Apple to dump PPC for future Macs?

[Valan]

We have a PC and a new iMac in the house. They are both clocked at 800Mhz and have 256Mb. I have ran Lightwave benchmarks on both machines and the iMac is now faster due to an update for the OS.

I now know from experience that there is far more to speed than simply clock rates or propoganda. The OS optimisation and the application must also be taken into account.

The adoption of X86 would give Apple a level playing field and allow them to compete 'toe to toe' against similiar specced PCs. I expect the OS to run on  Apple only hardware as another 'flavour' rather than a sudden shift. I think Jobs' use of the word 'options' is telling in that it may be offered as a choice to buyers. After all he has slaughtered a lot of Apples sachrid cows ... and got away with it.

[Valan]

Well I stopped believing the manufatures specs decades ago and only really believe what I can see from experience. A new iMac outperforms a year old PC by about 12%.

I am not interested in what Intel, AMD, Motorola, Apple or articles say. This is what I see. Lightwave on the PC and Lightwave on the iMac.

The iMac speeded up as new versions of Lightwave and OSX came out. So the performace of Amiga OS will hopefully demonstrate the true potential of todays CPUs.

[Valan]

@ huronking,
I think you are half right.
I think Microsoft will welcome OSX to x86, then it gives them a true competitor.

Microsoft have made it hard on Mac on PPC but the result is that users will use other apps. Browsers in particular are doing very well despite IE being the default. Microsoft have openly denounced its sales to Mac users and blame Apple.

I don't think Microsoft enjoys the same status as it did when it crippled OS2. I think people like the standards set by Office and want to work to them. If another product offers them the same standards but for less money and hassles then they will use it.

The recent OSX update 'Jaguar' is demonstrating how OSX can allow users to have less hassles. Even on PPC Apple is making the link to the Windows world easier so I doubt Apple will be angered by an abilty to boot Windows.

I think they really want a side by side comparrison.

Valan