Intel outside Apple's pending MacBook launch?

The MacBook might be getting changes inside and out in the next several weeks.

(Credit: Apple)

Apple might have decided its partnership with Intel doesn't mean it has to use all of Intel's products.

AppleInsider reports that Apple could be using a chipset from a different company--or even an internally developed one--in the next iteration of the MacBook, expected to arrive in the next six or eight weeks. Like other notebook vendors, Apple had been using Intel's mobile Centrino chipsets in its MacBook line ever since 2006 but it's going to pass on the Montevina version of those chipsets this time around, according to the report.

Intel has done an excellent job reinventing the company around mobile processors, starting with the original Pentium M design back in 2004 and carrying forward to today's Core 2 Duo. But it has done a much less stellar job with the integrated graphics chipsets that connect those processors to the rest of the system, such as the memory chips and hard drives.

Most notebooks use integrated graphics chipsets over discrete graphics chips to cut down on power consumption, but the graphics performance of Intel's chipsets leave a lot to be desired. Microsoft was less-than-thrilled about the performance of the chipsets that were scheduled to arrive with Windows Vista, and Intel has had problems getting other chipsets to live up to their promise.

If it's an internally designed chipset that Apple has in place for the new systems, history would be repeating itself at the company, which used to design much of the internal hardware that went along with IBM's PowerPC chips back in the day. Apple recently acquired a passel of chip designers from P.A. Semi, but Steve Jobs has said those folks are working on future chips for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

AppleInsider thinks Apple might have contracted with Advanced Micro Devices or Via for the new chipsets, but offers no details on what might actually be inside the new systems. Given Nvidia's huge mobile chipset problem this summer, it is probably not in the running if Apple's looking at other suppliers.

In other pending MacBook news, Computerworld reports that the new systems will arrive in September with glass touchpads, which seems a bit curious. Glass might allow for all kinds of trackpad-oriented multitouch goodness, but it seems like a warranty nightmare to me.

The new notebooks are expected to borrow design cues from the MacBook Air and bring the aluminum casing on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air to the MacBook.

[800lb]

I actually really like the idea of a glass touchpad. I've noticed that the finish on the pads on my 12" Powerbook G4 and on my MacBook Pro have worn down pretty quickly, and this has led to a significant loss of tracking accuracy. It's a smart idea for them to move to a different material, especially if they are adding in more extensive multi-touch support.

[Perry_Clease]

"AppleInsider reports that Apple could be using a chipset from a different company--or even an internally developed one"

Remember a few months ago when Apple bought that chip design company. Supposedly it is for iPhones and iPod components. However, I keep thinking that Apple is going to include in all future Mac a proprietary chip that must be present for OSX to boot up. This would make it harder for cloners to sell CheesyMacs.

[Penguinisto]

IIRC, Apple has TPM chips in place, designed to do exactly this. They've had 'em ever since 2005: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/TPM-Hacks-of-Mac-OS-X-for-Intel-Beta-Prove-Little/


It's fairly easy to hack around such things, truth be told.

[kelmon]

Doubtful. I have no doubt that a custom chipset will restrict Mac clones but P.A. Semi are unlikely to be involved in this story. Firstly, the company was acquired only very recently so I can't see them having a product ready to go into a production machine for a while. Secondly, P.A. Semi are reportedly acquired to work on chips for the likes of the iPhone and iPod, although this presumably doesn't restrict them from other products.

[ittesi259]

I highly doubt this for the fact that being able to dual boot Windows on Mac hardware is in my opinion a large selling point now for macs in general. While I don't personally use my windows partition very often, sometimes I need Visio or Project, and those things just aren't available to a Mac.

[Perry_Clease]

Yes, but then would then be committing a different violation of the law, something that may be copyright related and more than the EULA.

I am just speculating, I am an artist not an engineer.

[Andrew_Jensen]

If they no longer support the Intel Core2Duo, does that mean that you cannot run Windows on the new Macbook? Bootcamp relied on the Core2Duo architecture to opperate. I'm not sure if VMware or Parallels would work either, but they may.

Apple has gained so many Windows users in the past 2 years because of the ability to run both Operating systems. If anything, Apple seems to run Windows better than many PCs.

I was hoping that Apple would eventually embrace Microsoft and offer the installation of a Windows bootcamp partition as an option when you order a new computer. This would save the trouble of having to buy a copy of Windows XP and install it myself. It seems as though they are going a very different direction and removing the capability.

What does everyone else think?

[scottbuster]

Andrew, did you read the article?

the processor is NOT changing it is still going to be INTEL

[mayadanteamihan]

That would be a very bad marketing strategy, Andrew.

[ittesi259]

Preinstalling your competitor's OS may be nice for people like you and me that might actually use it, but you NEVER use your product to possibly maintain or expand a rival's marketshare.

[Kev Orng]

They will still have Intel Processors so they will still be able to run Windows and Linux.
The Windows option might save you the trouble of installing it yourself, but it won't save you from having to buy it. And Apple isn't going to give Windows away free anymore than they are going to sell it. Which is to say, not gonna happen.

Any copy of Windows you get on any machine will be paid for. It might be folded into the cost of a computer, like one from Dell, or it might be added on top of the cost of the computer. But in the extremely unlikely eventuality that Apple loses all the business sense it has built up over the years and starts offering a Windows option, you can bet the markup would be the cost of the full retail box, and it will still be loaded with OSX. Which, for my money, is the better OS anyway.

[brewstermax]

no, they aren't removing the core2 duo, they are going to use a different chipset, the northbridge, graphics, and other connectors, the CPU will be the same, just not the other stuff, thus you can still run Windows on it.

[kukito]

ATI (AMD) doesn't make chipsets for Intel processors anymore. They used to and even produced Intel branded motherboards. It would be nice if they co-developed a chipset with Apple that uses their superior IGPs. I also see no reason why Apple couldn't use nVidia chipsets since the problematic GPUs are no longer being manufactured.

[jc4691]

Not true. AMD still makes the ATI Xpress series of chipsets for Intel. My guess is we will see one of those in the new MacBook since 3D performance in a low power IGP solution is so important to Apple.

[artistjoh]

Hmmm... speculation that uses as evidence the speculation of someone else...

Hmmm... now if I speculate based on this article, and then someone else speculates on the basis of that... Hey guys, I do believe I can announce that we are about to see the first Apple computer to be able to walk and talk and sing Dixie!

I know Apple speculation is now a semi-official sport, but really, radical changes such as making their own chip for notebooks need a bit more evidence than just the fact that they bought a niche chip maker. The comments from both Intel and Apple of late seem to support the notion that small devices like iPods and iPhones may use their own new chip but there is zero evidence that the notebooks would be in the running for them too, and souring the Intel relationship with an AMD deal, while within Jobs personality traits, is problematic, and remains within the realm of pure guesswork.

[oneoclock]

P.A.Semi is a fabless semiconductor company, which means they design chips but they don't make the chips they design, hence they're not a chipmaker

[kelmon]

Normally I'd agree with you on this, but during the recent earnings conference call, Apple did speak about an upcoming product transition. At the time I thought they were referring to migrating the iPod line to touch interfaces since the iPod Touch was supposedly "the future", but this story could actually be true. I don't think the acquisition of P.A. Semi has anything to do with this, and I also can't think why they'd be dumping Intel's chipsets so soon, but a few things do add-up. I guess we'll have to wait a couple of months to find out...

[artistjoh]

"P.A.Semi is a fabless semiconductor company, which means they design chips but they don't make the chips they design, hence they're not a chipmaker"

Now, this is an interesting thought because it is consistent with recent practice in which Intel redesigned a chip at Apple's request and I quite believe that Apple is likely to have their newly acquired chip designers working very closely with Intel engineers to produce Apple-centric chips, made by Intel, and designed for Apple's precise needs.

[montex66]

Bunk. Total bunk. It doesn't make any logical sense for Apple to use anything else other than Intel's chips. A new chip architecture requires new software and Apple isn't dumb enough to switch processor platforms again so soon. Cnet is going to have to do better than repeating a rumor some guy heard from his sister's best friend's boyfriend.

Cnet. The FOX of the computer journalism.

[oneoclock]

you didn't pay attention. the article was talking about graphics chips, not the main cpus.

[ewelch]

Talk about violating all sorts of journalistic principles. I see the new owner's a C|Net make the place look different, but they haven't improved the rumor mongering.

Nor the historical knowledge. There were NEVER IBM PowerPC chips in Mac laptops. IBM had a tangential connection to the PowerPC specification. But the PowerPC processors that were in Mac laptops (and all pre-G5 Macs) were Motorola chips.

[Tom Krazit]

You're right, in that Apple notebooks used PowerPC chips made by Motorola (which then became Freescale), but nowhere in the article does it say that IBM chips were used in notebooks. The IBM reference was just an example of the days when Apple designed its own chipsets.

[jef5623]

So MacBook is the 7th Computing Age's Laptop?

[t26l]

Four words: rumor mill running wild.

[oneoclock]

The headline is misleading. Next thing we know, Apple decides to sell USB ethernet adapters with Motorola chips and the CNet headline will be "Apple moving back to Motorola".

[iertry]

If this is the case (which I really doubt) I'm glad I got a Penryn Macbook a few months ago. I don't think this will happen though because as far as I know bootcamp, vm fusion and parallels will only run under Intel and Apple will probably be releasing this round of Macbooks for back to school buyers and not being able to run Windows may hurt sales.

[a1016neo1]

YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL STUPID! DON'T YOU GUYS READ THE ARTICLE???

#1 Apple is NOT, by any means, switching from Intel

#2 The article states that Apple may be considering chip sets made other than Intel

#3 Apple will still be using Intel Processors for years to come

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE TO THE CONSUMER IF APPLE SWITCHES TO DIFFERENT CHIPS SETS.. They will still use C2D and many other Intel processors in the pipeline... You can still dual-boot windows, linux, whatever using Parallels, VM ware, Boot Camp, etc.

Sorry to be rude but some of you guys are CLUELESS!

[AppleSuxLeo]

REDMOND, Washington, Jul 29, 2008 (PR Newswire Europe via COMTEX) ----A new era of growth and expansion includes software plus services.

Microsoft Corp today announced it will expand its automotive offering beyond software to include services. Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit (ABU) continues to enhance in-vehicle experiences by providing automakers with new and innovative ways to meet increasing consumer expectations. As a key part of these innovations, Microsoft announces the immediate availability of Microsoft Live Search for Devices, the first of many new services for its automotive platforms. Live Search for Devices enables partners to develop applications, including local search services, for in-vehicle infotainment. Live Search for Devices will be available for easier implementation in Microsoft's automotive platforms, Windows Automotive and future releases of Microsoft Auto.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

[loopazilla]

What a spiteful and vicious thing to write. "Applesucksleo" - Beware that the laws of karma that you use to justify your evil and malicious thoughts does not come back to haunt YOU ! I'm so glad that you are not my neighbor.

[naterandrews]

Everyone that misunderstood this- Apple is considering, as in looking at- other chipsets. NOT the processor itself.

The chipset is much like the spinal cord for the system, while the CPU is the brain. Chipsets determine how much ram can be installed, controls the FSB, connects to the other components, etc. By using a different chipset, such as a mobile one by AMD or nVidia, they could get better graphics or power support, WHILE using the Core2Duo by Intel still.

It could be interesting to see how Intel feels about this. Intel apparently has given Apple some exclusive presales of processors and tech in the shortlived partnership so far- by forgoing their chipsets and graphics controllers, it may be a slap in the face by Apple.
The graphics aren't exactly the biggest issue for consumers but this does raise tons of possibilities--

1- Apple wants to appear serious about graphics (finally) and may be pushing MacBooks as gaming in the short term future...
2-MacBook is the most popular laptop brand/type out there. By setting a new standard graphics for these systems, Apple could introduce some graphically intense apps later on or set the stage for a powerful 3D OS past Snow Leopard..
3-Maybe Apple wants to have the best Vista experience! The new chipsets featuring powerful 3D engines could help spur sales of reluctant switchers that want (for some reason) Vista

[Tom Krazit]

Thank you for explaining the role of the chipset, it appears that most people who commented on this story were unaware of the differences between the processor and the chipset.

Intel doesn't have any leverage over Apple in this area. Their integrated graphics chipsets just aren't that good, and they can't force Apple into taking them because Apple doesn't need the Centrino marketing dollars the way the PC guys do.

[baisa]

"Given Nvidia's huge mobile chipset problem this summer, it is probably not in the running if Apple's looking at other suppliers."

If the notebooks are shipping in the next 6 weeks, then the supplier and design for this notebook would surely have been done long before "this summer". Apple is keen on GPU compute acceleration, so I wouldn't discount the notion they had gone with a NVIDIA portable chipset solution.

[Tom Krazit]

You're right, in that it's possible, but I still think it's pretty unlikely. The Nvidia chipset problems apparently started making themselves known as far back as last year, when Apple would have been starting the process of upgrading the MacBook.

[Reza_Sadj]

Glass trackpad? How about letting my ipod touch or iphone screen work as my mouse when plugged into my laptop-- that's a glass trackpad.

[RompStar_420]

I really like the new Power PC chips that IBM developed, I think they are better than Intels any day.

[aintnorainbowdorothy]

I've got a g5 with Power PC chips. Faster than comparable Intel chips. Also had a lot fewer security problems. Vista has had fewer updates than Apple's 10.5.x, now in its' fourth iteration and. wondering when the fifth will come. Sure would be nice to see a return to Power PC.