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Friday, 10 June, 2005 1:41 PM
Apple
to switch to Intel processors
In the summer of 2006,
Apple will make the transition from it's current IBM processors
to new Intel processors. All of its computers will have the new
Intel processors by the year 2007.
Apple's CEO, Steve Jobs
announces, "Our goal is to provide our customers with the best
personal computers in the world, and looking ahead Intel has the
strongest processor roadmap by far."
He adds, "It’s
been ten years since our transition to the PowerPC, and we think
Intel’s technology will help us create the best personal computers
for the next ten years."
Microsoft says they will
keep producing versions of Microsoft Office for the Mac which will
support the PowerPC and the new Intel processors.
The idea behind this
decision was to get faster computers, that will run with longer
battery lives. Apple's previous processor was from IBM and their
options are becoming limited. Apple chose Intel to be the processor
for it's future computers.
This change will mean
that software developers will have to create new versions of its
programs for the new Intel-based Macs. Hopefully, all of them will
be willing to make the change or Apple could be in trouble.
Apple is going to make
sure that OS X only runs on Apple computers. There are no plans
for OS X to be able to run on PCs or Windows-based computers. Apple
has no plans for running Windows on its new Intel-based PCs.
Some say that the move
from IBM to Intel might drive the cost down on Apple Computers.
Most Macs are high priced and lowering the prices might mean more
people will switch from a PC to a Mac soon.
Apple needs to keep ahold
of its slice of the computing market. This new transition should
help them go further. A little secret, Mac OS X Tiger comes in two
versions: the IBM processor and the Intel-based processor. You will
be able to use Mac OS X Tiger on the new computers.
The new Intel-based Macs
are scheduled to ship in Spring 2006. The transition will continue
until 2007 when all Apple Computers have Intel-processors inside.
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