Apple may launch Intel laptops soon, analyst says

Cnet ^ | 11/30/2005

[Panerai]

Apple Computer could introduce its first laptop computers based on Intel chips as early as January, which, together with robust sales of video iPods, should drive earnings higher, Citigroup said Wednesday.

Citigroup analyst Richard Gardner raised his target on the computer maker's stock price to $71 from $51 and boosted his earnings forecasts for the next two years.

For the current quarter, Gardner raised his revenue estimate to $5.5 billion from $4.8 billion and his earnings-per share forecast to 60 cents from 47 cents.

He also raised his 2006 revenue forecast to $20.4 billion from $17.6 billion and his earnings estimate to $2.16 a share from $1.72. "We are becoming more convinced that Apple will introduce its first Intel-based PowerBook at Macworld San Francisco," Gardner said in a note to clients. That conference runs from Jan. 9 to 13.

Gardner said these product introductions would be sooner than expected, which should help minimize the risk that Apple would end up with a buildup of its current line of non-Intel laptops as customers anticipate the arrival of the new models.

For 2007, he expects revenue of $24.3 billion and per-share profit of $2.61, up from his previous forecasts of $19.6 billion and $1.93.

[Panerai]

More on Macworld Jan. rumors

[Swordmaker]

More rumors on MacWorld being taken seriously by analysts.

PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Sir_Ed]

We're going to be ordering a G5 970mp with 16 gigs RAM next year, around January. What do you think are the chances that G5 will halt the Power chip in G5's and switch to Intel next year?

If they DO switch, when do you think is the timetable? Mid-year? Late summer? Fall? Or 2007?

We really don't want to switch to Intel but if we have to do so, we're going to get the best G5 970 that we can before they stop production of them in favor of Intel.

Thanks,

Ed

[chet_in_ny]

a little outdated but see here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1419368/posts

[tubebender]

I have become leery of First Generation of most things. I may take this opportunity to buy a current laptop if the discount is good...

[goldstategop]

Intel chips will reportedly run faster than Apple's proprietary PC Power chips. But you can't run Windows on them. Apple has designed a special security chip that makes it impossible to run any other operating system configuration on its new Intel-based Macs.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Mr. Blonde]

I have a powerbook on order now. I'm not going to cry too hard over not getting the intel one. I can't imagine that life would be that much greater with one. Plus this will give them a chance to work out any potential bugs with the new chip before I will need one.

[Lx]

Do you know if OS/X will run on X86 clone hardware? I would love to be able to have both Windows XP and OS/X available. I'm thinking though, probably not. If they do support clone hardware, they'll be in the unenviable position Microsoft is in having to support a practically infinite amount of hardware.

I can hope can't I?

[spower]

What's your source on that? What I have read straight from Apple (when they made the intel announcement earlier this year) is that they would not support or condone the installation of Windows on an Apple machine, but that there would be nothing to prevent a user from installing it.

The technology you speak of is geared towards preventing OS X for Intel from being installed on a Windows box, although hackers have, thus far, circumvented it.

[TChris]

Too bad Apple is moving from one dead-end CPU architecture to another. Going to the AMD 64-bit core would have been a much smarter move.

[pageonetoo]

So, which one did you design?

[TChris]

So, which one did you design?

Ummm... None, why? Are those who design microprocessors given exclusive license to comment on the subject?

[Swordmaker]

Re: Switch of G5 to intel.

It will be another model designation since the G5 is reserved for PowerPC CPUs. I think they will maintain the G5 chips in the xServers but a new top end Intel based Mac will probably be introduced in the 2nd quarter.

[Sir_Ed]

Interesting!

So I wonder if they will keep both chips?

Would Intel have reuqired an exclusive contract from Apple as supplier?

Hmm, I wonder? It'd be better for the end user to keep using the Power chip AND any Intels they develop for us...

Thanks,

Ed

[antiRepublicrat]

If they DO switch, when do you think is the timetable? Mid-year? Late summer? Fall? Or 2007?

Switching next year is the timetable. But right now Intel doesn't have any good powerful desktop processors out, AMD currently whooping butt. I expect Apple to roll out laptops and the mini based on the excellent Pentium M, then the iMac, and lastly the PowerMac, because by then maybe Intel will have something decent to put in it. Probably late next year.

[antiRepublicrat]

Going to the AMD 64-bit core would have been a much smarter move.

Definitely for the powerful desktop and server, but the dual-core Pentium M gives the about same performance as an equivalent Athlon at a much lower power consumption. That's perfect for the laptops and the mini, and maybe for the iMac.

But I don't know what Apple is going to do for the XServe. XServe + Opteron looks like just such a sweet combination.

[Sir_Ed]

Thanks for the info. That fits our timing perfectly!

Ed