Linked by Eugenia Loli-Queru on Sun 5th Jun 2005 22:11 UTC
After News.com's Friday report that Apple is moving to Intel/x86, the respected publication Wall Street Journal and now NYTimes threw their reputation behind the rumor. Many people still remain skeptical, but I personally believe that the time is right for Apple to switch to x86-64, for two main reasons:
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mini me wrote:
Do you have any proof that apple is overpriced?
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Do you have any proof that Apple is using higher quality hardware? Who makes their RAM? Who makes their optical drives? I remember a report a couple years ago on Tech Report, I think from Damage, where he peeled off the cas2 sticker on the PC133 RAM in a Mac to find 3-3-3 screened on the chip. As much as I'd love to own a PPC970, I can build a PC with a Gigabyte motherboard, Plextor DVD+/-RW, Crucial RAM, M-Audio Sound, and Leadtek graphics and be sure of the quality of all my components.
I do agree that the average PC that your average Joe comes home with from Fry's or CompUSA is absolute garbage, however, besides the flat panels, I'm not so sure Apple is any better.
All that said, I'd love to see Apple move to x86 for one reason, and one reason only: Apple will never sell a quality barebones for a reasonable price. Also, IBM is much less likely market the PPC970 anywhere near the desktop as long as Apple is buying their chips. It's still not likely, but at least there's a better chance.
Eugenia's thought that laptop needs are what's driving Apple to x86 got me thinking, though. Pentium M is a great chip, powerful and cool-running at the same time. But in tests I've seen, it struggles heavily in compiling code (the test I saw was a Linux kernel). Wouldn't that transfer over to most pro design? I'm especially thinking Photoshop and building 3D scenes, but maybe even audio and video editing.
With Freescale's design for the dual core 8641D with it's oncore memory and hypertransport controllers... does anyone know if it got delayed?