Couple reasons: 1. Apple seems to want to keep the iPad running iOS, which is currently only developed for the ARM architecture, not x86. 2. The power draw for Brazos, while not bad (close to Atom power consumption while offering between Atom and CULV platform performance), is MUCH higher than that for the ARM-based A4 processor. That's why the iPad can offer a 10+ hour battery life. A Brazos would probably be around 1/3 to 1/2 of that with the same size battery--less if actually doing something processor intensive.
Honestly, prior to this discussion, I never even read the performance previews of the Brazos (well, Bobcat) processor. I assumed that, armed with a modern out-of-order execution pipeline, it would wipe the floor with the in-order Atom. I hope Anand's review is wrong--because it just doesn't show that. Yeah, it's faster, and graphics are definitely faster, but the margin is terribly disappointing. This is especially disconcerting to me, as I was hoping Brazos would be an enabler of powerful slate devices and maybe even turbocharge the (IMO) uninspiring netbook form factor. Again, I hope Anand had something weird going on in his review, because I'm pretty unimpressed. As for Apple switching to AMD processors...it seems unlikely at this point. AMD GPUs for more powerful systems, very possible, but given the performance, power, and improved graphics with Sandy Bridge, I don't see it happening with this generation. Anything can change, of course, but 2011 will not be the year of a mass Apple shift to AMD. Greg > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:hardware- > [email protected]] On Behalf Of Mini Me > Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 3:07 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [H] Laptop suggestions > > As I said it's just a rumor being reported and you make a good point about > PowerPC hardware. If AMD can make a competitive part then why wouldn't > Apple use it? They surely don't have any great love for any hardware > manufacturer. I'm glad Motorola is still around. You know, if Brazos is as > powerful and energy efficient as has been reported then why not use it in > the iPad? > > > > On Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:33:08 -0600, Brian Weeden > <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Perhaps you missed the massive uproar from the Apple fan community > > (and > > developers) when they ditched PowerPC? > > > > Part of that was Apple's own doing of course, in that they spent years > > convincing the public that Intel was inferior and then had to come out > > and say exactly the opposite. And part of it was the change in > > architecture to X86, which would not be as much of an issue going from > > Intel to AMD. > > > > Still, I am highly skeptical. They already got Nvidia to make a custom > > graphics chip for their MacBook Pros, and now Apple is going to ditch > > them for AMD/ATI? Again, that would mean a huge marketing cost. > > > > The only device I could possibly see Apple using Brazos in is the > > Macbook Air, where weight and power is at a premium, but they just > > refreshed that so I wouldn't expect to see another refresh until the > > end of 2011 at the earliest. > > > > --------- > > Brian > > > > > > > > > > On Tue, Dec 21, 2010 at 3:11 PM, Thane Sherrington < > > [email protected]> wrote: > > > >> At 02:22 PM 21/12/2010, Brian Weeden wrote: > >> > >>> Source? I find that highly unlikely, except as a bargaining chip to > >>> drive a better price from Intel. > >>> > >> > >> I've seen a couple of reports on this recently. > >> > >> > >> Apple has spent an enormous amount of marketing resources > >> re-branding to > >>> Intel from PowerPC, and would have to sink an even larger amount of > >>> resources in any switch to AMD. Like it or not, AMD does not have > >>> the same mindshare and brand power among consumers as Intel. > >>> > >> > >> I very much doubt Apple buyers care what CPU is in the machine. Why > >> would they if they get the performance they want? > >> > >> T > >> > >> > > > -- > Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
