[hmurchison]

Mark Papermaster is coming aboard..though IBM is going to fight

Papermaster has authored several papers on chip development at IBM, which of course used to make PowerPC processors for Apple before the company switched to Intel's processors in 2005. IBM called Papermaster "IBM's top expert in Power architecture and technology," and his most recent position involved managing IBM's blade server division. An Apple representative declined to comment on the lawsuit or confirm Papermaster's pending employment with the company. IBM issued this statement: "Mr. Papermaster's employment by Apple is a violation of his agreement with IBM against working for a competitor should he leave IBM. We will vigorously pursue this case in court."

Tough luck IBM. Non Compete are hard to enforce as they hamper civil liberty. What could Apple be working on here? First P.A Semi and now a top PPC architect. The next few years should be interesting.

It certainly isn't about Apple wanting to develop Enterprise product. My guess is more work with custom PPC chips for mobile applications.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by hmurchison Tough luck IBM. Non Compete are hard to enforce as they hamper civil liberty. What could Apple be working on here? First P.A Semi and now a top PPC architect. The next few years should be interesting. It certainly isn't about Apple wanting to develop Enterprise product. My guess is more work with custom PPC chips for mobile applications.

Maybe Steve figures they've got $25 billion to blow and he wants to screw with us?

[nikstar101]

I think that is this bloke works in the server area, thats what Apple are looking at. I think that they are going to push in the enterpirse sector. As they have included exchange access on the iPhone and it sounds like they are bringing more MacOS X server features to the client version.

With execs using Apple's at home, it is now time to try and move into the business market.

[nikstar101]

I am surprised no one has mentioned the PowerBook G5!!

[dmegatool]

I heard that OSX will be moving to PPC in the next years. Steve said it would be smooth transition so it doesn't matter.

[rasmits]

Originally Posted by dmegatool I heard that OSX will be moving to PPC in the next years. Steve said it would be smooth transition so it doesn't matter.

Ugh, not again. This rumour about Apple someday using PPC processors has been rehashed year after year. It'll never happen!

[chaos123x]

If everyone kept their software universal it would be great for Apple to choose the best X86 or PPC processors for each machine.

But yeah looks like most developers are just making intel only apps now, and snow leopard is rumored to be intel only too.

But then again the company apple bought out was the chip supplier who was making the G5 like laptop chip right before they went to intel.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by chaos123x But then again the company apple bought out was the chip supplier who was making the G5 like laptop chip right before they went to intel.

While that is true, Steve has already said that they'll work on future ARM-based iPod/iPhone chips.

[kieran]

Update:

iPod Boss steps down, IBM guy takes over

So this is where they were going. Tony Fadell is out and Papermaster is in as "senior VP of Devices Hardware Engineering" reporting to Jobs.

[Enki]

I don't know if I would call making $300K/year as a special advisor to Jobs, "out". Sounds like Fadell is more interested in big picture now rather than being in charge of hardware/software details. Keeping him like this makes me suspect he is still a player in any potential CEO succession scheme, but is taking the industrial equivalent of a sabbatical. You don't pay pogues who are leaving and yesterdays news, $300K/year.

[nikstar101]

Originally Posted by Enki I don't know if I would call making $300K/year as a special advisor to Jobs, "out". Sounds like Fadell is more interested in big picture now rather than being in charge of hardware/software details. Keeping him like this makes me suspect he is still a player in any potential CEO succession scheme, but is taking the industrial equivalent of a sabbatical. You don't pay pogues who are leaving and yesterdays news, $300K/year.

You might do if you don't want them to go find a job else where. Apple maybe trying to stop other companies from poaching him and therefore getting some dirt on Apple.

[Enki]

Originally Posted by nikstar101 You might do if you don't want them to go find a job else where. Apple maybe trying to stop other companies from poaching him and therefore getting some dirt on Apple.

$300K is an awful ransom to pay for getting nothing at all. The normal NDAs are far more effective than non-competes and new companies legal departments generally do a really good job in the tech world of helping incoming employees meet them so the new company does not become liable for that means of violating the NDA.

I would tend to believe at face value that Fadell wants to spool back with young kids and that he is willing to be an involved big-picture guy in that spooled back role. Then Apple has some other guy, like the newly hired Papermaster, be the detail oriented vision implementation guy. That way Apple doesn't have to give up someone who wants off the merry-go-round for a little while.