Apple to switch to Intel chips: WSJ

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL - news) is expected to announce Monday that it will begin shifting its Macintosh computer line next year to Intel Corp. chips, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site on Sunday, citing people familiar with the situation.

Additional coverage in today's WSJ: Apple Is Poised to Shift To Intel as Chip Supplier

Excerpt:

Apple's decision, coming after years of industry speculation about such a deal and behind-the-scenes lobbying by Intel, underscores how longtime allegiances are shifting because of competitive pressures and users' changing preferences. Such a move could help Apple ensure that its Mac systems remain competitive with rivals like Dell Inc., of Round Rock, Texas. It could be a prelude to collaboration with Intel in developing new devices for homes and offices. And it might help Apple reduce its prices, a longstanding disadvantage; an industry executive suggested that the computer maker sought, and won, more-attractive chip prices from Intel than it could get from IBM, of Armonk, N.Y.
The change also makes it at least theoretically possible that some Macintosh systems could more efficiently run Windows and application programs for that operating system, though it isn't clear that Apple intends to encourage that practice.
The shift also could cause disruptions for current Macintosh users. For one thing, software companies may have to adapt programs to run on Intel's so-called x86 chips. Many Macintosh users have recently expressed opposition to such a switch; some equate it with Apple going over to the "the dark side" of Wintel, as the near-duopoly of Intel chips and Windows software is sometimes called.
Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive and co-founder, is expected to explain the shift today during a keynote speech at the company's annual conference for software developers in San Francisco, the industry executives said. Paul Otellini, Intel's CEO, may take part in the presentation, an industry executive said.

Well, Hal, let's just agree to disagree on this one. BTW -- with this announcement now -- why the hell would I want to buy a Mac knowing that it will be obsolete in a short time?

I just can't see this announcement to bring short-term good for Apple. Mr. Peel picked up a mini the other day along with our newer AMD64s and was thinking of buying 2 more Macs only this week. That decision has now been put on hold. The Mac market is so friggin' tiny for us, its not really worth it.

Apple will have to support apps on diametrically opposed architectures simultaneously-- it will increase developer and support load--to make sure their apps run in the new environment. Big $$ outlay so little reward. Sigh.

Network performance will be hurt -- byte swapping apps -- what a mess --

I guess the Apple position that the G5 processor is the fastest processor ever, ever, ever is nothing but a lie, Right?

Mr. Peel predicts Apple will backpedal on this in a year.

Well, Hal, let's just agree to disagree on this one.

So be it.

Network performance will be hurt -- byte swapping apps -- what a mess --

On that point, we agree.

I guess the Apple position that the G5 processor is the fastest processor ever, ever, ever is nothing but a lie, Right?

For some types of computations, the G5 is better. Apparently, Apple has determined that the Pentium is fast enough. More importantly, Intel has made great progress in reducing power consumption for laptop computers, something the G5 hasn't done so far.

Mr. Peel predicts Apple will backpedal on this in a year.

I don't think so. I'd prefer to stick with PowerPCs, but the toothpaste is out of the tube now. The final point Jobs made during today's presentation is that Apple's future is the operating system, not the hardware.

Please send me my free copy of the following: SUSE 9.3 pro Xandros Business Desktop Version Red Hat Enterprise edition. I did NOT say some clone of Red Hat. I said I want RED HAT Enterprise. You know, the one with the support. If red china says "we don't need your support, we have bright people who can write our own drivers, packets, and upgrades, and we don't want to buy your support" then they can (by the way, that is what Linux vendors are selling...... SUPPORT.

Of all the linux bashers I have met, you are the one who seems to have the hardest time grasping the fact that it is possible to have a business model to provide support for money, not software for money. You may not LIKE the business model, and you clearly don't believe it will work, but it is not leftist. The fact that China developed its own linux distro, using Red Hat as a model, is completely irrelevant here. Or just give me an ftp/http site where you have obtained these for free.....

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