As many of you know, Apple’s Mac hardware has traditionally been based on Motorola or IBM PowerPC computer processors. Today, at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO announced the move to Intel-based processors in the Mac.
Why is Apple doing this?
According to Steve’s comments, Apple is dissatisfied with the speed of development of new processors by IBM (which makes the current G5 processor), and their power consumption. At the 2003 WWDC where Apple announced the original G5, it announced that within 12 months, a faster 3GHz version of the G5 would be available, which isn’t the case even two years later. Apple also intended to make a G5 PowerBook, but was unable to do so due to the high power requirements and heat generation of the IBM G5 processor.
Intel processors (especially the new Pentium M) offer much higher performance per Watt of power used than the G5, and this better fits the desires of Apple’s design department.
Will I be able to run Mac OS X on my existing Intel-based PC?
This is currently unknown. Apple usually requires that you run Mac OS only on Apple hardware (this is specified in Apple’s current license agreement), but they may change this policy in a break with the past. We’re inclined to believe that Mac OS X will continue to run best on Apple hardware, but Apple may also go after the large installed base of PC’s.
Apple is first and foremost a hardware vendor, and with their failed cloning experiment in the 90’s (when you could buy a Mac-compatible computer from PowerComputing, UMAX, Daystar, etc…), we have reason to doubt that you’ll be able to put the Intel version of Mac OS X on just any Intel-based PC.
Will my current Mac applications run on an Intel-based Mac?
Yes, in most cases, but you may have to upgrade. For most application developers, making an Intel version of their Mac OS X Software is as simple as making a minor change or two and clicking a few extra buttons when they produce the application.
Applications can be shipped that can run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Mac OS X, much like the PowerPC/68k “fat binaries” that occurred with the first 68k->PowerPC transition. The NeXT OpenStep operating environment that Mac OS X is based on supported many different platforms (Sun, HP, Intel, 68k) in one application, so this multi-architecture technology is tested and robust.
During the WWDC 2005 keynote, the developer for Mathematica, a very complex math program was brought on stage, and according to him, it took less than 2 hours to convert that very large program to work on an Intel-based Mac.
For applications not available in an Intel version, an emulator called “Rosetta” (which or may not be made by Transitive Computing) will be available that will allow PowerPC applications to run on Intel-based Macs. This is very similar to the 68k emulator that was used during when the first transition from 68k to PowerPC.
Should I wait to buy a Mac now that Apple is abandoning the PowerPC platform?
This is a tough one - Apple is committed to releasing Intel-based Macs by WWDC 2006 (a year from now), but their current product line is quite nice, and Apple has stated that there are still PowerPC based Macs in the production pipeline - it isn’t abandoning the PowerPC right away.
If you need a computer now, you definitely could do worse than to purchase a PowerPC G5 based Mac. Historically, Apple has continued to support their products with both hardware and software support for at least 5 years, at which time you’d likely want to upgrade. Application developers should support PowerPC Macs for at least that length of time, if not much longer.
If you’re happy with your current computer, I’d recommend waiting, or upgrading to a newer version of MacOS X, if you’re running a version prior to Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, which has many new features and is noticeably more snappy (especially on newer G5 systems).
Will Artisan Computer Services support both PowerPC and Intel based Macs?
Absolutely! We’re committed to supporting any and all Apple products, no matter what kind of hardware they run on. We also intend to offer transition and troubleshooting services for issues that may occur with this change.
If you have any questions about this or any other technology issue, please feel free to contact us at info@artisancomputer.com
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