Yup it is true, Apple will use Intel processors in their next generation computers. By June 6, 2006 (06-06-06 anyone, aka 666) Apple will have released at least one Intel powered Mac.



For the non nerdy, Apple has been using an architecture called PowerPC since 94 and before that the Motorola 68k architecture. While PC has been using the x86 architecture invented by Intel (386, 486, 586 (Pentium), 686 (Pentium II - Pentium 4), 786 (Pentium D - and on). In lamens terms architectures are different languages. x86 speaks French, whereas PowerPC speaks German. Now this isn’t the exact differences, however saying that they speak different languages seems a little easier to understand without going into detail.



Basically the big reason why Apple is switching over to Intel is because IBM (the current PowerPC chip supplier) isn’t making the chip fast enough and the G5s (sort of like the Pentium 4, only in apple land aka Generation 5) are very hot aka they create a TON of heat. The high end Powermac currently requires watercooling to function properly. No Intel computer needs this plus the Pentium M in laptops are very efficient with heat. In other words, completely opposite of what Apple has at this moment in time. So Apple looked at the future of PowerPC and just didn’t see it anymore. Will this mean the PowerPC will be unsupported? Nope. First of all PowerPC will be supported for the next 5-6 years (at least). Apple even has new PowerPC products coming out. Apple will do this by having all programs by developers be developed with Xcode that can create “universal” binaries, meaning they can run on both Intel & PowerPC.




All applications for the next decade will be developed for the PowerPC so Intel needs help in running old PowerPC applications (as PowerPC was first) and Apple has a solution to that as well. They call this Rosetta. Apparently it will translate the PowerPC language to Intel. The PowerPC architecture won’t need this as I said, they were first and new applications will continue to be developed for the PowerPC as 95% of current Macs (some are still running 68k) are PowerPC and to abandon the platform when its only a checkbox away (see above) would be stupid. This transition is supposed to be transparent for the consumer. I hope that will be the case. I am still happy with my Mac and I know that my system will be good for the next 5-6 years but there are a lot of consumers that will see this as an “End of Life” product. They are wrong.

Here is FAQ written that will answer most, if not all questions…
PPC to Intel - F.A.Q.

This is going to open all kinds of new possibilities for Apple. Microsoft Windows also runs on the x86 architecture. What will this do for Apple? Well Mac OS X (the operating system) will continue to only run on Apple built computers (of course someone will hack it but without Apple drivers… good luck), but how about Windows on a Mac or better; Windows WITHIN Mac OS X. This will allow business to continue their current Windows applications but enjoy the stability and beauty of Mac OS X. Sure this is available now but it is very slow as it has to convert PowerPC to Intel by a virtual layer. However now it wont have to convert anymore and most applications will be able to run at 80-90% of their current speed. If Apple plays their game right (and lately they have, they came late to the market with the iPod and now own 76% of the market):



It’s an exciting time once again for a company that almost went bankrupt in the mid 90s. I’m glad and proud to be an owner of an Apple iPod and iMac. Soon my own brother will (hopefully) own a new iBook by Apple.

Oh btw… the guy in all the pictures is Steve Jobs, CEO (and Co-Founder) of Apple. He was fired in the mid 80s and rehired in 1997 when Apple bought NeXT.

This presentation took place on Monday June 6th at the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) for Apple.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 12th, 2005 at 4:06 pm and is filed under editorials, general. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.