I've always had a contentious relationship with Apple fanatics, but my revelation earlier this year that Apple Computer will move to Intel microprocessors has to be the most important chapter of that relationship yet. On April 26, 2005, I mentioned in a blog post in WinInfo Daily UPDATE that "Apple is unhappy with the PowerPC production at IBM and will be switching to Intel-compatible chips this very year." That blurb touched off a new round of Thurrott bashing by Apple fanatics but was later confirmed by independent reports in "The Wall Street Journal," "Fortune," News.com, and "The New York Times," all of which not only corroborated what I wrote but added details to the story. Today, according to these reports, Apple CEO Steve Jobs will announce Apple's transition to Intel chips at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2005 trade show in San Francisco.
My, my, my. Predictably, speculation about this transition has been all over the map. In the rumor's early days, many people suggested that instead of using Intel x86-based chips in Macintosh computers, Apple planned to use Intel XScale microprocessors for a new Tablet PC-like device. Others suggest that perhaps Apple had the cachet to commit Intel to manufacturing Power PC-compatible chips. My sources told me, however, that Apple was actually switching to Intel chips for the Mac.
None of this speculation really matters. Like most technology enthusiasts, the details of this transaction fascinate me, assuming it happens as reported. And, like thousands of other people, I'll follow Jobs' WWDC keynote address today. I'm more concerned about the Mac community. Where's the love, guys?
When I broke the story, people ridiculed me for dredging up a years-old rumor, as if I were in the middle of a slow news week and simply decided to make up something. Mac fanatics insisted that the news was fake. Slowly, over time, major media outlets started reporting on the Apple transition to Intel, and opinions began to change. But instead of suggesting that maybe--just maybe--I was on to something, the Apple fanatics changed tactics. Thurrott, they now say, didn't actually break the story. He was simply one of many people who wrote about Apple moving to Intel over many years.
That's cute, but it isn't true. The last time a major analyst or news publication reported on this possibility was well over a year before my blurb. The current round of speculation about this transition started right here in WinInfo.
That fact has to rankle the Mac faithful. WinInfo, after all, is perceived as a Microsoft-friendly Windows-based publication. (Clearly, none of these people read my opinions of the software giant during its US antitrust trial.) Coupled with the fact that I published the first-ever major Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger review that was based on final Tiger code, on the SuperSite for Windows, no less, you can see why Mac fanatics are irritated. I'm stealing their thunder. (Apple was upset about the review as well, coming as it did 10 days before Tiger shipped publicly. The company threatened to sue and asked me to temporarily remove the screen shots, which I did.)
News flash time, Apple fanatics. Despite the fact that I tend to be more forthright about Apple's problems than most of you, I'm on your side. I've said this before, but clearly I need to say it again: I want Apple to succeed, not merely survive. The PC industry is a much more interesting and exciting place with a thriving Apple, and I revel in the company's successes as much as you do. For many reasons, I can't switch to the Mac platform full time, but I regularly use Mac equipment and have done so for 4 years. Indeed, I've spent thousands of dollars on Mac and Apple hardware and software over the years (I've also purchased five iPods) and have likely financially supported the company more than many of my critics have.
I'm not in San Francisco, but I wish I were. Like many Apple followers, I'll be glued to my PowerBook screen today, watching Jobs' WWDC keynote address from afar. I don't know exactly what he's going to say, only what my sources have told me. But if the address lives up to the advance hype, it could be one of the biggest speeches of his career. I don't intend to miss it. Let's enjoy it together, eh?
End of Article
Fair enough Paul.
So....the bottom line is:
1. Your sources know what they are talking about and Apple switch to Intel.
2. Your sources don't really know what they are talking about, but you believe them anyway.
3. Your sources are deliberately dealing out a little mis-information to the first likely sucker they meet.
It will be interesting to see how this pans out...... and to see who will STILL be claiming to be FIRST to break the news.
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: )
This is not an article about Apple moving to an Intel based platform, but an article written by the author about himself, never have I read anything so self centred. Poor journalism.
As for the stance on the potential switch from PowerPC to Intel - this can be nothing but a good thing - lower cost of production and bring OSX to the mass market.
Paul Brain - Linux User
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: )
Good peace-offering Thurrott, your opinions do tend to be slightly harsher than the mac community is used, but that is generally a good thing.
Nice to see a glimmer of a mac-user simmer through that tough skin there ;)
apt
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: )
Hey sometimes ya gotta toot your own horn, cause others rarely toot it for ya.
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: )
Good article. I use Apple fulltime and love it. What I don't love is people crucifying the messenger. He's just relaying info, not actually making it happen. If Apple switches to Intel, get over it people. Its just a freakin chip, not the end of the world.
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: )
I think the x86 platform is virtualization-unfriendly and obsolete. It carries the baggage of an architecture dated more than 20 years.
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: )
Oh please, the exact wording of Paul's blog was:
"This one's bizarre, but we heard at lunch today that Apple is unhappy with the PowerPC production at IBM and will be switching to Intel-compatible chips this very year. Yeah, seriously. "
When you look at the full text, it hardly looks like any sort of report, and more a piece of lunchtime gossip among developer geeks.
But if Paul wants to pretend that he somehow broke this story based on that entry, fine. His ego can certainly handle it.
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: )
So! The all the big talk by the CRAPPLE crazies about CRAPPLE never going to the "inferior" Intel chips has turned out to be Exactly what all BIG talk by CRAPPLE crazies is : So much HORSE PUCKEY!!
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: )
My love for Mac won't falter, as the OS will remain the same, no matter what chips it will be running on. If it will be x86, then I hope it will also mean that the multitude of software which are now for Windows will be for Mac, too. And who in their right mind would stick to cumbersome Windows when they can install sleek and effective Mac OS X on their PC? (In their right mind, I said:) To me, it has always been the combination of attention to the minutest detail, to produce hardware and software together which adds up to 'more than just a machine', because it carries within the quality of such an attention. A detail often overlooked, especially by PC-people. I don't know how often I have heard them say: 'After all, it is just a machine'. Would a carpenter say; 'It is just another hammer'? No, sir - there are tools and then there are tools. As long as Apple stay true to whatever maxime they do have regarding the way they work, but which clearly results in tools which are more than just another tool, I will love their tools:)
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: )
"Or perhaps Apple has the cachet to commit Intel to manufacturing Power PC-compatible chips, others suggested. My sources have told me that Apple is actually switching to Intel chips for its Macs, however."
What exactly does that mean? Intel won't be producing Power PC chips, instead they'll be producing Intel chips? If Intel produced Power PC chips, would those chips not be "Intel Chips?" Did you mean to say x86? So you expect Apple to recompile all their code and force their users to, what, download all their software again? That is a horrible business decision. I admit switching to Intel is a good decision if Intel produced chips with the PowerPC architecture. But switching to x86 would be suicide.
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So....the bottom line is:
1. Your sources know what they are talking about and Apple switch to Intel.
2. Your sources don't really know what they are talking about, but you believe them anyway.
3. Your sources are deliberately dealing out a little mis-information to the first likely sucker they meet.
It will be interesting to see how this pans out...... and to see who will STILL be claiming to be FIRST to break the news.
Anonymous User June 06, 2005 (Article Rating: