First Intel- based Macs May be Out In January

zippyjuan · 11-09-2005, 01:06 PM

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/d...072115033.html

Quote:

Intel Yonah May Power Apple’s Mac Mini, Analyst Believes

Category: Other

by Anton Shilov

[ 11/07/2005 | 09:51 PM ]

The first commercial Apple Macintosh computers running on Intel processors may be released a bit earlier than expected, believes UBS Investment Research analyst Ben Reitzes. He claims that Apple will have new products and content to announced at the Macworld Expo scheduled for early January and notes that Intel is expected to unveil its dual-core Yonah processor for mobiles also early next year.

The analyst, excepts from whose research notes were published by AppleInsider web-site, believes that early January, 2006, is a possible timeframe for the first Intel-based Apple computers to debut. UBS researchers suppose that the first of Apple’s computers to use Intel processor, in particular, Intel’s next-generation Pentium M flavour code-named Yonah, will be Mac Mini. The firm claims that Apple’s strategy will be to equip its computers with Intel processors starting from the most affordable models.

“We continue to believe that both the PowerMac and PowerBook will be introduced at a later date (late 2006 or early 2007) – with the possible use of the Intel’s Merom processor for the PowerBook and Conroe processor for the PowerMac,” Mr. Reitzes is reported to have said.

Currently Apple’s Mac mini, iBook and PowerBook computers use IBM G4 processors at up to 1.67GHz. Potentially, Apple could replace those chips with Intel Yonah processors, providing mobile and entry-level users with a processor that features two processing engines, thus, works faster in case numerous applications are running. However, Apple recently updated its iMac with IBM G5 (PowerPC 970FX) and PowerMac with dual-core G5 (IBM PowerPC 970MP), thus, the company may decide not to give its entry-level Mac mini serious processing power and initiate transition from other products. A possibility for Apple would be to transit all of its desktop products to the G5 chips and either to do this with the mobile lineup as well, or to begin offering Intel Inside laptops.

Apple announced plans to deliver models of its Macintosh computers using Intel microprocessors by mid-2006, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007. The computer maker did not comment on the news-story.

Merlin · 11-09-2005, 01:24 PM

Do you suppose that the first couple of generations of these things might have stability issues? Like they say with cars, don't buy the first year of a new product run.

zero2dash · 11-10-2005, 09:49 AM

Nah, I don't think Apple would release flawed products into the market; that's one area I've gotta give them credit. Ooooh wait...I forgot about iPod screens scratching so easily...doh.

Well but with their computers though...I don't recall any large scale issues with any of their hardware, plus reports say that they've been working on x86 support for some time now (just in case), so, you've gotta figure that they knew eventually the time would come and they've been working to develop things accordingly and get everything in order to have a smooth transition.

I'm still waiting on prices though...I have a moderate level of excitement; if I see cheap prices ("comparable to a Windows PC" prices) then I'm going to really get hyped up. I'm waiting on some PowerMac G5/Intel cpu prices though...not looking for any Mini or iMacs.

InfiniteNothing · 11-10-2005, 10:36 AM

I wonder if this will open Macs up to win viruses.

Jcranmer · 11-10-2005, 11:30 AM

I don't think so, it's not the chipset that viruses are written for, but the OS. The only way we are going to see wide spread viruses written for Macs is for Apple to gain more market share. More bang for the buck for the virus author with the Windows based market.

InfiniteNothing · 11-10-2005, 11:32 AM

I'm thinking it'll make the viruses easier to port. Two birds with one stone.

zero2dash · 11-11-2005, 08:14 AM

Nah, it's not the chipset that's hit by the virus, it's the OS (like Jcranmer said). If it was the chipset, you'd think that AMD would get more viruses than Intel systems...since (according to another post in this forum) AMD has eclipsed Intel in PC #s.

OSX has (just like every other Mac OS) seen little to no fanfare in the virus department (also just like Linux). Windows is the market share to go after since it's installed in like...85% or so (last I heard) computers around the world, whether home or business use, desktop/laptop or server - etc.

OSX x86 won't be more susceptible to viruses any more than OSX PPC...(again) until Macs take more market share, virus writers won't even bother wasting their time. You've gotta figure...if you're gonna write a virus, are you wanting to take out a million or two computers (Macs), or 20 million computers (Windows boxes)?

11-09-2005, 01:24 PM	#2
Merlin Admiral Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Square On My Arse Posts: 7,410	Do you suppose that the first couple of generations of these things might have stability issues? Like they say with cars, don't buy the first year of a new product run. __________________

11-10-2005, 10:36 AM	#4
InfiniteNothing Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 10,086	I wonder if this will open Macs up to win viruses. __________________ As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

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11-10-2005, 09:49 AM	#3
zero2dash Commander Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fenton, MO - but I wish I was at the beach. ANY beach. Posts: 1,367	Nah, I don't think Apple would release flawed products into the market; that's one area I've gotta give them credit. Ooooh wait...I forgot about iPod screens scratching so easily...doh. Well but with their computers though...I don't recall any large scale issues with any of their hardware, plus reports say that they've been working on x86 support for some time now (just in case), so, you've gotta figure that they knew eventually the time would come and they've been working to develop things accordingly and get everything in order to have a smooth transition. I'm still waiting on prices though...I have a moderate level of excitement; if I see cheap prices ("comparable to a Windows PC" prices) then I'm going to really get hyped up. I'm waiting on some PowerMac G5/Intel cpu prices though...not looking for any Mini or iMacs.

11-10-2005, 11:30 AM	#5
Jcranmer Commander Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pekin, IN Posts: 1,377	I don't think so, it's not the chipset that viruses are written for, but the OS. The only way we are going to see wide spread viruses written for Macs is for Apple to gain more market share. More bang for the buck for the virus author with the Windows based market.

11-10-2005, 11:32 AM	#6
InfiniteNothing Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 10,086	I'm thinking it'll make the viruses easier to port. Two birds with one stone.

11-11-2005, 08:14 AM	#7
zero2dash Commander Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fenton, MO - but I wish I was at the beach. ANY beach. Posts: 1,367	Nah, it's not the chipset that's hit by the virus, it's the OS (like Jcranmer said). If it was the chipset, you'd think that AMD would get more viruses than Intel systems...since (according to another post in this forum) AMD has eclipsed Intel in PC #s. OSX has (just like every other Mac OS) seen little to no fanfare in the virus department (also just like Linux). Windows is the market share to go after since it's installed in like...85% or so (last I heard) computers around the world, whether home or business use, desktop/laptop or server - etc. OSX x86 won't be more susceptible to viruses any more than OSX PPC...(again) until Macs take more market share, virus writers won't even bother wasting their time. You've gotta figure...if you're gonna write a virus, are you wanting to take out a million or two computers (Macs), or 20 million computers (Windows boxes)?

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