Well, if IBM release a chipset as well then there's hope. Otherwise this processor will most likely power iMACs in 2003/4.
I don't think one could built a cheap PPC white box PC from Apple's Hardware...
Let's hope companies like MAI are interested in developing chipsets and motherboards for this cpu.
PPC market needs a cheap X86 style motherboard manufactures (I’m thinking more inline with **MSI/Gigabyte/Asus/PCChips/PC Partner/Acer/Tyan style companies).
I don’t think “Big Blue” sell their X86 desktop motherboards directly end users (try looking for an IBM branded X86 motherboard as an example).
Having VIA/SIS level companies is nice, but the chain wouldn’t be complete with cheap board manufactures**.
It would excellent proposition if Big Blue deliver near Nintendo Game Cube priced PPC motherboard (e.g. AUD $250~$320 range).
Highly unlikely for IBM to abandon the Wintel platform for PPC PC's unless M$ release PPC versions of their Operarting Systems like the old NT 3.51 days.
I recall, MS Windows NT 4.0(up to Service Pack 3) was available for PPC (the company I work has a PPC edition (via old MSDN subscription). NT 3.51 days is long dead by time of Windows NT 4.0.
As this news indicate
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/61/27413.htmlIBM, MS and Intel are working again for 16 XEON based MS Windows Servers.
I guess they have almost buried their OS/2 vs MS Windows disagreements. Remember, IBM/Intel/MS are the original unholy trinity during 80s.