[firlgriend]

i'm disappointed too. So no new hardware? No new toys AT ALL?

[JonnyT]

apple has the cash in its coffers to ride out the storm (so it is all the ipod's fault). it not now, then when?

[HHogan]

As a fan, I don't like this. My Macs have always held a special place b/c they were completely different.

As a "programmer" I guess it's good, Intel is porting all their development tools for the MacOS. Plus the Intel-box isn't a bad price, I'd need to know more specs though. Looks like Apple is subsidizing them large.

But this completely f's up all my schedules, planning, and budgets... I'm going to spend weeks just re-working things now.

[oldmacfan]

Steve is gunning for Bill and I thought OS X Dev was going to "slow down" after Tiger was released. Did he not say 10.5 in 2007?

[naren]

Well it's official, and I still think it's a bunch of crap! When did the marketing department take over at Apple? I feel dirty...

[torifile]

kretarta, remember it's about the OS and not the processors. Personally, I couldn't care less except for the fact that the current line of computers look to be on the slow march to the gas chamber.

[InactionMan]

Originally Posted by HOM Well Apple better hope that iPod sales continue to sky rocket or we're in for a painful two years. Anyone here gonna buy a G5 now? Is anyone really thinking of investing in PPC now that Apple has declared it a dead platform? I'm sure my opinion will change after I've gotten my dosage of RDF, but Mac sales are going to dry up real quick.

Probably the same people that wouldn't buy a Rev.A iMac G5 because of the 'crippled' video card. Apple has over a hundred retail stores to pimp their wares and to the average consumer, knowing that they are in bed with Intel will only make them feel better about the platform.

[kretara]

Originally Posted by naren When did the marketing department take over at Apple?

With the Mini. More style than substance.

[firlgriend]

I'm also disappointed. So that's it, no new hardware? No new toys?

[InactionMan]

How are the various stocks handling this news?

[autodata]

Damn. I need a new powerbook asap. Now I'm either going to have to buy a low-end ibook to hold me over or just, gasp, temporarily depend solely on the pc laptop I'll be getting at the end of the summer.

[torifile]

Stocks don't look like they've reacted much.

[FFL]

What's really amusing right now is the two kinds of handwringing...

OMG Intel SuX, I'm so glad I still have a PPC Mac

and

OMG I can't buy a new Mac for a year because it will be PPC

[kretara]

Originally Posted by torifile kretarta, remember it's about the OS and not the processors. Personally, I couldn't care less except for the fact that the current line of computers look to be on the slow march to the gas chamber.

It is about the OS, but why spend money on a dead computer lineup?
And, there is no way that I'll be buying the first or second generation of an intel/apple. I will not be used as a product tester.

Another big reason (that belongs in a different thread) is the lack of service. I work for a good size University but when I have a problem with a Mac, Apple is very slow to respond. I just had a 250gb HD go bad and Apple wants me to give them a CC number in order to be shipped a new HD. Um....thats just wrong. Plus, they tell me it could take a few weeks to get the HD. BULLSHIT!!!

We call up Dell and they say, no problem, it will be in the mail tomorrow OR someone will be there within 24 hours to fix it.

[BuonRotto]

Originally Posted by HHogan As a fan, I don't like this. My Macs have always held a special place b/c they were completely different.

Well, look at it this way: everyone else is going to IBM for its console processors, so when the "beige" PC market shrivels from the heat of these game consoles, Intel will be the alternative!

[ironlung]

heh i agree FFL. Im glad i switched... my pbook will be fine for me for the next few years until apple works its kinks out..

[worktop]

I recently replaced my old Mac with an iBook, while waiting for the mythical G5 PowerBook. Looks like that isn't going to happen now, eh?

Does that mean when Apple finally starts advertising Macs again (instead of iPods) that we'll have that godawful Intel jingle on it? Argh!

[Banana]

Will someone *please* explain to me what this means????

I'm completely confused because I was told that x86 is essentially an outdated architerture designed for a calculator and is being stretched to limits? That PPC are making its way into gaming consoles (presumably a measure of performance under stress?)? That Intel and AMD has hit a wall? That Power chip has been able to do some stuff *better*?

What the fuck is going on now?

[autodata]

Originally Posted by FFL OMG I can't buy a new Mac for a year because it will be PPC

it's because some of us won't want to be using a ppc laptop in mid to late 2007 if the new ones have been out for a year at that time.

[Chinney]

FFL,

There is also the legitimate hang wringing of those who were just about to buy a computer, but have doubts about buying a technology that is just about to be superseded (if not abandoned – I don’t buy all of the assurances), but don’t want to wait a year or two (or three) before buying a new Apple.

Damn. Maybe most folks won’t know or care, but for me, this may be where I part ways with Apple. Maybe I’ll come back in 3-4 years, if they are still a computer company then. Damn.

[Mac+]

Also, are the X86 chips 64 bit? I thought they were not ... seems like Apple is really making their developers jump through some hoops.

What about the benefits of dual processors and the ability to access up to 8GB of RAM ... will this still hold true for Intel machines?

[TheWart]

Originally Posted by Chinney Count me as 'disappointed'. I was fully committed to buying a new iMac in September. I am having substantial doubts now. I am sure that I am not the only buyer who feels that way. I would be interested in hearing more of anything 'solid' concerning Apple's motivation for this switch. Was it mostly IBM's failure to deliver on G5 updates?

Same here.

[Mac+]

Chinney - that's pretty bleak ... I'm still plugging away on an old Ti550 - I'm tempted by the Rev B G5 iMac, but now might look for a blow out sale on a dual proc G5 tower. It's all good. No real reason to jump ship.

[Gargoyle]

Yes, There are 64bit intel chips.

And don't worry, you are not going to have to go and buy a crappy "PC". I am 99% sure that Apple will continue to make great machines. Be honest, if they release a machine in late 2006 / 2007 that is as good build quality as the G5 but with two intel chips (5Ghz ) are you gonna buy it?

[Oompa Loompa]

I feel sick... but try to be optimistic.

Steve scared the hell out of me today... but most of the time that means great things for Apple. F*ck SCSI, hello USB... F*ck PowerPC, hello Intel... Hello All the Games for Mac & Windows, Hello Cheaper Machines, Hello faster Notebook, Hello Sony... hello O, HELL.

It's now or never for Apple... so let's take the ride FCS.

[TheWart]

Originally Posted by Gargoyle Yes, There are 64bit intel chips. And don't worry, you are not going to have to go and buy a crappy "PC". I am 99% sure that Apple will continue to make great machines. Be honest, if they release a machine in late 2006 / 2007 that is as good build quality as the G5 but with two intel chips (5Ghz ) are you gonna buy it?

I am not saying people won't. I think that it is between now and then that there are serious problems. Sure, some of them may be purely pyschological (like buying a "dying" architecture, etc), but they are nonetheless real issues that will bite Apple hard in the pocketbook imo.

It would have been a whole diff ballgame if they had pushed up the timetable a number of months imo.

[Banana]

Originally Posted by Gargoyle Yes, There are 64bit intel chips. And don't worry, you are not going to have to go and buy a crappy "PC". I am 99% sure that Apple will continue to make great machines. Be honest, if they release a machine in late 2006 / 2007 that is as good build quality as the G5 but with two intel chips (5Ghz ) are you gonna buy it?

Sounds good, but I'm still confused because I thought x86 is dead and that Intel/AMD/others were looking for ways to move away from the status quo....

Would it be a "3ghz G5 by next year" fiasco all again?

Originally Posted by naren Well it's official, and I still think it's a bunch of crap! When did the marketing department take over at Apple? I feel dirty...

When Moto (Freescale) and IBM couldn't or wouldn't deliver on their promises.

[psmith2.0]

Originally Posted by FFL What's really amusing right now is the two kinds of handwringing... OMG Intel SuX, I'm so glad I still have a PPC Mac and OMG I can't buy a new Mac for a year because it will be PPC

Totally.

Is anything TRULY going to change for any of us here? Honestly? I can't see how. Buy what you need now, enjoy it (and enjoy it for years to come), and STFU.

[morningstarrising]

Naw, this is there enjoyment time..