Damn You Apple!!!
I'm at the end of life point for my G4. I really, really need to upgrade before she finally craps out.
But I don't want to upgrade until I know what Apple is going to do.
Why can't Apple be as transparent as the PC world is.

I've loved this Mac like no other computer I've ever owned, but it is time for 8 cores of processing goodness. And yes, I believe that someday computer programs (I'm looking at you Photoshop) will use more than 2 cores.

FarwellTexas

I chalk this up to not going to happen - they finally just got rid of PPC, as is stated above, they aren't going to go through this all over again so soon. And as the article notes - they have to go right back to Intel.

tulanejosh

Uhmm, you folks do understand that there's a difference between the CPU chip and all the supporting logic chips? and that you can still stick with Intel for the former, and switch things up for the latter?

bytepusher

Sure, Dvorak might have predicted the first Apple chip switch, but no one can top predicting the second only a couple of years later.

If this is true (which I suspect it is not), this might be a brilliant move for Apple. Commodore did amazing things with it's custom chips on the Amiga, and I see no reason why Apple could not do something similar.

I am looking forward to playing the Mac version of the Great Giana Sisters soon.

Monty

Because Apple had a hard enough time supporting two platforms. Because Apple finally ditched support for PPC. Because Apple doesn't want to do that all over again.

OMG! Ponies!

I don't see them going anywhere. Though I agree, they need some serious graphical horsepower additions.

BrianEsser

@lilaliendog:
Apple has always "touted" better for 2-D graphical applications. They've never really been concerned about 3-D graphical applications, nor the hardware needed to run them.

Not saying that could change, but its not been their history.

dogcow

Plus don't forget how big of a deal the intel switch was from a marketing perspective. I would assume if Apple left intel it would only be until they came up with a better solution.

beardedkid

I would be really happy for apple to take a more concerted attempt to make their computer graphic processing powerhouses (I mean what else do people do with these things) but I'm afraid it won't be coming anytime soon.

ALT

PC Perspective raises a valid point, if you think about usage. If photoshop (and other graphics programs) run 8x/10x faster on the GPU (see the CUDA developments) why would you purchase a computer that is significantly lacking in the video card department? (A 7300? seriously? In a $4000 computer?)

Unfortunately, I don't see Adobe and Nvidia fixing all the potential issues with that in a month. So I'd bet that in the long term the option stays on the table, just not the short term.

Log1c

well apple has always touted im better for graphical applications so if there is a chance to gain a bit in the graphical dept. then well they might just jump.

lilaliendog

I agree. It doesn't make any sense for Apple to use Intel processors without Intel chipsets. Nvidia's chipsets suck and Apple isn't going to design their own.

fpn1010

Bytepusher what they are refurring to is the fact that intels new cpu's will use something that only right now intels chipset will do. So if apple does its own chipset it might not be able to get the performance increase from the new chips.

majortom1029

Why would apple go with nvida whith this whole bad gpu business.

Also does cuda gpu increase beat an increase with an intel cpu with the memory controller on the cpu itself?

majortom1029

AHEM!!! ...Hackintosh.

If they switch, just install Windows or Linux.

newgalactic

Or, why don't they diversify? Have multiple chip sets for multiple uses. I know a lot of engineers and physicists that are still kinda peeved after the move to intel. The PowerPC was much better at Vector processing. That's why the X-Box uses it. But I guess simultaneously supporting multiple chips might be too expensive for the small return.

dallasmay2

I was pretty sure that all the talk about Apple dropping Intel was due to their recent purchase of P.A. Semi.

Rev. Eaton Yorke Hunt

@bytepusher: I think it's clear we're talking about chipsets, not processors.

matt buchanan

Yeah this rumor is stupid. You can still use the Intel Montevina (Centrino 2) platform and add a discrete GPU.

The MacBook Pros use the same chipset as the MacBooks, but the Pros have discrete graphics...

and Intel's Centrino 2 has support for switchable GPU/integrated graphics... who are these idiots thinking Apple might leave the Intel platform? Sheesh.

Come on Gizmodo, you know better than that. But apparently those other rumor mongers don't.

wesrubix

I'm with the Rev. Jon's argument is moot if they don't plan to use the next Intel chip.

My guess? Nvidia chipset with Intel chip. Then ditch Intel. Then run with their own PA Semi.

drewB

they [apple] will probably include a CELL chip to improve MM, like toshi did with one of theirs.

Stacky Botrus

So the iphone is all graphics and Their PCs are what..user friendly? I guess they feel theres no need to complete with Microsoft..I guess Apple is more compared to a company like DELL who makes software too rather than compitition with MS

ajcali08

Lose the ability to run microsoft office, and most major business applications?

Apple needs to focus on leveraging their Iphone/Ipod market penetration and integrating it with their Macs in a way that synergizes big-time.

They can't be wasting their time trying to switch chipsets to eek out 3 or 5% more graphicmegaflopdoohickeys, which will not affect sales by even 1%, but will suck up massive amounts of cash and time, re-writing the CORE of OS-X, and fixing bugs (while losing sales because they don't dual boot, and won't run microsoft office for 6 months or maybe ever again.

It was a laughable rumor.

dcartist

@OMG! Ponies!: A switch to an nVidia chipset wouldn't require a complete platform switch; just a new set of drivers. It'd still use Intel processors.

HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak

'Dall'=Dell
sigh

Xenocide

@ajcali08: You got that backwards bub. Dall makes HARDware while Microsoft is primarily a SOFTware company. You are right in that Apple is closer to Dell than Microsoft though.

Xenocide