I find it hard to believe that Apple would break binary compatibility with existing PowerPC-targeted
OS X software.
So, to roll out x86 or other non-Power CPUs, I would expect Apple to plan full binary compatibility
with PowerPC binaries. And once that step is taken, they might as well throw in a WINE-style library
package to run Windows applications natively.
I think it is far more likely that Intel will be contracted to produce a new line of Power-family
chips that are high-speed and low-power, low-heat for the Powerbook line. I think the odds of a new
architecture are extremely low, given the hassle it took to get Adobe, Quark etc onto the OS X
platform in the first place (yes that was an OS, not an arch., but still).
2c,
-Max
larry price wrote:
On 6/6/05, Rodney Mishima <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Maybe, Apple is utilizing Intel for their manufacturing capabilities
and hopefully NOT for the X86 specific chips. Supposedly, Apple has
the rights to the G5 and can get someone else; eg. Intel instead of
IBM, to manufacture them in the quantities Apple anticipates they
will need.
I doubt it somewhat, chip manufacturing isn't quite plug and play and
it would take a while in engineering time for Intel to learn how to
make PPC cores.
More likely they will be going for a preexisting chip and suite, most
probably IA64 or Pentium-M and if it's the latter let's hope the
Maalox distributors in Redmond are prepared for the rush.
If Apple does go for a chipset that's already widely deployed that is
a direct competitive move against MS, especially if they start
selling a boxed version of their OS,,
Let's discuss this after Jobs makes the announcement.
Oh come on, uninformed speculation is so much more FUN.
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