Apples for Intels: Is the sky falling?

Mac Computers + Intel Microprocessors = confusion

Dan Gayle

Design Director

June 5, 2005. I finally decide to purchase a 17” G4 PowerBook from Apple.

June 6, 2005. Apple announces that they are switching to Intel microprocessors.

June 7, 2005. My hair falls out and I go mad. The world is over.

As extreme as that may sound, it is still a very stressful announcement to all of us Mac addicts out in the real world. For years, there has been a feud between Intel’s x86-based platforms and Apple’s PowerPC-based systems. It seemed that the two sides would never reconcile their differences. How the times have changed.

“It’s been ten years since our transition to the PowerPC, and we think that Intel’s technology will help us create the best personal computers for the next ten years,” thus saith Jobs. Steve Jobs, that is. CEO of Apple Computer, the maker of the Macintosh and the IPod. When Jobs speaks, geeks listen. And quiver in fear. Why? Because when Steve Jobs makes an announcement, the computer industry changes and investments can become obsolete overnight.

It’s the obsolescence that we’re afraid of. Switching chips can make all of our hardware and software worthless. That’s why I’m stressed out about buying a new PowerBook laptop. If I spend $2,500 on this laptop right now, will it be worthless by the time June rolls around? Can I, or should I, wait until their new-fangled Intel-based PowerBooks are released sometime next year? Instead of going prematurely gray, I decided to do some research to alleviate my fears. Here are the results, all wrapped up for your reading pleasure.

First of all, DON’T PANIC! If you buy a new PowerBook or other Mac computer right now, it will not be obsolete until its regular lifespan has been completed. Why is that? Apple computer has contracts with the maker of its PowerPC chips until the year 2008. Apple intends to continue releasing updated systems with PowerPC chips until the transition to Intel chips is complete. According to the press release from Apple, that is not to happen until approximately the end of 2007. So don’t worry.

All current software written for the PowerPC chip will be able to run on the new Intel machines by means of a binary translator nicknamed “Rosetta.” That means that your investment in the Adobe Creative Suite will not be flushed down the drain. What’s even cooler is that all new Mac software will be coded using what are called “fat” binaries, applications that contain code for both PowerPC and x86 processors. That means that all future applications will be compatible with both current Macs and the x86 Macs scheduled to be rolled out during the next two years. Yippee!

If anything, it might be a smart idea to buy your new Mac right now. While that might sound counterintuitive, there are valid reasons to do so. First, the current systems are near the end of their development lifespan. Most of the kinks and bugs have been worked out, and the machines run relatively efficient and error-free. The second, and obvious reason, is that the Intel-based Macs will be first generation machines. Machine errors, software errors, and unlimited bug issues are the price to pay for new technology. Waiting until the machine and software revisions come out will help prevent that. That can take a good year or two. Lastly, expect prices to start to drop on the current machines. Apple will slowly start to reduce prices as they ramp up production on their new machines. It might be a good opportunity to pick up decent machines for decent prices.

After all of this careful research, I’m still not set on what I want to do. Should I wait? Should I buy now? OR, should I instead buy an Alienware Oh-My-God-That-Is-The-Heaviest-Laptop-On-Earth-But-It-Is-SOOO-Sweet MJ-12m 7700 Windows ($$$!) machine? The answer is that I think I’ll wait a few more weeks until I know for sure whether or not Apple is going to update their PowerBook line one last time. Because, after all, I don’t want to be obsolete overnight.