Pentium Chips... So what?

[duck]

Maybe it's because I'm not a developer, but I don't see the big deal about Apple using Intel chips. Is this going to cause problems with software, and if so, how much could this hurt Apple?

From the little bits of info I've read, there have been mixed reactions. Just wanted to know what anyone thinks of this.

[seetomtype]

Since I won't have a new Mac in my budjet for about 4 years it's a
tempest in a teapot. As far as I can tell they seem to be rated a lot
higher than they actually run outside the lab (Pents), and you can't easily
overclock them, but they seem to run just fine in my FeeCee's. I'm
sure there are a million opinons on it, but I don't really have a strong one.
I just hope Apple dosen't water itself down in some way, and I guess this
could be seen as turn in that direction by some.

As a side note I have never understood fixing something that wasn't
broken to begin with :roll:

[zox]

It's all in software development.

I see it as similar to our work, as soon as you get used to something, workout all issues and bugs and nail all those pesky bugs so you know exactly where are you by just having one look at the files, .. they change version of software and introduce 10000 more bugs you never heard of and it's all over again.

They change CPU to completly different architecture (X86), means software has to be recompiled for new CPU arhitecture at least if not completly redesigned if it was designed with stuff that exist only on those chips (e.g. Altivec, G5 optimisations, etc..).

I am actually glad as this might make or brake Apple (hopefully first).

You might have some 3rd party software developer give up and say go Windows only as it has the best development tools out there and so far it was sticking with same CPU architecture, while Apple is switching architectures for the second time now

[pcmodem]

As Zox said, the developers need to recompile their software to work on the new Apple systems. It has to do with how the processor reads and writes.

For example an Apple Power PC chip might write 01 but an Intel processor would write 10. This is what someone else told me the difference is without getting techie.

[Lammy]

According to what Jobs said in his keynote address, all the software developed since the release of OS 10 has been done so as processor independent. If I understand it right that means that recompiling is all that's needed. Architecture specific instructions aren't added until the compile is executed. The was one of the big deals with Java. You base code was good for any computer, the specifics are worked out when it's compiled. The older codes (c++, fortran(?), etc) had to have their core code written for specific chip sets. So to make software to run on different computers you had to rewrite the entire code.

If I understand it right that is.

As for is this a good thing. I should be in a few years. Right away, probably not. It was subtle, but jobs noted that Intel had better future development than IBM based on processing ability per watt. That means in 5 years from now Intel chips MAY run faster, cooler and use less power than IBMs.

[Jalan]

Being a software developer, I'm not too worried about it. I think it could open up some great possibilities. With Rosetta being implemented, it seems that not too many programs developers need to worry.
Rosetta seems to be an emulation software that will run unaltered software but at a slightly reduced speed. Any software requiring special functions of the processors are the ones that need any kind of real work. Programs like all the ones we use in prepress.

I think it's probably too early to decide the major impact this decision is going to make. If it wasn't for change, we'd all still be using Apple IIe's and Pagemaker 1. :twisted:

My main question is are the programs going to be backwards compatible. So when Adobe Creative Suite 3 comes out, will it work on just Intel or will it work on my old Dual G5?

[Bart]

Originally Posted by Jalan1974

My main question is are the programs going to be backwards compatible. So when Adobe Creative Suite 3 comes out, will it work on just Intel or will it work on my old Dual G5?

I think this will be the opportunity Adobe needs to introduce their registration scheme similar to Quark's so they will be backwards compatible but not for long......

On a similar note the new machines will probably not be Classic compatible so any users still using Quark 4 will have problems. With the sudden departure of the CEO from Quark announced yesterday I think the future for Quark is decidedly dodgy.........

[zox]

..

My main question is are the programs going to be backwards compatible. So when Adobe Creative Suite 3 comes out, will it work on just Intel or will it work on my old Dual G5?

I think it will work on both.
I watched keynote speech again last night and Jos said that all the binaries will be "Fat" and compiled for both PowerPC and Intel platform.

What he is saying is that PowerPC will stay supported for a while and at least every new version of software that comes out will run on both platforms.

I see that changing to Intel only after a couple of years at least.

Example, Adobe CS3 will run on both PowerPC and Intel while Adobe CS4 will be Intel only.
This is my speculation so take it with a grain of salt. :wink:

[Bart]

Story doing the rounds is that real reason for the switch is that Intel are going to buy Apple and take on Microsoft........

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index...e&NewsID=11809

[duck]

Originally Posted by Bart

Story doing the rounds is that real reason for the switch is that Intel are going to buy Apple and take on Microsoft........

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index...e&NewsID=11809

That actually makes more sense than anything else I've heard so far. Anything that can knock Micro$oft down a notch is OK in my book.