How will Apple's processor change from IBM to Intel alter their product?

Tim Brown

Tim Brown

New member
So what do you guys think?

How will this Change in Apple's Processor change thier products?
And, are their products going to now be altered so that it all works on IBM Machines? I've read they are going to alter the coding in their software.

I think that IBM screwed themselves big time with this one.


Tim
 
Tim Brown said:
How will this Change in Apple's Processor change thier products?
Click to expand...
They'll have a laptop that's not embarrassingly slow.
And, are their products going to now be altered so that it all works on IBM Machines?
Click to expand...
Altered by some Linux nerds. Apple won't be releasing the OS for installation on any old x86 box.
I've read they are going to alter the coding in their software.
Click to expand...
This has already been done, if Steve is to be believed. All Apple projects currently run on x86.
I think that IBM screwed themselves big time with this one.
Click to expand...
I think IBM doesn't give a fuck. They've got the processors that will go in the PS3, the XBox 360, and the Nintendo Revolution. They're going to sell more processors to those guys in a year than they could've ever hoped to sell Apple in 10 years. Also, this prevents Apple from selling Power-Lite equipped enterprise hardware, which is big bucks for IBM. No, this doesn't bother IBM one bit.
 
I agree with e above.

One thing that it implies is that apple has evaluated the cell processor and figures that they don't need, or can't use, the power that's supposed to be in the cell.

IBM recently sold their laptop biz to a chinese company, and about 5 years ago spun off their printer biz to a management buyout, company has since gone public as Lexmark.

If IBM can't make a pretty good buck at something they have no trouble getting out.

If I were the consortium of companies that have chosen the cell, I would double check my decision.


PS

oh yeah, one is big endian and one is small endian, but most people let the compilor handle that. Direct hardware manipulation is not looked on so favorably, or so necessary these days. What do you think, elevate?
 
I concur. I think hardware abstraction is where it's at, but then of course, I'm not writing device drivers.
 
i would have a couple concerns about the emulator that has been proposed until the software catches up with the new cpu structure. In an article, Jobs showed the emulater being used to run adobe photoshop, and the results were dissapoitingly slow.

I wouldn't think this emulation scheme would transfer over to the DAW world very well. Like i said before though, when they work out the kinks and put a solid product out, i will consider them in my choice just as always.
 
Rstiltskin said:
oh yeah, one is big endian and one is small endian, but most people let the compilor handle that. Direct hardware manipulation is not looked on so favorably, or so necessary these days. What do you think, elevate?
Click to expand...

I can imagine that some applications, especially wrt audio, will be accessing the hardware directly. However, since many of these already work on the x86 on Windows there shouldn't be much of a problem for the developers.

Of course, purchasing a new x86 based apple will mean buying all new software to run on it unless they have an upgrade or conversion package of some sort (or it was made in some interpreted language like Java)...even then most proprietery companies will charge something for that. I doubt very much that any emulator could successfully run programs like pro-tools in a usefull manner, the hardware abstraction would just cost too much.

So for the user the situation is pretty bogus if they have any significant investment in third party programs.

As far as laptops running slow...I am not very impressed with any of the Intel based laptops. They all seem to be incredibly slow to me.
 
You won't need all new software thanks to rosetta, but you will probably want the new stuff for you most intensive apps since rosetta will slow PowerPC apps down.
 
Yeah, Rosetta runs PPC apps at about 75% the normal speed. IMO, the emulator is just a stepping stone to convert to Intel.

As far as laptops running slow... right now it looks like there won't be a G5 laptop due to heat and speed requirements that IBM couldn't handle. With Intel, Apple can make a laptop with TWICE as much battery life, practically no heat, and decent speed. Give em another year to speed it up and you'll have a competitive laptop for the market.
 
In theory, it means that Apple can produce a machine that doesn't cost way more than a PC for similar performance.

I do wonder how this will play out. Currently, trying to compare PC's to Macs is like comparing apples and oranges. With the same type of processor under the hood, we'll be able to see a better comparison of the OS and hardware. Apple must be pretty certain that their systems can compete well with the Micro$oft platforms on the same hardware.

I also think this will INCREASE the ease of porting software from one OS to the other. Since OSX is already built on BSD, all the linux stuff will port of pretty smoothly. Our audio software makers, too, will only have to code for one architecture and not 2- different OS's but the same architecture.

So, it should make Apples cheaper and allow us to see how the systems really stack up against each other. I think its cool. I love apple hardware and I'm interested to see how their systems perform with intel under the hood.

-C
 
Chris Shaeffer said:
In theory, it means that Apple can produce a machine that doesn't cost way more than a PC for similar performance.
Click to expand...
"theory" being the operative word.

I do wonder how this will play out. Currently, trying to compare PC's to Macs is like comparing apples and oranges. With the same type of processor under the hood, we'll be able to see a better comparison of the OS and hardware. Apple must be pretty certain that their systems can compete well with the Micro$oft platforms on the same hardware.
Click to expand...
Face it, only nerds and people with very demanding computing needs are going to care about absolute performance. Probably something like 90% of computer use consists of word processing, browsing (aka porn), email, etc... These types only care about consistency, ease of use, and to some extent, price.

I also think this will INCREASE the ease of porting software from one OS to the other. Since OSX is already built on BSD, all the linux stuff will port of pretty smoothly.
Click to expand...
The problem with platform portability isn't so much the underpinnings, it's the various abstraction layers and APIs - stuff like CoreAudio, CoreVideo, DirectX, etc...
 
Nowhere in Steve Jobs keynote was it mentioned that Intel was making anything more than CPU's. Manufacturing of Mac's will stay with Apple. There won't be anyone running around building custom Intel boxes to run the Latest Apple OS. Apple will make the only Mobo's that will Run their OS with an Intel CPU. This is 1988 all over again when they swiched to the PPC platform from the Motorola except this is a smarter move. PPC isn't going to get any better and as mentioned above IBM don't care, Apple is not their cash cow. What this means is that those of us who use Macs will get greater performance and better results doing what we bought it for in the first place, making music or Photo/movie editing, not surfing and playing games.
 
jeffrydada said:
Nowhere in Steve Jobs keynote was it mentioned that Intel was making anything more than CPU's.
Click to expand...
This whole switch would be a blindingly stupid move if Apple didn't use Intel chipsets. And it would be mostly stupid if they didn't Intel motherboards.
There won't be anyone running around building custom Intel boxes to run the Latest Apple OS.
Click to expand...
By anyone, do you mean companies or individuals?
Apple will make the only Mobo's that will Run their OS with an Intel CPU.
Click to expand...
Until some nerds figure it out. Then the internet will grind to a halt with all the hacked OS X torrent action.
 
elevate said:
By anyone, do you mean companies or individuals?
Click to expand...

I think he means anyone as in anyone except Apple itself. Unless Apple goes back to letting other companies make Mac clones, and that is an incredibly doubtful (and stupid) move.
 
It's just a matter of time before whatever it is that doesn't make it install on any old x86 box gets hacked.
 
elevate said:
It's just a matter of time before whatever it is that doesn't make it install on any old x86 box gets hacked.
Click to expand...

Very true. Can't wait to see how Apple's legal department handles that. ^_^
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top