Back To The Future - And Keep The Universal Binaries

WUSBDesign

News has it that Apple might be returning to use the <you've guessed it> PowerPC processor after having acquired this chip maker. There are wild rumours now about Apple possibly reincarnating the MacOS/PowerPC duo. And of course, leverage the same chip for other portable devices - iPhone included.

I'm going to re-assemble my PowerMac G4 Cube and wait for that 7-Watt, 2GHz number crunching, silent-yet-cool Intel-bashing accelerator.

Die, Bootcamp, die.

babypink

they won't revert to PPC for the mainstream line just yet.......not for a long long time....if at all

the Intel mainstream roadmap looks too good. Though i've always been a PPC fan....(still running PPC)....IBM's Power6 looks amazing


this is a mobile only purchase....iPhone, iPod, iPod touch

Intel were pushing very hard for Apple to change from ARM to their new Atom platform for next gen products.....this purchase is a firm NO to that. With this purchase Apple will be able to control the platform, end-to-end, and reap the benefits of custom designed, power-sipping, silicon.

I think they made a good move, though time will tell.

Sad Professor

I suppose this means the Powerbook G5 rumours will start again, lol

Yeah, they're probably just buying up this company for the people and expertise. There's no way Apple are going back to PPC on the mac, not after the problems they had with IBM and Motorola. Moving to x86 was the best thing Apple ever did. This could be backup for the future though. And in addition to mobile devices these chips might also be used in the Appletv.

muggyog

Agree that it is a good move.

Don't agree that the Intel move was so great for Apple. From a marketing point of view it has knocked those Photoshop on Mac Vs PC contests on the head. Also now you don't need a Mac to run OS X. Obviously there are a lot more Intel machine code programming out there but going by the Microsoft example that may not be such a great thing!

Looks like its time to blow dust off my Newton !

WUSBDesign

At the moment, the Atom and PowerPC don't come close to the kind of efficiency the ARM has. Time will tell, but meanwhile, this PowerPC offering from the acquired PASemi is capable of replacing the core in the MacBook Air. And do a better job.

There are also other compelling reasons why Apple should dump Intel:
- one core for all products; completely sound business sense
- differentiating product; why another Intel-inside in the likes of Dell,Fujitsu,Compaq,what-ever-else;
- no dependence on supplier, or even having to offer premium pricing to supplier;

I welcome the day when PowerMacs get compared to Wintel machines...once again.

leeroybrown

I don't see them moving away from Intel (x86) for the Mac/MacBook lines any time soon. Regardless of people's opinions of Intel they're probably the only company that Apple can trust to reliably ship the volume of CPUs that they need.

TBH I have trouble understanding how people are equating Apple buying a small semiconductor design company with a complete move away from x86. The level of risk involved would be corporate suicide.

Sad Professor

While the news generated speculation that Apple might use P.A. Semi's low power PowerPC chips in future iPhones or iPods, Beyond3D points out that these chips require far more power than can be expected for use in the iPhone or iPod.

Instead, EETimes provides some additional insight into Apple's motivations on the acquisition. According to comments made directly to P.A. Semi's customers, Apple is "not interested in the startup's products or road map, but is buying the company for its intellectual property and engineering talent." In fact, P.A. Semi also told customers that they would be unable to guarantee a supply of its chips in the future.

As it turns out, this may cause some resistance to the acquisition, as P.A. Semi's chips are reportedly used in a number of ongoing Department of Defense projects.

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/04/23/apples-plans-for-p-a-semi-not-interested-in-the-chips/

WUSBDesign

I am sure the PA6T will need to be modified in several ways to suit Apple's needs, but the prospect of Apple hardware being solely based on the PowerPC architecture is going to be very probable.

And yes, not forgetting that this move completely eliminates the possibility of a Hackintosh (from the likes of Psystar).