[Hanul]

Will the new Intel-based Macs still have Open Firmware or will it change to BIOS? I think the Linux and Windows Boot Loaders require a BIOS, because they make BIOS calls to look for a bootable device. Phil Schiller confirmed, that Windows will run on the new Macs, but in order to Dual-Boot you either need a BIOS to install Windows (I don't think the install routine of Windows will run with Open Firmware) or Open Firmware can somehow emulate BIOS calls.

[Hanul]

To answer my own question: From Apple's "Universal Binary Programming Guidelines"

"Macintosh computers using Intel microprocessors do not use Open Firmware. Although many parts
of the IO registry are present and work as expected, information that is provided by Open Firmware
on a Macintosh using a PowerPC microprocessor (such as a complete device tree) is not available in
the IO registry on a Macintosh using an Intel microprocessor. You can obtain some of the information
from IODeviceTree by using the sysctlbyname or sysctl commands."

[retroneo]

i'll try restarting on one of the new macs tomorrow holding down the option key :-)

[OreoCookie]

Forgot where I read it, but Apple publicly stated that they will neither use a regular BIOS nor Open Firmware. Otherwise, you could run OS X (more easily) on any other PC.

[tigas]

Intel has been developing a next-generation BIOS (with mouse, VGA graphics and a network stack), and AMD has back-ported that BIOS specification to AMD chips and third party chipsets. Is is a part of the Trusted Computing DRM platform Intel and M$ have been developing for years, and it's not impossible for Apple to have a customized version of this.

[Eriamjh]

They will use "Not-quite-so-Open BIOS-ware".


I thought the old-fashioned BIOS was disappearing in favor of something more modern anyway. I'm sure the full-blown Intel Apple Macs will use something more modern.

[bighead]

It's a shame that Open Firmware is going to go by the wayside.

[tooki]

Not a Power Mac discussion.

tooki