SHOCKING NEWS!!! Apple to adopt Intel processors

[Stormwatch]

Apple announces transition to Intel chips

At Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference today, CEO Steve Jobs announced plans to deliver Macs using Intel microprocessors by this time next year, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007. Apple previewed a version of Mac OS X running on an Intel-based computer to the over 3,800 developers attending CEO Steve Jobs’ keynote address. Apple also announced the availability of a Developer Transition Kit, consisting of an Intel-based Mac development system along with preview versions of Apple’s software, which will allow developers to prepare versions of their applications which will run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. During his keynote, Jobs revealed that Mac OS X has been "leading secret double life." Every release of Mac OS X has been built secretly for both Intel and PowerPC-based Macs. For the last 5 years, Mac OS X has been "cross-platform by design." MORE...

[Specineff]

Could it be because the new Intel chips will have a hardware form of DRM, and Jobs drools over DRM?

[raiden]

so... does this mean I will be able to install a future version of OS X to my old intel pentium 4 laptop? Or are they only talking about future intel chipsets?

[roushimsx]

so... does this mean I will be able to install a future version of OS X to my old intel pentium 4 laptop? Or are they only talking about future intel chipsets?

If they mean Intel x86 chips? Possibly. Most likely? No.

[Stormwatch]

No. Apple's own Intel-based machines will be the only ones allowed to run Mac OS X. There were clear about that.

[uwfan]

apple should just sell out to Intel, take the profit and get it over with.

[black mariah]

No. Apple's own Intel-based machines will be the only ones allowed to run Mac OS X. There were clear about that.

We'll see how long that lasts. If it runs on x86 it's only a matter of time before the notion of it working on Apple-only hardware goes out the window.

[alpha5099]

Weird. On the plus side, that article makes it sound like it'll open some doors for Macs, developmentwise. Maybe ports will be easier.

[dave4shmups]

Apple announces transition to Intel chips

At Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference today, CEO Steve Jobs announced plans to deliver Macs using Intel microprocessors by this time next year, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007. Apple previewed a version of Mac OS X running on an Intel-based computer to the over 3,800 developers attending CEO Steve Jobs’ keynote address. Apple also announced the availability of a Developer Transition Kit, consisting of an Intel-based Mac development system along with preview versions of Apple’s software, which will allow developers to prepare versions of their applications which will run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. During his keynote, Jobs revealed that Mac OS X has been "leading secret double life." Every release of Mac OS X has been built secretly for both Intel and PowerPC-based Macs. For the last 5 years, Mac OS X has been "cross-platform by design." [url=http://www.macnn.com/articles/05/06/06/ ... ransition/]MORE...[
/url]

Well, Apple's dumb, IMO, if they do this, as their own line of processor's are supposedly faster then Intel's-if it ain't broke, don't fix it., as the saying goes.

Doesn't Microsoft already have some degree of control over Apple? I'm thinking about this Apple meeting where everyone booed when Bill Gates appeared on the big screen-can't remember what that was about, though.

[Akira]

No. Apple's own Intel-based machines will be the only ones allowed to run Mac OS X. There were clear about that.

These machines will be x86s like any other PCs (the keynote was done showing OS X on a NORMAL P4 3.4GHz). The OS will be locked with some sort of stupid dongle that anyone will crack to let ANU x86 machine run OS X. This is actually what Apple wants.

If they say their OS gets released for everyone, the elitist Apple userbase will moan. However if they leak it they will fuck windows round and round.

There will be no sense in puchasing Apple hardware anymore. Why pay morefor the same shit that is a PC? Dsign? Give me a break.

I hate Apple now. Thanks for fucking up my "loyalty"!

[Specineff]

Oh, I can almost see it...

*BSOD* "Your Mac has found a fatal exception on 5689000000C: Unbuffered memory exceeding the GNP of most 3rd World countries. The application will be terminated."

Weep and tremble, Mac-sters.

Ok. Seriously. I hope that Jobs comes to his senses. I'd rather trust an arsonist with a lighter and a can of gas than Intel with my systems. I have only used AMDs ever since I first got on the Interweb.

[Davey]

Well, Apple's dumb, IMO, if they do this, as their own line of processor's are supposedly faster then Intel's-if it ain't broke, don't fix it., as the saying goes.

FYI, they're not "their processors." IBM makes them. And from what I understand, their relationship right now isn't so hot.

Also, the G5 isn't necessarily better than a Pentium 4 in every case, they both have their pros and cons. I won't go into them here, because it would take to long, be too speculative, and I'm not an expert anyway.

Also, I think the whole deal is blown out of proportion.
Before:
OSX runs only on Apple hardware.
Windows runs on PCs.

After:
OSX runs only on Apple hardware, except for a few hackers living in their parents' basement who find some convoluted way to make it run on a
regular PC.
Windows runs on PCs, maybe on a Mac, but not officially supported.

Not quite earth-shattering, IMHO. It might change the way Apple does business, but it won't totally change the computer industry or anything.

Besides, the use of PowerPC versus x86 is only noticeable to people doing benchmarks or low-level programmers. It's not going to change the desktop experience in any noticable way.