm | report spam | Reply |

    Dell

    I configured a Dell 2.53 GHz Small business system w/ 1 GB of RAM *and* 21" CRT the other day. $2100.

    If I didn't develop software for the Mac, I'd buy it. And I've been using Macs since 1984. :-/

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    08/13, 06:23pm | report spam | Reply |

    Just bring in AMD

    What is the problem with everyone here...

    all Apple has to do it get AMD into the Apple/IBM/Moto alliance, get AMD working on the PPC architecture.. and you cna get a few things for starters...

    lower prices on all CPUs, and more reliable yields on the higher speeds. Plus, maybe AMD knows a little something about speeding up their stuff.. after all.. their 2.0 GHz units still come damn close to Intels' 2.5 ers. the architecture of the ppc is better anyhow... so even if they can't get tons faster - they should sill be able to compete.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    08/13, 07:20pm | report spam | Reply |

    Recompile?

    Would you necessarily even need to recompile apps to run on an OS X/Intel architecture? If Apple works closely with Intel and/or AMD, they could surely come up with a solution that would allow all current OS X apps to run just fine without a recompile, not to mention a chip/ROM which only allows Apple machines to boot OS X, not Windows, yet which is required to boot OS X (so that it doesn't get loaded on Dell and Gateways). Not that it's necessarily a huge deal if Apple's machines *could* boot Windows. Apple makes most of its money from hardware, so all they really have to do is not include Windows. If someone wants to buy the Intel/AMD Mac from Apple and pay $200 for a copy of Windows to run on it, what should Apple care? At this point in time, such a move shouldn't be so much about the extinction of Microsoft as it is about closing the MHz gap to attract more customers to Apple's way of doing things.

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