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Apple Computer Inc. has been in talks that could lead to it using Intel Corp. chips in its Macintosh computers, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, reigniting decade-old speculation and sparking a 5 percent rise in Apple's stock price.
The report, which cited two industry executives with knowledge of recent discussions between the companies and prompted skepticism from some analysts, said Apple was expected to agree to use Intel chips. But it said the talks could break down or could be a tactic to gain negotiating leverage with Apple's current chip supplier, International Business Machines Corp.
At stake for Apple is a more predictable and consistent supply of microprocessors -- the computing engines in computers -- as well as potentially lower prices for Apple Macintosh computers, which historically have cost more than PCs running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating systems.
Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy and Apple spokesman Steve Dowling declined to comment on the report, which they termed "rumor and speculation."
Some analysts on Monday doubted Apple would soon drop IBM's PowerPC processor for Intel's Pentium chips, which power more than 80 percent of the world's personal computers, noting the momentous task of porting, or rewriting, Apple's OS X operating system, as well as all the software programs that run on PowerPC chips to Intel's.
"It's just too much software to have to change," said Kevin Krewell, editor-in-chief of newsletter Microprocessor Report. "This is just putting more pressure on IBM to fix these problems."
IBM has in the past had problems in producing enough working G5 PowerPC processors for Apple's Power Mac computers and the G5 chip uses too much power, hence producing too much heat, to be used in its popular iBook and PowerBook laptops.
Though Apple has less than a 3 percent share of the PC market, its embrace of Intel chips would mark a fundamental change to the computer industry's historic alliances and rivalries. Apple has long blazed its own path by avoiding chips from Intel or rival processor maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc, which together power nearly all the world's PCs.
"It's like Ferrari going to BMW for an engine," said Richard Doherty, the research director for technology consulting and research firm Envisioneering. "This is seen as a whole changing of church."
Full story courtesy of Reuters...
http://www.reuters.co.uk/news[....]technologyNews&storyID=8579636
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Posted: 2005-05-24 16:02:53
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woooo.
jools4g will be happy!
fatreg
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Posted: 2005-05-24 16:12:24
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heres another
Apple denies Intel link
i dont know how correct the above two news are.
anyway,i dont think apple is looking for an x86 from intel.
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Posted: 2005-05-24 16:15:27
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jool4g maybe happy is ultimatly more intelligant brother joolsg4 wont tho
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Posted: 2005-05-24 16:26:12
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Ha ha! Dunno about Jools4G either but I don't really care what chips run Macs, as long as they work!
I think its highly unlikely Apple are considering a switch away from PowerPC. They've invested too much money in it and the Mac OS and apps use specific features of PowerPC chips which aren't available in Intel chips.
This could just be an 'accidentally leaked by Apple' story to scare IBM into producing a G5 chip for PowerBooks quicker.
IBM seem far busier producing PowerPC chips for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Revolution...
Apple already use other manufacturers chips in other products they make, such as the iPod and AMD chips in thier Airport wireless routers. Maybe they've got another unannounced product that may have an Intel chip in it?
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Posted: 2005-05-24 17:13:38
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oops
joolsg4 even
not jools4g is much better! itrs where phones are going!
fatreg
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Posted: 2005-05-24 17:29:46
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Thinking about the amount of code they will have to do if they change the chip architecture.... its a lot of work for them if they do!
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Posted: 2005-05-24 17:33:14
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Quote:
On 2005-05-24 17:13:38, JoolsG4 wrote:
I think its highly unlikely Apple are considering a switch away from PowerPC. They've invested too much money in it and the Mac OS and apps use specific features of PowerPC chips which aren't available in Intel chips.
risc on powerpc?
thats not a big deal these days i reckon.
only question if the news is true is ,
Is apple coming the intel way (x86) or intel going apple way?
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Posted: 2005-05-24 17:34:18
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They made that painful transition back when they switched to RISC PowerPC Chips from the CISC Motorola MC68xxx series. They had to create software emulators to allow old (non PowerPC native) apps to work which really slowed things down.
If they would go down that road again, I don't think the Mac community will be very happy.
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Posted: 2005-05-26 04:46:01
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Well, at 6pm tonight (UK time) Steve Jobs will be giving his keynote speech at the WWDC. According to many reports over the week-end it appears these rumours may even be true.
I'm still very surprised... unless Apple have some clever tricks up their collective sleeves its going to make a fair bit of work for software developers.
Apple shifts to Intel: what is all the fuss about (TheRegister)
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Posted: 2005-06-06 18:06:32
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