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Comments on: Apple fails to meet (a columnist's) expectations

Who ever thought Apple would convert to Intel? Not CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos.

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My Last APPLE computer
by June 6, 2005 4:56 PM PDT
Well it looks like this will be my last APPLE computer. I have been
buying Apple Macintosh Computers since the Mac Plus came out,
but I won't buy a computer with a INTEL processor ever.

Bye Bye APPLE it was nice knowing you
Reply to this comment
Come on...
by MadKiwi June 6, 2005 5:06 PM PDT
Get over it. It's not the processor that makes a computer, it's the operating system. I don't buy Macs because they have an IBM (btw they make hardware that runs Windows) processor, I buy them because they are the better computing experience. So if that better computing experience can be made a faster and cheaper computing experience because an Intel processor is under the hood I say GREAT.

If you want to deprive yourself of Mac OS and all that's better about it just because the cpu is Intel all I can say is, more fool you...
View all 2 replies
Excuse me for asking, but why not??
by technewsjunkie June 6, 2005 6:15 PM PDT
It's just a processor.
Intel wasn't the one who lost the Antitrust lawsuit, that was
Microsoft, not Intel.

What's your beef with Intel?
That's a smart decision...
by aabcdefghij987654321 June 6, 2005 7:11 PM PDT
Intel processors are not worthy chips because...? Arn't you using an Apple based on it's OS and user friendliness not on the proccessor?
View all 2 replies
Drastic measures?
by June 7, 2005 2:41 AM PDT
So it's going to be AMD and Linux for you from now on?
I think I'll stick to Apple whatever the processor inside is.
I'm, after all, for the operating system and cool design and not
so much for the tech inside as long as everything works.

Cheers,
D
View reply
Intel
by June 7, 2005 7:58 AM PDT
Personally I think this is a good way to go. If IBM didn't drop the ball and would work more on the PPC processors for Apple and not the PPC processors for Sony. We wouldn't need a change. With Windows Software running on a CISC processor and now Apple back on a CISC processor and the same kind of processor Windows uses this would allow for more software to be ported to MacOS much easier.

So if you want to quit just because of an Intel processor you might as well not buy an AMD processor, because AMD started with cloning Intel's processors.
No Mac for you?
by June 7, 2005 12:57 PM PDT
Right, so go buy a PC with a ....wait for it....Intel processor in it.
No no you say, AMD..right, big difference. Enjoy!
re bye to Mac
by carsten_schmidt June 8, 2005 2:54 PM PDT
I am sorry, but as much as I can understand the love to Apple, I
have to say that all those that say they will stop buying Macs
because of Intel is just ridiculous. Apple is a business and has to
make money, for this they need a competitive product, and I
doubt that Apple took this decision easily, and only made it after
it became clear that Apple would not be able to stay competitive
with the IBM processor road map.
As much as I love my G4 Powerbook, and think the new G5
iMacs are great, this is about the next 10 years.

Do I like this no, but in the end, after the switch to Intel, what
will change? I will probably have access to a faster computer (not
too bad), probably the Intel processors will allow for new smaller
laptops with way better energy management (also not too bad
especially when I think of the about 2 hours I get out of my 1.4
year old 12''), and most of all when I look at the screen I will still
look at OS X.
Cult of Mac?
by rhett121 June 8, 2005 7:16 PM PDT
The biggest issue here, I think, is that of the "Cult of Mac". It is
often said that Mac users are fanatics. I myself have been one
for years. Fanatics believe in something, because of experience
or whatever it is, but if you look at the propaganda fed to us by
Apple's Marketing department over the years there is and has
been one blazingly clear recurrence, Mac's are better than
anything with Intel inside! Now for Apple to come out and tell us
that they are going to put Intel inside our Mac's is like saying
that god doesn't exist or never existed at all. Either they have
been lying to us for years OR we can all join mediocrity. As a
faithful Cult of Mac fanatic this is very distressing to me. I will
purchase the fastest G5 they make around the end of 2006 and
it will be my last Mac for a very, very long time. It's just too
much trouble to deal with these changes in a professional
environment when developers will need to recompile all of their
apps... again! I hope it's all worked out by 2012 when I look for
a new computer though.
View all 2 replies
No reason to leave Mac
by bigbwai2000 June 9, 2005 10:49 AM PDT
The chip Apple uses should have no bearing on your continuing
to purchase Macs. But, don't take my word for it. Look what Walt
Mossberg has to say about it:

"If you need a new computer and the Mac was the right choice
for you last week, it's still the right choice. Today's PowerPC
Macs are, in my view, the best consumer computers on the
market, and Apple plans to roll out additional PowerPC models
this year."

http://ptech.wsj.com/ptech.html
Ya Right
by crainial June 9, 2005 11:48 AM PDT
If you wish to never buy a computer again you won't. PLease don't overreact as Jobs put it best, "The Heart Of The Mac is the OS". I've been a Mac user for many years and I'm excited.
My Last APPLE computer
by June 6, 2005 4:56 PM PDT
Well it looks like this will be my last APPLE computer. I have been
buying Apple Macintosh Computers since the Mac Plus came out,
but I won't buy a computer with a INTEL processor ever.

Bye Bye APPLE it was nice knowing you
Reply to this comment
Come on...
by MadKiwi June 6, 2005 5:06 PM PDT
Get over it. It's not the processor that makes a computer, it's the operating system. I don't buy Macs because they have an IBM (btw they make hardware that runs Windows) processor, I buy them because they are the better computing experience. So if that better computing experience can be made a faster and cheaper computing experience because an Intel processor is under the hood I say GREAT.

If you want to deprive yourself of Mac OS and all that's better about it just because the cpu is Intel all I can say is, more fool you...
View all 2 replies
Excuse me for asking, but why not??
by technewsjunkie June 6, 2005 6:15 PM PDT
It's just a processor.
Intel wasn't the one who lost the Antitrust lawsuit, that was
Microsoft, not Intel.

What's your beef with Intel?
That's a smart decision...
by aabcdefghij987654321 June 6, 2005 7:11 PM PDT
Intel processors are not worthy chips because...? Arn't you using an Apple based on it's OS and user friendliness not on the proccessor?
View all 2 replies
Drastic measures?
by June 7, 2005 2:41 AM PDT
So it's going to be AMD and Linux for you from now on?
I think I'll stick to Apple whatever the processor inside is.
I'm, after all, for the operating system and cool design and not
so much for the tech inside as long as everything works.

Cheers,
D
View reply
Intel
by June 7, 2005 7:58 AM PDT
Personally I think this is a good way to go. If IBM didn't drop the ball and would work more on the PPC processors for Apple and not the PPC processors for Sony. We wouldn't need a change. With Windows Software running on a CISC processor and now Apple back on a CISC processor and the same kind of processor Windows uses this would allow for more software to be ported to MacOS much easier.

So if you want to quit just because of an Intel processor you might as well not buy an AMD processor, because AMD started with cloning Intel's processors.
No Mac for you?
by June 7, 2005 12:57 PM PDT
Right, so go buy a PC with a ....wait for it....Intel processor in it.
No no you say, AMD..right, big difference. Enjoy!
re bye to Mac
by carsten_schmidt June 8, 2005 2:54 PM PDT
I am sorry, but as much as I can understand the love to Apple, I
have to say that all those that say they will stop buying Macs
because of Intel is just ridiculous. Apple is a business and has to
make money, for this they need a competitive product, and I
doubt that Apple took this decision easily, and only made it after
it became clear that Apple would not be able to stay competitive
with the IBM processor road map.
As much as I love my G4 Powerbook, and think the new G5
iMacs are great, this is about the next 10 years.

Do I like this no, but in the end, after the switch to Intel, what
will change? I will probably have access to a faster computer (not
too bad), probably the Intel processors will allow for new smaller
laptops with way better energy management (also not too bad
especially when I think of the about 2 hours I get out of my 1.4
year old 12''), and most of all when I look at the screen I will still
look at OS X.
Cult of Mac?
by rhett121 June 8, 2005 7:16 PM PDT
The biggest issue here, I think, is that of the "Cult of Mac". It is
often said that Mac users are fanatics. I myself have been one
for years. Fanatics believe in something, because of experience
or whatever it is, but if you look at the propaganda fed to us by
Apple's Marketing department over the years there is and has
been one blazingly clear recurrence, Mac's are better than
anything with Intel inside! Now for Apple to come out and tell us
that they are going to put Intel inside our Mac's is like saying
that god doesn't exist or never existed at all. Either they have
been lying to us for years OR we can all join mediocrity. As a
faithful Cult of Mac fanatic this is very distressing to me. I will
purchase the fastest G5 they make around the end of 2006 and
it will be my last Mac for a very, very long time. It's just too
much trouble to deal with these changes in a professional
environment when developers will need to recompile all of their
apps... again! I hope it's all worked out by 2012 when I look for
a new computer though.
View all 2 replies
No reason to leave Mac
by bigbwai2000 June 9, 2005 10:49 AM PDT
The chip Apple uses should have no bearing on your continuing
to purchase Macs. But, don't take my word for it. Look what Walt
Mossberg has to say about it:

"If you need a new computer and the Mac was the right choice
for you last week, it's still the right choice. Today's PowerPC
Macs are, in my view, the best consumer computers on the
market, and Apple plans to roll out additional PowerPC models
this year."

http://ptech.wsj.com/ptech.html
Ya Right
by crainial June 9, 2005 11:48 AM PDT
If you wish to never buy a computer again you won't. PLease don't overreact as Jobs put it best, "The Heart Of The Mac is the OS". I've been a Mac user for many years and I'm excited.
A small point
by aabcdefghij987654321 June 6, 2005 5:14 PM PDT
It's "Serbs", not Serbians.
Reply to this comment
A small point, and an unimportant one
by nicmart June 6, 2005 6:50 PM PDT
"Serbs" and "Serbians" are interchangeable. A Google search yields
a wide variety of sites that prefer "Serbians," including CNN and
the BBC. The Oxford American Dictionary, nicely supplied with
Tiger, defines Serbian as "another term for Serb." You can safely
add an "s" to the end of both.
A small point
by aabcdefghij987654321 June 6, 2005 5:14 PM PDT
It's "Serbs", not Serbians.
Reply to this comment
A small point, and an unimportant one
by nicmart June 6, 2005 6:50 PM PDT
"Serbs" and "Serbians" are interchangeable. A Google search yields
a wide variety of sites that prefer "Serbians," including CNN and
the BBC. The Oxford American Dictionary, nicely supplied with
Tiger, defines Serbian as "another term for Serb." You can safely
add an "s" to the end of both.
apple will not become cheaper
by lavacentral June 6, 2005 5:26 PM PDT
Despite many peoples wishes that finaly apple computers will be cheaper now. think again!!

Apple has made a business out of selling more expensive computers. If they started selling cheaper computers, people will say, they are not as good as before. If they sold more expensive computers, they will still have their 1 or 2% enthusiasts who will swear how they are stil the best computers in the industry.

When an AMD based PC beats intel based PCs and Macs, the enthusiasts will say 'but its the whole experience, its mac OS, its the fact that there are not enough viruses on the internet for Macs. But then there will be AMD based Machines running MAC OS since the OS X is configured to run on x86 processors.
What will the apple computers be left with other than a sleep looking shell? an empty wallet!!
Reply to this comment
Sounds good . . .
by Thrudheim June 7, 2005 12:23 PM PDT
a world where people are buying the Mac OS to put it on their AMD
machines sounds like a good one to me. More market share for the
Mac OS, even if the machines aren't made by Apple, means more
attention from developers and more software. I'll probably still buy
Apple hardware.
Compare prices between Apple and Sony or even IBM/Lenovo
by Filip Remplakowski June 8, 2005 11:43 AM PDT
Apple still has some really low prices when comparing them to
other high end manufacturers. Sure you could buy a dell but
come on they are crap. I have a PowerBook and the latest sony
vaio S series, I paid the same price for them, but I found that the
powerbook's build is a lot better, it surpasses it in leaps and
bounds actually. The bottom of my PowerBook is more appealing
than the top of my vaio, plus the vaio has all these little buttons
(like one for wifi WHY GOD WHY?) The ports are covered by a
flimsy plastic latch which is soooo annoying because i need to
try and open it to plug something in. the touch pad feels
horrible too, I could file my nails on it. But one good thing about
it is the screen is quite good. As for software, lets just say that
mac os x just pulled microsofts pants down. Sony's Portable
would be quite impressive if they ironed out the defects and
employed a different operating system. For those wondering why
I bought a pc if i'm happy with my mac, Bentley Software
(makers of Microstation, CAD app) are too lazy to port a version
that runs on OSX natively, eventhough they had one for classic
and there was a lot of interest then and a lot of interest now,
Nicholas Grimshaw's practice used it, but then had to change
because they stopped supporting it.
View reply
apple will not become cheaper
by lavacentral June 6, 2005 5:26 PM PDT
Despite many peoples wishes that finaly apple computers will be cheaper now. think again!!

Apple has made a business out of selling more expensive computers. If they started selling cheaper computers, people will say, they are not as good as before. If they sold more expensive computers, they will still have their 1 or 2% enthusiasts who will swear how they are stil the best computers in the industry.

When an AMD based PC beats intel based PCs and Macs, the enthusiasts will say 'but its the whole experience, its mac OS, its the fact that there are not enough viruses on the internet for Macs. But then there will be AMD based Machines running MAC OS since the OS X is configured to run on x86 processors.
What will the apple computers be left with other than a sleep looking shell? an empty wallet!!
Reply to this comment
Sounds good . . .
by Thrudheim June 7, 2005 12:23 PM PDT
a world where people are buying the Mac OS to put it on their AMD
machines sounds like a good one to me. More market share for the
Mac OS, even if the machines aren't made by Apple, means more
attention from developers and more software. I'll probably still buy
Apple hardware.
Compare prices between Apple and Sony or even IBM/Lenovo
by Filip Remplakowski June 8, 2005 11:43 AM PDT
Apple still has some really low prices when comparing them to
other high end manufacturers. Sure you could buy a dell but
come on they are crap. I have a PowerBook and the latest sony
vaio S series, I paid the same price for them, but I found that the
powerbook's build is a lot better, it surpasses it in leaps and
bounds actually. The bottom of my PowerBook is more appealing
than the top of my vaio, plus the vaio has all these little buttons
(like one for wifi WHY GOD WHY?) The ports are covered by a
flimsy plastic latch which is soooo annoying because i need to
try and open it to plug something in. the touch pad feels
horrible too, I could file my nails on it. But one good thing about
it is the screen is quite good. As for software, lets just say that
mac os x just pulled microsofts pants down. Sony's Portable
would be quite impressive if they ironed out the defects and
employed a different operating system. For those wondering why
I bought a pc if i'm happy with my mac, Bentley Software
(makers of Microstation, CAD app) are too lazy to port a version
that runs on OSX natively, eventhough they had one for classic
and there was a lot of interest then and a lot of interest now,
Nicholas Grimshaw's practice used it, but then had to change
because they stopped supporting it.
View reply
Jobs has planned this from the start...
by June 6, 2005 5:26 PM PDT
Clearly he has planned this from the start as he revealed today by saying they've been running OS X on Intel chips SINCE THE VERY FIRST VERSION.

And it's not hard to see his plan either. The iPod was a major part of it-- getting the Apple brand to reach rockstar status and then some, create the demand for an Apple on every desktop. AND THEN:

And then, as Microsoft continued to get black and blue over viruses and spyware vunerabilities in Windows, drop the bomb: Apple will start making x86 compatible machines that run OS X and will be capable of running windows apps flawlessly. Just in time for when? Just in time for consumers to have a REAL choice in 2007 when Longhorn comes out: Upgrade to OS X or upgrade to Longhorn. That will be a great choice for consumers.

Both OSes will be capable of running legacy windows apps, both of which will probably cost the same. Both of which will offer next gen features. Heck even NEW computer buyers will have a competivie choice because Apple's will go down in price, probably will now cost as much as your favorite Dell computer now that Apple has ditched the overpriced Power PC architecture.

So now we'll have cheaper Apple computers. Running windows apps. And you can be sure that Jobs' marketing team will make them hotter then iPods.

The only question that remains now is: Will Microsoft license Windows to Apple so that Apple can provide 100% backwards compatibility?

Only time will tell if this is the beginning of the end for Apple or if its simply the end of the beginning.

I for one welcome a real competition. Bring.it.on.
Reply to this comment
I don't see Apple trying to be a cheap computer
by June 6, 2005 7:18 PM PDT
Apple has been the premium brand in computers, and they are now the premium brand in mp3 players. People are willing to pay more for premium brands because of the superior quality and user experience. Why would Apple want to become another company that spits out cheap computers and has to rely on huge sales volumes.

They will simply continue to be the very best, the most creative, and the ultimate trendsetters that they have been. But they will make whatever smart hardware decisions that need to be made in order to retain their position as the premium brand.
Intel inside doesn't mean x86 compatible Macs
by weldon June 6, 2005 9:08 PM PDT
Just because Apple will use Intel CPU's, you shouldn't assume that their machines will be x86 compatible and be capable of running Windows. For one thing, Macs use OpenFirmware rather than BIOS. I would expect Apple to continue to use OpenFirmware. It's quite possible that someone will figure out how to get Windows and Linux to boot up on Intel-based mac hardware (you can run Linux on PPC-based Mac hardware today) but I seriously doubt that anyone will get Mac OS X to run on a Dell machine.
View all 2 replies
hmm
by Sboston June 8, 2005 12:41 PM PDT
I'd like that if the OS ran on my hardware of choice.
Give me that and I'll dump MS like a hot rock.
Jobs has planned this from the start...
by June 6, 2005 5:26 PM PDT
Clearly he has planned this from the start as he revealed today by saying they've been running OS X on Intel chips SINCE THE VERY FIRST VERSION.

And it's not hard to see his plan either. The iPod was a major part of it-- getting the Apple brand to reach rockstar status and then some, create the demand for an Apple on every desktop. AND THEN:

And then, as Microsoft continued to get black and blue over viruses and spyware vunerabilities in Windows, drop the bomb: Apple will start making x86 compatible machines that run OS X and will be capable of running windows apps flawlessly. Just in time for when? Just in time for consumers to have a REAL choice in 2007 when Longhorn comes out: Upgrade to OS X or upgrade to Longhorn. That will be a great choice for consumers.

Both OSes will be capable of running legacy windows apps, both of which will probably cost the same. Both of which will offer next gen features. Heck even NEW computer buyers will have a competivie choice because Apple's will go down in price, probably will now cost as much as your favorite Dell computer now that Apple has ditched the overpriced Power PC architecture.

So now we'll have cheaper Apple computers. Running windows apps. And you can be sure that Jobs' marketing team will make them hotter then iPods.

The only question that remains now is: Will Microsoft license Windows to Apple so that Apple can provide 100% backwards compatibility?

Only time will tell if this is the beginning of the end for Apple or if its simply the end of the beginning.

I for one welcome a real competition. Bring.it.on.
Reply to this comment
I don't see Apple trying to be a cheap computer
by June 6, 2005 7:18 PM PDT
Apple has been the premium brand in computers, and they are now the premium brand in mp3 players. People are willing to pay more for premium brands because of the superior quality and user experience. Why would Apple want to become another company that spits out cheap computers and has to rely on huge sales volumes.

They will simply continue to be the very best, the most creative, and the ultimate trendsetters that they have been. But they will make whatever smart hardware decisions that need to be made in order to retain their position as the premium brand.
Intel inside doesn't mean x86 compatible Macs
by weldon June 6, 2005 9:08 PM PDT
Just because Apple will use Intel CPU's, you shouldn't assume that their machines will be x86 compatible and be capable of running Windows. For one thing, Macs use OpenFirmware rather than BIOS. I would expect Apple to continue to use OpenFirmware. It's quite possible that someone will figure out how to get Windows and Linux to boot up on Intel-based mac hardware (you can run Linux on PPC-based Mac hardware today) but I seriously doubt that anyone will get Mac OS X to run on a Dell machine.
View all 2 replies
hmm
by Sboston June 8, 2005 12:41 PM PDT
I'd like that if the OS ran on my hardware of choice.
Give me that and I'll dump MS like a hot rock.
APPPLE = RED HAT
by June 6, 2005 5:52 PM PDT
enough said
Reply to this comment
Who needs Red Hat
by June 6, 2005 5:59 PM PDT
Take a look OS X, remind you of a SUN OS?
View reply
APPPLE = RED HAT
by June 6, 2005 5:52 PM PDT
enough said
Reply to this comment
Who needs Red Hat
by June 6, 2005 5:59 PM PDT
Take a look OS X, remind you of a SUN OS?
View reply
The only remaining value in APPLE is OS 10
by June 6, 2005 6:32 PM PDT
You say OS 10 for X86 is built on top of SOLARIS?


I would have tought it was built on Linux, hence my post saying APPLE = RED HAT. I meant that OS X would then be only an interface layer over Linux hence just like RED HAT is Linux with a bunch of proprietary utility.

Once you have an INTEL CPU and Linux (or SOLARIS), would you not have an INTEL chipset then a PCI EXPRESS slot. In the end, a good old PC.

It bring us back to the IBM PC and their failure to protect their market from the clone makers.

I wonder what legal and technical device Apple will use to keep the clone builders away. Or maybe
they will let people buy OS X and put it on a standard PC. Same strategy as RED HAT.

I am getting all confused now.
Reply to this comment
The only remaining value in APPLE is OS 10
by June 6, 2005 6:32 PM PDT
You say OS 10 for X86 is built on top of SOLARIS?


I would have tought it was built on Linux, hence my post saying APPLE = RED HAT. I meant that OS X would then be only an interface layer over Linux hence just like RED HAT is Linux with a bunch of proprietary utility.

Once you have an INTEL CPU and Linux (or SOLARIS), would you not have an INTEL chipset then a PCI EXPRESS slot. In the end, a good old PC.

It bring us back to the IBM PC and their failure to protect their market from the clone makers.

I wonder what legal and technical device Apple will use to keep the clone builders away. Or maybe
they will let people buy OS X and put it on a standard PC. Same strategy as RED HAT.

I am getting all confused now.
Reply to this comment
The end of Office for the Mac is now ensured
by PolarUpgrade June 6, 2005 7:32 PM PDT
Obviously this is going to mean one Microsoft Office version, for both PC and the Wintel Mac, since even if the OS differs the apps will be less so when all Macs have Intel inside.

This new WinMac will thus lose one of the big factors that make Macs appealing to their over-earning price-insensitive value-indifferent owners: The feeling that the Mac is special and even needs its own software.

One has to wonder if the real sub-text driving the switch to Intel is the possibility that Microsoft itself might have told Apple that Mac Office would soon be toast.

Will the WinMac really appeal to those who just have to spend more to be different? Will they want to be spend extra money on a WinMac just to be faux different and not really different?

I think not. Buy those G5 boat anchors while you can, Macintoshers, as soon the glory days will be past.
Reply to this comment
Wrong
by weldon June 6, 2005 9:01 PM PDT
Microsoft already stated today that they would continue to develop Office for Mac. In fact, they promised to release the next version for both PPC and Intel-based Macs.

The rest of your comments show a lack of understanding about how computers work and how software is developed. Office for Windows will never run directly on a Mac because the software is written for the Windows OS. Software has to be written for Mac OS X to run on that platform. The difference required to develop for an Intel-based Mac or a PPC-based Mac is a lot smaller than the difference between an intel-based Windows machine and an Intel-based Mac because most of the effort is in coding to the OS API's and using the unique libraries for that platform.
View reply
gee whiz
by June 7, 2005 6:57 AM PDT
This may come as a shock, MS Office is not the beginning and end of computing.
There's all kinds of other nifty things people do with their computers. Not to mention several viable cheap (even free) alternatives to the MS Office suite.
re
by Bill Dautrive June 8, 2005 12:48 AM PDT
1. Office is a POS

2. So does that mean I can install Office on my Linux partition? After all, it is installed in the same computer as windows.

The underlining hardware is important when compiling software, but the OS is equally important. You could write a program and compile it on XP, and it will run on most flavors of windows provided you didn't use any XP specific API's.
You could also write a program on any OS, and provided you stuck to the language standard, and was very careful when you had to use a non-standard language library and that program could be used on any OS, BUT you would still have to compile it for each OS, so no, you will never get a single executable that will run natively(ie with no emulators or anything of that nature) on multiple OS's, and the hardware has nothing to do with it.
The end of Office for the Mac is now ensured
by PolarUpgrade June 6, 2005 7:32 PM PDT
Obviously this is going to mean one Microsoft Office version, for both PC and the Wintel Mac, since even if the OS differs the apps will be less so when all Macs have Intel inside.

This new WinMac will thus lose one of the big factors that make Macs appealing to their over-earning price-insensitive value-indifferent owners: The feeling that the Mac is special and even needs its own software.

One has to wonder if the real sub-text driving the switch to Intel is the possibility that Microsoft itself might have told Apple that Mac Office would soon be toast.

Will the WinMac really appeal to those who just have to spend more to be different? Will they want to be spend extra money on a WinMac just to be faux different and not really different?

I think not. Buy those G5 boat anchors while you can, Macintoshers, as soon the glory days will be past.
Reply to this comment
Wrong
by weldon June 6, 2005 9:01 PM PDT
Microsoft already stated today that they would continue to develop Office for Mac. In fact, they promised to release the next version for both PPC and Intel-based Macs.

The rest of your comments show a lack of understanding about how computers work and how software is developed. Office for Windows will never run directly on a Mac because the software is written for the Windows OS. Software has to be written for Mac OS X to run on that platform. The difference required to develop for an Intel-based Mac or a PPC-based Mac is a lot smaller than the difference between an intel-based Windows machine and an Intel-based Mac because most of the effort is in coding to the OS API's and using the unique libraries for that platform.
View reply
gee whiz
by June 7, 2005 6:57 AM PDT
This may come as a shock, MS Office is not the beginning and end of computing.
There's all kinds of other nifty things people do with their computers. Not to mention several viable cheap (even free) alternatives to the MS Office suite.
re
by Bill Dautrive June 8, 2005 12:48 AM PDT
1. Office is a POS

2. So does that mean I can install Office on my Linux partition? After all, it is installed in the same computer as windows.

The underlining hardware is important when compiling software, but the OS is equally important. You could write a program and compile it on XP, and it will run on most flavors of windows provided you didn't use any XP specific API's.
You could also write a program on any OS, and provided you stuck to the language standard, and was very careful when you had to use a non-standard language library and that program could be used on any OS, BUT you would still have to compile it for each OS, so no, you will never get a single executable that will run natively(ie with no emulators or anything of that nature) on multiple OS's, and the hardware has nothing to do with it.
Strange, Ironic, a Definite Twist of Fate
by Thomas, David June 6, 2005 9:10 PM PDT
OK, I am a die hard Apple evangelist. The rumors leading up to
this announcement had my brain in a twist.

While one of the primary reasons I have always been a Mac
loyalist, has been Apples' decision to find the architecture that
will deliver their vision of personal computing, I find myself
questioning my personal angst.

This is not any different than Apple has done all along. They
simply turned to the future and asked themselves, "what's
next?", as they have always done. No one can imagine the
firestorm of controversy and internal consternation this created.
But the bottom line was where is the future, and what
archictecture will allow them to continue on that path? The G5
is an awesome chip, but without further development, who
cares?! A G5 mac is still a treasure, and will continue to be for a
couple of years, but without development/improvement that will
pass.

I watched the keynote, on my Mac-mini, with QT7 and Tiger,
and experienced the best streamed wide screen video ever. I felt
my stomach twist on the Intel announcement. But then it was
revealed that the Mac Steve was running the demo on was a
Pentium 4 based computer. Next came the announcement of
XCode 2.1 and unverisal binaries.

In the end, I realized it was a matter of conception. Apple wasn't
selling out. Apple wasn't giving up their control on designs.
Apple was looking for future **********, and who was going to
deliver it. Strangely enough, and quite so ironic, it turned out to
be Intel. Damn, I still can't believe it. But there you go. Maybe I
will be able to afford a Dual G5 XServe at the end of the year
now.

By the way, Intel must have showed Apple some pretty damn
exciting stuff for this to happen in the first place, barring IBMs
mis-steps. I would have thought AMD would have been their
partner, but that only illustrates what the rest of us don't know
when we aren't on the inside.
Reply to this comment
yes
by ChazzMatt June 6, 2005 11:55 PM PDT
"By the way, Intel must have showed Apple some pretty damn
exciting stuff for this to happen in the first place, barring IBMs
mis-steps. I would have thought AMD would have been their
partner, but that only illustrates what the rest of us don't know
when we aren't on the inside."

One expert said the exciting stuff Intel showed Apple was not only speed (which AMD has in desktop chips), but also the next CPU in the gate has some hush-hush "content protection" software. They don't want hackers to get hold of the schematics, so it's all under the radar... but, if Stevie Boy wants to start up a movie iPod type service to download movies, this would help ensure the video stays with the owner and doesn't end up on P2P file sharing. Speed (well good enough speed -- better than PowerPC, not quite as good as AMD), copyright protection features, full range of products (desktop and mobile -- AMD lacks mobile), and good rep for shipping products on time (AMD has had problems getting their chips out the door in mass quantity. For that reason, Dell uses Intel, but won't touch AMD) -- all these are reasons Intel was chosen.
As a previous poster said....
by kribor June 7, 2005 7:36 PM PDT
Intel is the logical choice for Apple because of its need for low power processors for PowerBooks. I prefer to use AMD processors -- mostly because I worked as a designer for AMD on the Am7990 LANCE chip way back when; but also because AMD offers better performance, and then there's also the rebel factor. The "Establishment" falls for Intel marketing BS, so I go with AMD, if for nothing else, to give Intel the proverbial finger.

Processor zealotry, like platform zealorty, is largely an exercise in wasting time. Use the best technology solution that makes sense for the problem at hand.
Strange, Ironic, a Definite Twist of Fate
by Thomas, David June 6, 2005 9:10 PM PDT
OK, I am a die hard Apple evangelist. The rumors leading up to
this announcement had my brain in a twist.

While one of the primary reasons I have always been a Mac
loyalist, has been Apples' decision to find the architecture that
will deliver their vision of personal computing, I find myself
questioning my personal angst.

This is not any different than Apple has done all along. They
simply turned to the future and asked themselves, "what's
next?", as they have always done. No one can imagine the
firestorm of controversy and internal consternation this created.
But the bottom line was where is the future, and what
archictecture will allow them to continue on that path? The G5
is an awesome chip, but without further development, who
cares?! A G5 mac is still a treasure, and will continue to be for a
couple of years, but without development/improvement that will
pass.

I watched the keynote, on my Mac-mini, with QT7 and Tiger,
and experienced the best streamed wide screen video ever. I felt
my stomach twist on the Intel announcement. But then it was
revealed that the Mac Steve was running the demo on was a
Pentium 4 based computer. Next came the announcement of
XCode 2.1 and unverisal binaries.

In the end, I realized it was a matter of conception. Apple wasn't
selling out. Apple wasn't giving up their control on designs.
Apple was looking for future **********, and who was going to
deliver it. Strangely enough, and quite so ironic, it turned out to
be Intel. Damn, I still can't believe it. But there you go. Maybe I
will be able to afford a Dual G5 XServe at the end of the year
now.

By the way, Intel must have showed Apple some pretty damn
exciting stuff for this to happen in the first place, barring IBMs
mis-steps. I would have thought AMD would have been their
partner, but that only illustrates what the rest of us don't know
when we aren't on the inside.
Reply to this comment
yes
by ChazzMatt June 6, 2005 11:55 PM PDT
"By the way, Intel must have showed Apple some pretty damn
exciting stuff for this to happen in the first place, barring IBMs
mis-steps. I would have thought AMD would have been their
partner, but that only illustrates what the rest of us don't know
when we aren't on the inside."

One expert said the exciting stuff Intel showed Apple was not only speed (which AMD has in desktop chips), but also the next CPU in the gate has some hush-hush "content protection" software. They don't want hackers to get hold of the schematics, so it's all under the radar... but, if Stevie Boy wants to start up a movie iPod type service to download movies, this would help ensure the video stays with the owner and doesn't end up on P2P file sharing. Speed (well good enough speed -- better than PowerPC, not quite as good as AMD), copyright protection features, full range of products (desktop and mobile -- AMD lacks mobile), and good rep for shipping products on time (AMD has had problems getting their chips out the door in mass quantity. For that reason, Dell uses Intel, but won't touch AMD) -- all these are reasons Intel was chosen.
As a previous poster said....
by kribor June 7, 2005 7:36 PM PDT
Intel is the logical choice for Apple because of its need for low power processors for PowerBooks. I prefer to use AMD processors -- mostly because I worked as a designer for AMD on the Am7990 LANCE chip way back when; but also because AMD offers better performance, and then there's also the rebel factor. The "Establishment" falls for Intel marketing BS, so I go with AMD, if for nothing else, to give Intel the proverbial finger.

Processor zealotry, like platform zealorty, is largely an exercise in wasting time. Use the best technology solution that makes sense for the problem at hand.
My mistake.
by aabcdefghij987654321 June 7, 2005 7:47 AM PDT
You're right on both accounts. I didn't know that was proper. I normally look things like that up, but this is an idea I had for a long time, so I thought I was right. I just prefer "Serbs" because it's closer to "Srbi", in Serbian, and to differentiate between the people, the adjective, and the language.
Reply to this comment
Sorry, ignore the above post.
by aabcdefghij987654321 June 7, 2005 8:05 AM PDT
The story- and comment-replying pages both have "Reply to story" as the title - got confused.
My mistake.
by aabcdefghij987654321 June 7, 2005 7:47 AM PDT
You're right on both accounts. I didn't know that was proper. I normally look things like that up, but this is an idea I had for a long time, so I thought I was right. I just prefer "Serbs" because it's closer to "Srbi", in Serbian, and to differentiate between the people, the adjective, and the language.
Reply to this comment
Sorry, ignore the above post.
by aabcdefghij987654321 June 7, 2005 8:05 AM PDT
The story- and comment-replying pages both have "Reply to story" as the title - got confused.
he's just saying that...
by chochoa June 7, 2005 7:57 AM PDT
every developer knows that he's just saying that.
then why upgrade to the new Xcode.
Steve felt left out with IBM. IBM won't deal with him like how they currently deal with Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.
The profit vs. quantity ratio is just not there to begin with (Steve asked IBM to lower it's asking price).
Reply to this comment
he's just saying that...
by chochoa June 7, 2005 7:57 AM PDT
every developer knows that he's just saying that.
then why upgrade to the new Xcode.
Steve felt left out with IBM. IBM won't deal with him like how they currently deal with Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.
The profit vs. quantity ratio is just not there to begin with (Steve asked IBM to lower it's asking price).
Reply to this comment
Showing 1 of 3 pages (144 Comments)
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