Many articles:
http://news.com.com/Apple+throws+the...56.html?tag=nl
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/06...le_intel_love/
http://macnn.com/

etc etc

Apparently pretty simple recompile for most things. P4 3.6 dev kit available immediately.

Consumer/Pro transition over the next couple years.

PPC enviornment for x86 for transparent running of PPC apps. No idea about the reverse though.

No details on chipsets or what they're going to use to stop people from running OSX on pc's.

Thoughts?

I'm hurt.
I prefer more operations per clock over more clock cycles anyday.
I better get a PowerPC Mac before it goes out of style.

OSX is already "ported", as are all apple apps.

Nowhere near as simple as you've been lead to believe. I suspect that:

- Traditionally Applecentric software (i.e. Pro Tools, Photoshop) will lose some of their performance edges because they will no longer be as efficiently targeted to the specific architecture that powers the system. You can't just recompile a highly specialized piece of software and expect the same relative level of performance.
- Apple will lose some of its professional customers for the aforementioned reason.
- In addition to the above, existing PPC-targeted software will be useless to professionals. They will need to buy new software unless developers are generously going to up/sidegrade them for free. Obviously, emulating a PPC environment would be futile insofar as performance is concerned. It would be unacceptable for all but the most elementary of applications.
- Apple will expose itself to pricing pressure in the PC realm. Can it really compete with Dell or HP/Compaq on pricing? Will it even try?
- Apple will not woo any appreciable number of current PC users because the software and applications won't change all that much in terms of appearance and functionality. If PC users aren't interested now, this will make no difference to them unless Apple brings its prices in line with PC prices. Don't count on that happening.

All in all, this is a neutral to poor move in my opinion.

I agree with everything you say, Inept.

this should be interesting. Win vs OSX on the same hardware...PowerPC vs Intel with the same OS...maybe we'll finally put to rest some of the old arguments over which is faster. Eh, probably not.

eh, it depends on what you're doing. The RISC procs in Macs are fast, but the real speed comes from software. If you know that every machine is going to be virtually the same you can take advantage of an essentially locked system architecture. Those advantages are negated by blazingly fast CISC procs, and allow the software to run well on just about anything....and allow just about anyone to write software that everyone can use.

There are some areas where the architecture of the Mac really gives it an advantage, and others where it is a serious hinderance. I say there's a proper tool for every job.

i dont like it. macs are a nitch computer and it looks like they will be falling out of that market with the change. the only thing they will have going for them in the future is their design.

I haven't watched it yet, but here's the stream:
http://stream.apple.akadns.net/

so, I read all the articles but they paint over what I think is the real reason for the switch. This has been going on for a while, and from the folks I've talked to it makes sense...

Basically, Microsoft has always threatened apple that it will 'delay' the release of new office versions on the macs. MS don't say it that way, but more like "product developement could be delayed due to technical issues". When apple would attempt to be more aggressie with new offerings that could compete with MS products, MS would use this threat. The MS office suite being avaiable on the Mac is a HUGE deal because it allows it to be an alternative to Windows. If you are a graphics designer who only needs office and internet browsing in addition to all the other MAC/Graphics related product, then a Mac would be the way to go. Now take away the office portion and you have the company/IT department frowning upon the use/requirement of two desktops for one user. 'Hey, just get abdobe for windows and suck it up'.

So Apple says FU to M$ and recompiles their OS to run on an Intel platform. Does that make all software immediately compatible? Hell no, but it makes it A LOT easier to port. And lets be honest, the Mac architecture is what has been holding them up for so long.

eh...they've been a nitch computer because of their software. Software aint going anywhere. Yeah, some things will run slower because of the change of architecture, but as soon as they retool the software design to take advantage of intel tech that will go away.