Is Macintosh dead? Apple PC is born
by Vashner · in General Discussion · 04/23/2006 (2:33 pm) · 11 replies
Well everyone knows that Apple has switched Endians and is using Intel X86 CPU's. I don't know about the media spin. To me it's Apple throwing in the towel.
If it does not have PowerPC or 68000 series it's NOT a Mac *IMO.
It's Apple PC, just another clone with a picture of an Apple on it.
And now letting Windows run native on it. Has Mac OS sealed it's own fate?
Are PowerPC Mac's with MAC OS now collectors items?
If it does not have PowerPC or 68000 series it's NOT a Mac *IMO.
It's Apple PC, just another clone with a picture of an Apple on it.
And now letting Windows run native on it. Has Mac OS sealed it's own fate?
Are PowerPC Mac's with MAC OS now collectors items?
#2
04/23/2006 (3:10 pm)
I think running Windows natively will only help them. I myself need to use many programs that are not available for Mac. With Windows on Mac, I will definately be purchasing a Mac. Besides, I don't see them selling their system without Mac OS X. The customer will still have to buy Windows themselves.
#3
(Just to establish I am not some 100% biased pc guy, I think that's enough experiance to say I know Mac's well).
I am talking about the MOVES they made in hardware. I didn't DO IT.
If I was there I would of gone another direction a long time ago. So don't shoot the messanger just discuss the topic.
The only way I see Mac OS surviving is if they release it for X86. And that's not some mean anti Mac comment so address it from a professional and scientific point of view please.
04/23/2006 (4:20 pm)
@Nicolas - Yea I know about the CPU. I was systems manager for an the AISL Lab at Motorola Austin in 96 in between military jobs. And have a stack of Apple certified education going back to 1990. Have used Mac's for military projects like Combat Edge (G-Force crew protection) and ACES II F16 ejection systems. We where using 3 21 inch monitors on Mac II CI's to design the air bladders and stuff. Back when windows was just born to 3.0. I also administrated Mac's when I later worked for the Federal Judiciary. But I think that's enough of a resume dump.(Just to establish I am not some 100% biased pc guy, I think that's enough experiance to say I know Mac's well).
I am talking about the MOVES they made in hardware. I didn't DO IT.
If I was there I would of gone another direction a long time ago. So don't shoot the messanger just discuss the topic.
The only way I see Mac OS surviving is if they release it for X86. And that's not some mean anti Mac comment so address it from a professional and scientific point of view please.
#4
If I bought a Mac, I'd be running XP anyway, thats where all the software I use is, the real question is whether Apple will bother to keep the drivers up to date for windows. It's usualy shoddy hardware and poor drivers from cheap manufacturers that cause the most problem on the PC.
I hope Apple move their whole portfolio to intel ASAP, then that will be one less headache to get out of the way. Only problem there is that it will be a lot harder for Indies to get at a mostly empty mac market, once mac gamers can play PC games.
04/23/2006 (5:45 pm)
I think its going to be the end of having to support cross platform games that include powermacs. Befor long porting will be a piece of cake. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Microsoft do well with windows running on the Mac.If I bought a Mac, I'd be running XP anyway, thats where all the software I use is, the real question is whether Apple will bother to keep the drivers up to date for windows. It's usualy shoddy hardware and poor drivers from cheap manufacturers that cause the most problem on the PC.
I hope Apple move their whole portfolio to intel ASAP, then that will be one less headache to get out of the way. Only problem there is that it will be a lot harder for Indies to get at a mostly empty mac market, once mac gamers can play PC games.
#5
http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=186500443&subSection=Macintosh+Platform
Looks like the Mac is being phased out. Seems to be a matter of time before Mac only software goes the way of OS/2.
04/23/2006 (7:01 pm)
Check out this news article:http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=186500443&subSection=Macintosh+Platform
Looks like the Mac is being phased out. Seems to be a matter of time before Mac only software goes the way of OS/2.
#6
04/23/2006 (7:15 pm)
There is also a hacked version of MacOS X that can boot on regular PCs 
#7
This was a move by Apple that was designed to bring a few more people into the Mac fold. There are a number of folks who would like to use Macs but still need one or a few pieces of software that will only run on PCs. I've heard many people now say that they will buy a Mac because of this move.
Apple, I'm sure, is hoping that a lot of those people will use the Mac in OS X, and Windows when they need it, until they find that they prefer using OS X and don't really need Windows much or at all. I don't think anyone is expecting that people will buy Macs and then run them exclusively, or even almost exclusively, in Windows.
The other thing to consider is that virtualization is not far off. Parallels, a pretty cheap product (although currently still in beta), reportedly runs Windows in a virtual environment really well. And I've heard that Boot Camp is just a temporary solution from Apple until they get their own virtualization going, which might be as early as this summer. Then you could essentially load and run Windows apps without having to leave OS X and without losing much performance.
I doubt this would apply to games, at least not at the start, since they are so intensive. But we'll see.
Plus, apparently Wall Street doesn't think this move hurts Apple all that much.
04/23/2006 (8:43 pm)
I think you're overestimating the impact of this move. In no way are Macs being phased out or sealing their own fate.This was a move by Apple that was designed to bring a few more people into the Mac fold. There are a number of folks who would like to use Macs but still need one or a few pieces of software that will only run on PCs. I've heard many people now say that they will buy a Mac because of this move.
Apple, I'm sure, is hoping that a lot of those people will use the Mac in OS X, and Windows when they need it, until they find that they prefer using OS X and don't really need Windows much or at all. I don't think anyone is expecting that people will buy Macs and then run them exclusively, or even almost exclusively, in Windows.
The other thing to consider is that virtualization is not far off. Parallels, a pretty cheap product (although currently still in beta), reportedly runs Windows in a virtual environment really well. And I've heard that Boot Camp is just a temporary solution from Apple until they get their own virtualization going, which might be as early as this summer. Then you could essentially load and run Windows apps without having to leave OS X and without losing much performance.
I doubt this would apply to games, at least not at the start, since they are so intensive. But we'll see.
Plus, apparently Wall Street doesn't think this move hurts Apple all that much.
#8
07/19/2008 (7:01 am)
Ok no1 has posted here since 2006. I myself have a iMac that i HAD dual booted. I didnt like having to sacrifice my hard drive space when i do have windows pcs so i have it booting OSX only now. Yes it was nice to play games on it that my pc's couldnt handle (YAY MAC) but at the same time it felt sacreligious. The way it works for dual booting and the drivers is BOOT CAMP will partition your hard drive and also make a drivers disk for you. You install windows then copy over the UPDATED drivers from the disk you made. Its not as user friendly with the automatic driver downloads (at least last time i used it). Honestly even though it was nice to have for gaming, i found i just wasted the partitioned space and got rid of the dual boot. The only reason it would be nice to have is if someone doesnt have a GAME pc as well. About it hurting apple? The original macintosh computers were a joint project between apple and ibm. ibm pulled out of the deal and apple completely took over. It was intended as a platform to run both windows and apple software....... which is where apple is FINALLY taking it. If apple can get their computers to run windows programs natively.... there would be no use in buying a windows based pc as macs could run everything..... linux you say? just get a live disc version! you dont even have to install it for linux stuff... so..... apple making macs run windows is a win win situation for them.... yeah microsoft benefits from the extra windows licenses they'll sell but if apple writes their software to be able to run .exe's then microsoft is gonna hurt (maybe not much but still)
#9
They should have better specced mac desktops if they want more serious PC users to consider them.
07/19/2008 (9:33 am)
The limiting factor of mac's is that they are limited by mediocre video hardware, and over specced CPU's. For a serious computer you have to have a mac pro, and then you end up with a ton of CPU even in the minimum spec, but slightly outdated graphics that are middle of the road at best. And all for $3000 something that would cost about 75% cheaper on the PC with a single quad core non xeon intel processor.They should have better specced mac desktops if they want more serious PC users to consider them.
#10
07/19/2008 (11:39 am)
Well I think the graphics on my mac are great! I have an iMac and I could load much faster then alienware.
#11
Since memory is cheap many have lost track of what could be done on only 16 kb of RAM.
This fact has always been the difference between Mac programmer and Windows programmers.
07/19/2008 (2:05 pm)
Quote:The limiting factor of mac's is that they are limited by mediocre video hardwareInstead of racing for higher and pricey components, I would rather see developpers aim on tuning up their games.
Since memory is cheap many have lost track of what could be done on only 16 kb of RAM.
This fact has always been the difference between Mac programmer and Windows programmers.
Torque Owner Nicolas Quijano
That's how they were able to (relatively) bring price downs, while upping their profit margins on the hardware.
Throwing in the towel ? Whatever...
In fact, quite the contrary, but think what you want :)