[kmkkid]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=26433


Apple wants Intels newest chips to be used in their upcoming x86 macs. They want Merom (portable), and Woodcrest (workstation) chips, only problem is they aren't due out till at least 3rd quarter next year Will Intel ramp up production to suit Apples timeframe or will Apple have to ship their new products later than their previously mentioned timeframe of early 2006?

[Agasthya]

Apple has like 5% of the marketshare at MOST. Intel has much bigger customers to worry about than Apple.

[kmkkid]

Originally Posted by Agasthya

Apple has like 5% of the marketshare at MOST. Intel has much bigger customers to worry about than Apple.

Exactly. This will probably push Apples timeframe back to late 2006 early 2007, unless they just settle with what Intel's offering right now. I don't see a problem with settling as OS X is blazing fast on even 3 year old Intel hardware, so current hardware will be just fine.

[smacintush]

Jeez, who says that this even true.

I'm not saying it isn't, but this could just be PC industry here-say.

[ajprice]

They can still release Yonah based Macs in June, probably mini's and iBooks, those chips he wants early are probably for more powerful computers.

[kmkkid]

Originally Posted by smacintush

Jeez, who says that this even true.

I'm not saying it isn't, but this could just be PC industry here-say.

This is why forums exist, to discuss the news, hearsay, facts blah blah blah.

[milhous]

Well don't discount the possibility that Otellini gave Jobs "first dibs" on the new chips and even perhaps on a different timetable. Remember that Jobs has seen the unofficial Intel roadmap, a map that the public doesn't get to see.

Dell may be one of Intel's biggest customers, but Apple/Jobs share a greater historical lineage with Intel. It's anecdotal evidence I know, but it's gotta be worth something.

No doubt that Intel offered Apple some serious incentives to prevent them from going with someone else.

[starman]

lol. your speculations make me laugh.

[olePigeon]

Apple's made no official announcement as to which processors they'll be using, just that we need to "check Intel's roadmap" for ideas.

Technically, Apple has until the end of 2007 to switch their entire line. So they have some nice elbow room. They mentioned shipping Intel based Macs starting in June of 2006. I guess we'll see which (if any) of the Intel chips they decide to use.

[piot]

Mac minis and iBooks will be the first to go Intel. 25th April 2006 is the target date.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by ajprice

They can still release Yonah based Macs in June, probably mini's and iBooks, those chips he wants early are probably for more powerful computers.

Yonah is not 64 bit. Memrom is. It looks like Apple wants a 64 bit lineup.

[JoshuaZ]

If intel isn`t up to chip production, I can forsee Apple moving to a `ruffle` based chip production company, due to the high surface area and overall low cost of `ruffle` chips.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by goMac

Yonah is not 64 bit. Memrom is. It looks like Apple wants a 64 bit lineup.

Yeah, but they haven't officially said that they'll be releasing a 64-bit laptop, so they have plenty of wiggle room to go with Yonah if need be. They'll still be able to move to an all 64-bit lineup once Merom is released, so there's no conflict there.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

If intel isn`t up to chip production, I can forsee Apple moving to a `ruffle` based chip production company, due to the high surface area and overall low cost of `ruffle` chips.

Are you referring to these?

[goMac]

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Yeah, but they haven't officially said that they'll be releasing a 64-bit laptop, so they have plenty of wiggle room to go with Yonah if need be. They'll still be able to move to an all 64-bit lineup once Merom is released, so there's no conflict there.

Sure, but that would mean a second transition for Apple. One to Intel 32 bit. And a second to Intel 64 bit. I think Apple wants to avoid that.

[Kerrigan]

Why does an iBook or a Mac mini even need a cutting edge 64-bit processor? Stick a pentium M in both of them and they will still be light years ahead of the G4. Hell, you could probably put a celeron in the Mac mini and people will be pleased.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Why does an iBook or a Mac mini even need a cutting edge 64-bit processor? Stick a pentium M in both of them and they will still be light years ahead of the G4. Hell, you could probably put a celeron in the Mac mini and people will be pleased.

Because as I said there would have to be a second software transition. Drivers written for 32 bit Intel OS X will not work on 64 bit Intel OS X. Apple wants people compiling once for Intel

[ghporter]

Think of the press Intel could get for bringing out these chips! They get zero press for supplying Dell and the others with run-of-the-mill chips, but brand-spankin'-new 64 bit chips for their new partnership with Apple? That's GREAT press!

[Agasthya]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Think of the press Intel could get for bringing out these chips! They get zero press for supplying Dell and the others with run-of-the-mill chips, but brand-spankin'-new 64 bit chips for their new partnership with Apple? That's GREAT press!

However it is not GREAT money.

[brokenjago]

It will be considering the Macintosh's market share is growing very quickly.

[DeathMan]

Originally Posted by Agasthya

Apple has like 5% of the marketshare at MOST. Intel has much bigger customers to worry about than Apple.

Yeah, Intel probably doesn't give a crap about a measly 5% of the entire desktop market. Apple's not HP or Dell, but they're not too far off from Lenovo/IBM (3rd largest desktop/hardware guys), and if the lead sales associate working with dell came back and said, oh yeah, and we're losing almost 25% of our Dell sales, someone is going to be pissed.

I think Dell would do quite a lot to bring in that new 5%. Especially with a brand that has so much buzz going around it right now.

[Cubeoid]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Are you referring to these?

[Randman]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Think of the press Intel could get for bringing out these chips! They get zero press for supplying Dell and the others with run-of-the-mill chips, but brand-spankin'-new 64 bit chips for their new partnership with Apple? That's GREAT press!

Exactly. And that will pay dividends for Intel.

[Salty]

Intel has scads of cash. Right now they are having more trouble with good press than anything else I'd say. They're getting sued by AMD, and lately they haven't done much great as far as processor speeds. However partnering with the maker of the iPod, the current press darling of the tech world (aside from Google) can not bring them any harm. Since this deal was announced I think a lot of people have had better feelings about Intel than they have had in a while.
Partnering with Apple just plain makes you look better these days.

[TETENAL]

Originally Posted by goMac

Apple wants people compiling once for Intel

Developers are already compiling for Intel. And they are compiling for 32 bit.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Developers are already compiling for Intel. And they are compiling for 32 bit.

...and not EMT64, which is what Memrom is. Yes, Memrom will run IA32 code. But if Mac OS X is EMT64 it will only work with EMT64 drivers.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Agasthya

Apple has like 5% of the marketshare at MOST. Intel has much bigger customers to worry about than Apple.

Yes, but Apple's now the 5th largest retailer of Intel based computers, and are only a few percentage behind IBM (or whoever sells their PCs now.) They sell more than Sony, Acer, or Micron.

I can easily see Apple move into the #3 spot taking some share from Dell and HP. Apple is a potential cash crop for Intel, I don't think they would want to piss off Apple. Perhaps they're just being realistic compared to Freescale and IBM.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Think of the press Intel could get for bringing out these chips! They get zero press for supplying Dell and the others with run-of-the-mill chips, but brand-spankin'-new 64 bit chips for their new partnership with Apple? That's GREAT press!

That is what I was thinking as well.

Big press being Apple's chip maker.

[Salty]

I can't wait till Apple is #4

[goMac]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

I can easily see Apple move into the #3 spot taking some share from Dell and HP. Apple is a potential cash crop for Intel, I don't think they would want to piss off Apple. Perhaps they're just being realistic compared to Freescale and IBM.

Why should Intel care? Dell can only sell computers with Intel chips, and HP sells mostly chips powered by Intel. Even if Apple takes marketshare from Dell and HP, it doesn't make a difference to Intel. Intel is still selling the same number of chips.

[Salty]

Apple won't be buying Celerons though. Apple's comps'lll prolly be using more expensive procs.