You’ve heard the rumor by now (thanks Guy Serle), Macs are switching to x86 chips. Any time a rumor of this magnitude gets so much media attention people are happy to jump in with speculation. I say screw the rumors let’s rate the speculation!
Apple making the switch to save cash
Probability 2%
The rub here is that the G5 is most likely cheaper than a Pentium. Now IBM doesn’t publish their prices and they won’t answer the question if you e-mail them (I tried) but if Apple can cram two of those bad boys into one box and be competitive with high-end offerings by Dell and such, well it is a pretty strong indication that the G5 is a fairly inexpensive component.
It won’t be an x86 chip, it will be a PowerPC by Intel
Probability 10%
While I would really like to think this is true several of the articles indicate Apple is heading straight for x86 territory.
They’re doing it because the Pentium D has DRM built into the chip
Probability 33%
Apparently (while Intel is sort of denying this) new chips will be built with DRM embedded in the freaking processors. This, some opine, would allow Apple to sell movies over the ‘net. That seems plausible but you have to wonder if selling movies over the internet is really a good enough reason to massively torque your developers off. The dark side of this thought that someday the net will be pretty much available only if you have that component of the chip running. In that case Apple may be forced to make the move though one wonder why IBM couldn’t add the same, errrr, functionality to their offerings.
Just Cause Steve is Pissed
Probability 100%
Hey, no matter what the stated reasons turn out to be part of the reason is going to be because S. Jobs is angry with IBM.
Other companies want to license OSX
Probability 11.5%
This is an oft-repeated rumor, that Sony or HP (or other big name) wants to license OS X. Some have speculated that jumping to Intel would help Apple take advantage of this opportunity. Well, the clone thing went so well last time….
It won’t be for the Mac but rather some ancillary device
.5%
If it was a video iPod or something would anyone care? I’m fairly confident that Apple uses Intel chips somewhere along the line. If it isn’t going in the Mac it isn’t really news.
They’ve contracted with a software company that can emulate the G5 so well the process will be transparent
Probability 22.4%
I’m sure they might spin this but, really, native speed emulation? Where’s my flying car?
At some point people will argue that the chip is unimportant. They will earnestly tell you that since no one really interacts with the chip (you don’t change the oil or anything) the computing is really all about the applications. That is true, if I had a computer that ran on a Pringle and gave me acceptable performance I would be happy (well, it had better be dual Pringled) IF I hadn’t been so thoroughly taught by Apple, Intel and others that a computer really is all about the CPU. How about a concrete example? I currently have a G5 1.8 GHz tower. The computer is ninja silent, very speedy and has more power than I ever use. Honestly, it is a great freaking computer. Yet I still crave a dual core dual proc G5 tower running at 3.0 GHz. Why? Because for years it has been drilled into my head that faster is necessarily better even if the power is wasted on the user. Or it could be that I think my penis is woefully small.
In the end I think the switch will be a huge mistake. When Apple went from Apple II to Mac they lost half their market share. When they went from 68XXX procs to PowerPC market share was again halved (helped out by Windows 95) when Apple transitioned to OS X their market share dropped again (not as much, 1.5%).
Link my peeps, links (see how I use “peeps” instead of people? That makes me cool)
Fun with Final Cut
Final Cut, how I’ll not be buying thee for my Mactel/linux box. But I love you old friend.
Sobic’s Fun Game 2
It is fun
Hopkin Green Frog
Funny, keep clicking.
P.S. I’ll find my frog
I’ll add more links later, there have to be some good ones I’m missing.
Oh, wait one more for the BIG GAME HUNTER
Lego Star Wars
I saw RoTS and it was really great. The lego version is better.
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