BIOS: Technology Means Business

Apple's latest news announcement has Mac die-hards up in arms. At its Worldwide Developer Conference yesterday, Apple announced plans to deliver models of its laptops using Intel microprocessors by this time next year, and to transition all of its Macs to using Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007. It's been a long time coming, but the move means Apple will drop the PowerPC chip from IBM and Motorola spin-off Freescale semiconductor and build future models around Intel's x86-compatible omnipresent microprocessors.

According to Apple, the main reason for the switch was its desire to tap Intel's chip expertise, not its marketing clout. While long-time partner IBM focuses on making the speediest chips possible, Intel's focuses is on chips that combine maximum speed with the lowest possible heat. This, of course, is a more ideal fit for thin and portable Macs that Apple plans to develop.

For instance, IBM's 64-bit PowerPC 970FX processor, which Apple calls the G5, is very competitive with Intel's Pentium 4 processor when it comes to desktop performance. However, the latest version of the chip required Apple to use liquid cooling technology to make sure its Power Mac computers wouldn't overheat. IBM and Apple have thus far been unable to work the G5 into a laptop and have been unable to produce a 3GHz Power Mac.

Apple also previewed a version of its Mac OS X Tiger running on an Intel-based Mac to over 3800 developers attending CEO Steve Jobs' keynote address. In addition, the company announced the availability of a Developer Transition Kit, consisting of an Intel-based Mac development system along with preview versions of Apple's software, which will allow developers to prepare versions of their applications which will run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.

'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. '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.'

'We are thrilled to have the world's most innovative personal computer company as a customer,' said Paul Otellini, president and CEO of Intel. '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.'

'We plan to create future versions of Microsoft Office for the Mac that support both PowerPC and Intel processors,' said Roz Ho, general manager of Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit. 'We have a strong relationship with Apple and will work closely with them to continue our long tradition of making great applications for a great platform.' 'We think this is a really smart move on Apple's part and plan to create future versions of our Creative Suite for Macintosh that support both PowerPC and Intel processors,' said Bruce Chizen, CEO of Adobe.

The Developer Transition Kit is available starting today for $999 to all Apple Developer Connection Select and Premier members. Further information for Apple Developer Connection members is available at http://developer.apple.com. Intel plans to provide development tools support for Apple later this year, including the Intel C/C++ Compiler for Apple, Intel Fortran Compiler for Apple, Intel Math Kernel Libraries for Apple and Intel Integrated Performance Primitives for Apple.

The first Macs with Intel processors will appear next year, with the switch to Intel mostly completed by end of 2007. Apple has not mentioned which specific Intel processors it will use, nor has it said which Mac models would be the first to run with Intel inside. Apple will not allow the Mac OS to run on non-Apple hardware; however, the reverse may not be prohibited.