Steve Jobs Confirms Apple Switch To Intel

[waldwolf]

Apple Switches to Intel Microprocessors

San Francisco Chronicle - Chronicle Staff Report

Monday, June 6, 2005 12:00 noon PDT

Apple Computers will have Intel inside by this time next year said the company’s CEO Steve Jobs at a gathering of software developers in San Francisco Monday.

Specifically, Apple said it "plans to deliver models of its Macintosh computers using Intel microprocessors by this time next year, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007."

In doing so, the firm will abandon the PowerPC chip platform it has used, in partnership with Motorola and IBM, since the early 1990s.

Apple’s move toward Intel microprocessors and away from its present chip manufacturer IBM marks a historic combination between two of Silicon Valley’s largest, most visible players.

"Our goal is to provide our customers with the best personal computers in the world, and looking ahead Intel has the strongest processor roadmap by far", said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in a statement. “It’s been ten years since our transition to the PowerPC, and we think Intel’s technology will help us create the best personal computers for the next ten years.

The agreement has major symbolic value, bridging the gap between firms that have been on ideologically opposite sides of the tech world for the past 25 years.

Apple has been using Motorola and IBM chips since the early 1980s, when the firm essentially launched the personal computing era. Although Apple had an early lead in the field, they were soon overtaken by a powerful partnership that relegated Apple to a niche technology player.

Ironically, that partnership was keyed by Intel, which paired with Microsoft Corp. to create the "Wintel" platform that dominates desktop computing today. It should be noted that the deal with Apple will not materially impact Intel’s relationship with Microsoft. If anything, sharing a common chip platform could make it easier for Apple and Microsoft to work together more closely in the future.

"We are thrilled to have the world’s most innovative personal computer company as a customer," said Paul Otellini, president and CEO of Intel, said in a statement. "Apple helped found the PC industry and throughout the years has been known for fresh ideas and new approaches."

"We look forward to providing advanced chip technologies, and to collaborating on new initiatives, to help Apple continue to deliver innovative products for years to come."

Otellini was on hand for Job’s announcement, literally hugging his former rival on stage. The reasons for Apple’s switch were not clear immediately, although in the past year or so, there seemed to be some frustration in Cupertino with IBM. About a year ago, Apple publicly blamed IBM for its short supply of PowerPC chips for the Power Mac G5 desktop computers.

Apple later said it had to delay the release of its new iMac computers because IBM couldn’t meet Apple’s demand for similar chips.

Another challenge Apple has been facing with IBM is delivering processors that consume less power and create less heat. On Monday, Jobs acknowledged that was the key issue.

Apple has resorted to using liquid-cooling technology -- like a radiator in a car -- to cool its top-of-the-line Power Mac G5 desktop computers, which now contain a pair of 2.7-GHz processors.

And one of the biggest question marks for Apple has been whether the computer-maker will be able to upgrade its lineup of laptop computers from PowerPC G4 chips to PowerPC G5 chips.

In January, Apple Executive Vice President Tim Cook told a group of Wall Street analysts that trying to place a G5 chip in the PowerBook "would be the mother of all thermal challenges."

The move from PowerPC chips to an Intel platform could provide quite a few headaches for software developers who now have to retool their products.

To ease the pain, Apple announced the availability of a "Developer Transition Kit", consisting of an Intel-based Mac development system along with preview versions of Apple’s own software for the Intel chips.

The kit will cost developers $999 apiece.

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