Many opinions have been flying around about the WWDC news today regarding Mac’s running on Intel processors. This is my two cents.
The decision to switch to intel processors was a purely business decision for Apple.
Lets see, IBM couldn’t supply processors to what they said they could, AND they can’t make a nice one for laptops…Apple decided that IBM sucks for those two main reasons. Looks like to have to go with someone else. Supply/Demand. One question that I still have is why Intel? Why not AMD? They typically have better processors. I still don’t know this one, but they did decide on Intel.
My friend James thinks that the transition to intel will be a tough one…he cited that he thought Mac OS X 10.0 sucked until it was Mac OS X 10.1. He thinks that this Intel transition won’t be good for a while. I don’t think the transition will be tough at all. I’m thinking about more closely related history when I think about this…the transition from 68K->PPC (CISC->RISC). I remember this transition process when I was installing programs not knowing what to install for my Performa 600CD…68K code, FAT code, or PPC code. This was when I was aware that there was a transition going on in the early 90’s (transition I). So we’ll have FAT (universal) binaries floating around again, and some confusion until it’s all over…not that big of a deal.
I don’t see how changing from RISC to CISC makes anything better. Also, does anyone else think it’s ironic that we’re going BACK to CISC? Also, probably coinsodentally, this blurs the invisible line between the Mac Purists (pre-OS9 Mac heads), and the Switchers (converts, after 10). Both of these types of users will have to switch, so in a way we are all becoming switchers. It almost feels as if I’m being reduced in ranking.
I’m also not sure why the developers at the WWDC were wild in applause with this switch. (1) Who gets excited about more work? Especially since developers have been known to be inherently lazy. (2) Apple has been toating the G3-G5’s as being superiour to Intel’s counterparts, and now we’re downgrading. Sounding like Apple has lost a bit of what makes it unique (although Mr. Jobs tries to define that the OS is what makes the Mac unique), and that Apple is gearing itself more toward Ford-like computers by conforming to the standard Intel branded parts. Not sure why it’s good to eventually tune down all the products. But, I’m sure I won’t realize all the benefits of this switch until later. Maybe much later. Maybe all the developers at the conference know the benefits already and that’s why they were applauding.
It’s an annoyance for developers, yes. But, if it’s the only way to get a large amount of processors and a new laptop at a fair price so be it. So yeah, this may reduce the price of Macs in the future. Like I said, business driven.
Also, as a side note, I was kinda disappointed that they only really talked about Intel on Mac. I was expecting some more products, SW or HW. Oh well.
. There is a webpage set up there to direct you to the correct file names of the iCals (yeah I know, that will help!).