Apple Ditching Intel?

[pxc]

^ I think that's true. This is not a short term evolution, and if Apple is moving to ARM (at least in some laptop products), I'd imagine it'd be in a few more years. By that time ARM core performance (and power usage at that higher performance) will be more in line with competitive products in regular (x86) laptops. I really doubt that Apple will drop x86 completely, due to both higher performance at (desktop watt usage) and high performance legacy applications (DCC). x86 could certainly be marginalized in Apple computers by truly desktop performance class future ARM chips.

 

[Azhar]

Luckily, at this point, most of their products aren't pieces of shit. Though I have no idea why anyone would buy an iPod anymore.

I realize kids like to make collages, but I'm not following your line of thought here.

So my eight-year-old would stop asking me if she could play games on my iPhone.

 

[Unknown-One]

It's worth mentioning that every version of OS X during the PPC years was also compiled for x86. It would not surprise me at all if the last few versions of OS X had been compiled for both x86 and ARM.

Yeah, that's the thing though... well before OSX was publically released for x86 processors, it was already pretty well understood that Apple had been compiling x86 builds for a while.

Same thing with Windows on ARM. It was known well in advance that Microsoft was compiling ARM builds. Early tests of Windows on ARM go all the way back to Windows 7:

But Apple porting OSX to ARM? So far, I haven't seen or heard a peep. Not one leaked screenshot or one left-over reference lurking within release versions of OSX.

 

[Elios]

But Apple porting OSX to ARM? So far, I haven't seen or heard a peep. Not one leaked screenshot or one left-over reference lurking within release versions of OSX.

i dont think they are going to
i think they are going to move to iOS on all fronts

 

[Unknown-One]

i dont think they are going to
i think they are going to move to iOS on all fronts

Considering how low-volume the sale of Macs has become, that would make a bit more sense.

iOS would have to get quite a bit more powerful to make that a viable option, though. They'll need to come up with a way to develop iOS apps entirely from within iOS before they even think about making a move like that.

 

[Elios]

gah lack of edit

why worry about porting an OS that your going to stop supporting for all but high end work stations

Apples plan seems to be to move all the consumer level stuff ipod/iphone/ipad/macbook/mac to iOS
and maybe only keep OSX and x86 around for the mac pro stuff
most joe and jane sixpack dont need an x86 based PC/mac

the only thing hold the ipad back from taking sales from the Macbook line is lack of a keyboard

 

[Elios]

Considering how low-volume the sale of Macs has become, that would make a bit more sense.

iOS would have to get quite a bit more powerful to make that a viable option, though. They'll need to come up with a way to develop iOS apps entirely from within iOS before they even think about making a move like that.

see my other post
they could keep OSX around in the Mac Pro line with x86 for devs and any one that wants to make aps
think like what MS did with the Surface and Surface Pro

Apple moves every thing over to ARM/iOS but the top end stuff which stay OSX/x86

 

[LeninGHOLA]

So my eight-year-old would stop asking me if she could play games on my iPhone.

If she doesn't have a 5s, you're pretty much asking for CPS to take her away.

 

[wonderfield]

But Apple porting OSX to ARM? So far, I haven't seen or heard a peep. Not one leaked screenshot or one left-over reference lurking within release versions of OSX.

Compilers don't produce screenshots nor references to architectures in shipping products. It isn't an indication of anything other than there are no leaked screenshots or references.

i dont think they are going to i think they are going to move to iOS on all fronts

Given the extent of retaliation over the touch-centric UI in Windows 8, do you still believe Apple would proceed down such a similar path?

 

[Elios]

Given the extent of retaliation over the touch-centric UI in Windows 8, do you still believe Apple would proceed down such a similar path?

YES

think about his for a bit
Apple comes up with a a A9 thats lets say 150% faster then the A7
they could put it in a 17" Mac Book Air case with a touch screen with a say a 250GB SSD
and 8GB ram (or more)
BAM Surface killer

 

[hordaktheman]

I could see it happening at some point but 2017 seems a stretch. I don't think it's just a matter of Apple making the switch but of ARM as a whole becoming fast enough to make Intel's performance advantage unnecessary. OS X does get used as a production environment and the performance needs to be there.

There's also a matter of diminishing returns. The current Air already has battery life in the 12 hour range and there's little practical need for more than ~20 hours or so.

 

[Azhar]

If she doesn't have a 5s, you're pretty much asking for CPS to take her away.

They can have her!

 

[wonderfield]

they could put it in a 17" Mac Book Air case with a touch screen with a say a 250GB SSD

Apple has publically stated that they believe touch screens on notebooks and desktops are a non-starter due to ergonomic issues. That's not to say they aren't going to go down that road, but it doesn't appear to be a road they're enthusiastic about going down.

BAM Surface killer

The appeal of the Surface to its customers is that it's productivity-oriented and has a traditional desktop and file explorer. You're suggesting that Apple is aiming to kill what hardly even exists as a threat in the Surface by producing a notebook-like iOS product that has few of the virtues of a Surface?

 

[heatlesssun]

Apple has publically stated that they believe touch screens on notebooks and desktops are a non-starter due to ergonomic issues. That's not to say they aren't going to go down that road, but it doesn't appear to be a road they're enthusiastic about going down.

Apple did recently apply for patent for a hybrid laptop/tablet and that's something I bet they are keeping a close eye on that market.

 

[Arbit3r]

They would not switch on day one to all arm designs, they would start with lowend designs. Test the water and focus where arm does well with smaller memory efficient apps. Basically a tablet in a small roku/wdlive like case, netbook or built into tv/monitors etc. It would be affordable and good enough for many uses. The highend would be Intel for those who are content creating as some of the larger x86 apps are still useful. Apple would price is aggressively and their goal is to drive more revenue through itunes/app store/media stores etc.

Most companies would do that but this is apple we are talking about, they are an all or nothing mind set. I am more likely to believe they would do it on every front then just a few to test. If it was just a test problem is if it fails now they got these devices in the wild they HAVE to support for a while and people that were dumb enough to buy them well they will be pissed with apple dropping support after like 1y to 2y tops. Their PPC chips apple ditched after they switched to intel they have 1 new OS version for them then ditched them.

 

[sheesh721]

I really don't see this happening. Remember, when Apple went to Intel from PowerPC it was because Intel processors were better performing. AMD/ARM would be a downgrade. Too many people use their devices for photo, audio, video editing. It's the hippy editing machine. If you downgrade to an AMD machine it won't have the performance, unless you put one of their easy bake oven processors inside a Macbook or iMac (not going to happen). And ARM will never be able to compete with the latest offerings of Intel in terms of performance. You'd be 3-4 years behind in performance. Nobody is going to buy a Macbook Pro or iMac for a 40% markup and receive only 30% of the processing power.

 

[Unknown-One]

Compilers don't produce [...] references to architectures in shipping products.

References to unreleased products turn up in shipping products all the damn time

 

[Terpfen]

YES

think about his for a bit
Apple comes up with a a A9 thats lets say 150% faster then the A7
they could put it in a 17" Mac Book Air case with a touch screen with a say a 250GB SSD
and 8GB ram (or more)
BAM Surface killer

The Surface killed itself. It failed at its job of killing the iPad, which is the device Apple would point to when they say you need to kill the Surface. What a ridiculous notion.

 

[DejaWiz]

The Surface killed itself because of its PRICE vs that of the iPad, so it failed at its job of killing the iPad, which is the device Apple would point to when they say you need to kill the Surface.

Fixed.

It'll be interesting to see what Apple comes up with/decides on processor-wise if they are going to give Intel the boot.

 

[Ponder]

Fixed.

Not sure price was the main factor, since basically all firms order from the same vendor there is little room to maneuver unless you are willing to reduce profits or have planned secondary sources of revenue. IMHO surface failed only because of Microsoft performance in other areas and a poorly planned transition.

 

[Elios]

The Surface killed itself. It failed at its job of killing the iPad, which is the device Apple would point to when they say you need to kill the Surface. What a ridiculous notion.

really the Surface 2 and 2 Pro are sold out

 

[rudy]

Like they haven't done that before ...

He pointed out that they didn't have many people to piss off and those people were rabid fans. Lets put it into perspective Apple had no desktop traction, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if their entire desktop / laptop market at the time of the PPC death was actually losing money. Essentially they had nothing to lose because they had nothing. If every single one of those mac fans stopped using macs it still would have been worth it to switch.

But who are we kidding these people had been dealing with software and hardware incompatibility and a damn broken OS for nearly a decade, one switch to a new CPU wasn't going to make them go to windows. The people who would switch left 10 years ago.

Apples new customer base is now where near that loyal. I see tons of people now days who are running around with a MacBook because that is cool and a galaxy S phone, because that is cool. I see lots of people here in FS/FT who have mac books and this is a hardware forum you think if things go sour any of those people will stay? They will switch in a heart beat.

 

[Terpfen]

really the Surface 2 and 2 Pro are sold out

The phrase "sufficiently low allotment" comes to mind.

 

[Terpfen]

Fixed.

Not fixed. The Surface was made for a market that doesn't exist, judging by lack of sales. The point of a tablet is not to have a laptop. This is why the ridiculous tablet-like laptop designs we're seeing lately don't sell well. They aren't what people want, and they solve no problems, only create them.

 

[heatlesssun]

Not fixed. The Surface was made for a market that doesn't exist, judging by lack of sales. The point of a tablet is not to have a laptop. This is why the ridiculous tablet-like laptop designs we're seeing lately don't sell well. They aren't what people want, and they solve no problems, only create them.

Let's keep an eye on it. Yes Windows RT device are a tough sell but Windows x86 have had a market for many years and they can do things that other devices can't. Price has been an issue and certainly the Surface devices don't address price well but many of the these Bay Trail devices do, and Atom should finally have both the performance and battery life.

 

[DejaWiz]

Not fixed. The Surface was made for a market that doesn't exist, judging by lack of sales. The point of a tablet is not to have a laptop. This is why the ridiculous tablet-like laptop designs we're seeing lately don't sell well. They aren't what people want, and they solve no problems, only create them.

But you stated in your previous post that it failed to kill the iPad. Hence, the market the iPad shines in. Not possible since Joe or Mary Uninformed Consumer typically shop by price first, and everything else secondary. They see the price tag of the iPad, then get shocked by the one hanging off the Surface.

 

[hmz]

That's not going to happen. Intel is so ahead of everyone else. They have billions invested in fabs, tech, the whole production is butter smooth. Apple would take light years to catch up, even with their full pockets of cash.

 

[rudy]

Not fixed. The Surface was made for a market that doesn't exist, judging by lack of sales. The point of a tablet is not to have a laptop. This is why the ridiculous tablet-like laptop designs we're seeing lately don't sell well. They aren't what people want, and they solve no problems, only create them.

So all those people we see with iPads and $100 dropped on a keyboard and another $50 on a case to try to hold it all together, what are they?

 

[heatlesssun]

So all those people we see with iPads and $100 dropped on a keyboard and another $50 on a case to try to hold it all together, what are they?

Cases, stands, keyboards, covers and pens, all very popular accessories for the iPad the point of which is to make the iPad more of a laptop accept the case of a pens, which is more of an effort to make it more like a Windows tablet.