The end of an era?

[corbin_a2]

On lowendmac.com I found this statment: "many people are stunned now that the only difference between a Macintosh and a conventional PC is the logo on the front and the added capability of the Mac to run OS X."

To tell the truth I am feeling a little nervous. On one hand I like the idea of boot camp and running Windows on a Mac but on the other hand this whole Intel switch to me feels like we are losing something that made the Macintosh a unique experience.

I guess the sorry state of Power PC development made the switch to Intel unavoidable but i’m still going to miss having a truly different machine and a Power PC processor at it’s core.

Anyone else feeling me on this?

 

[kretzy]

Yeah, I feel a bit funny about it all. However, the most important thing is that OS X is still being developed and will continue to be for a long time. Only when (and lets hope never) OS X dies will I ever consider not getting a Mac.

 

[Phobophobia]

Leopard is the wild card here. I believe Apple is opening up to Windows because they feel their product will clearly be seen as the better when in the hands of consumers. Not to mention the hardware is wonderful.

Either way, Apple will sell more hardware and get OS X into the hands of more people. Which is good.

 

[theheyes]

Boot Camp is just a tweak to let the Intel Macs take advantage of what they are, and not some major shift in stratetgy and "the Mac experience" in my opinion. It was no coincidence that it was released shortly after the hack was made available. They said all along that they wouldn't stop people from running Windows, and Boot Camp can hardly be seen as "support" in my eyes. Until they start shipping units with Windows installed I don't see anything to worry about.

I, and lots of others I'm sure, am grateful for the efficient solution to boot Windows for the odd few times we need to.

Statements like 'the only difference between a Mac and a PC is their ability to run OS X' grossly trivialize OS X in my eyes. Technically, since the Intel switch, the fundamental difference between a Mac and a PC is OS X, so I don't understand why some people have started whining about it now.

And besides, less people than you might think are going to drop the money for a copy of Windows if they don't have to.

True, there are issues to be raised - some unfounded, some not - but overall I see more positives than negatives.

 

[generik]

we are losing something that made the Macintosh a unique experience.

Ah yes, the unique experience of paying superior prices for inferior processors, truly a unique feeling!

I'm happy with the intel transition though

 

[SC68Cal]

Ah yes, the unique experience of paying superior prices for inferior processors

I refute that assumption. PowerPC Macs set the pace in benchmarks for Wintel boxes to keep up with. Clockspeed is a decieving measurement of processor capabilities.

 

[dornoforpyros]

You know, Apple is taking a HUGE risk here by using the mentality of "if people have the chance to use both side by side they'll clearly pick OS X"

I mean OS X is superior, but when your coming from windoze there is a learning curve involved. And a lot of computer users are simply going to stick with what they know.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

I think Apple is now opening the choices to consumers when it comes to what you are using (XP, Linux, Mac OSX), this cannot be a bad thing because anything where Apple can and will captilise their market share isn't a bad thing.

 

[After G]

I think if people did stick with what they know, they'd keep their PCs instead of getting a Mac.

 

[andrewag]

The PowerPC acted as a sort of spiritual icon for the Mac community. It is what made a Mac different. It's sad to lose the PPC but I guess the Intel switch is for the best *sobs*.

 

[cait-sith]

Given the chance to run OS X, I think most will decide it's better than Windows -- perhaps after running back to their OS X boot partition when XP gets attacked by some malware.

Linux was born on x86 hardware, and it seems to be doing well in terms of user satisfaction.

My gut tells me people buying macs do it mostly for the ability to run OS X. If you just want to run Windows, why not buy a much cheaper Dell?

The "Apple is going to have most of it's machines running Windows" school of thought appears to be a knee-jerk reaction. That would suck, but it's not going to happen.

When I think Apple, I don't just think "Powerbook". I think OS X.

 

[student_trap]

the ppc, it was the heart of every mac, it came in G3, G4, and the coveted G5. There was always something good about having something different at the core of your machine, and the arguments on macrumors would be of the "ppc is much better than intel" variety, as staunch macaddicts defended their corner. Things were simple...

...I wonder whether in the future we sill see a mac divide, those who switched when the macs had a different heart beating inside them, and those who came with the fanfare provided by intel.

There were days when we could only run windows with VPC, we all knew where we stood, now though, the boundaries are blurred, the definitions are altered, and these times, they are a'changin.

 

[shadowmoses]

The original statment in the first post is very true, it almost saddens me sometimes to see what apple has become as there computers don't have the something special they used to....

I Also see the benefits of what apple has done with intel, boot camp etc, but there's still something inside me which prefers the way Apple used to be in the PPC days,

ShadoW

 

[generik]

I refute that assumption. PowerPC Macs set the pace in benchmarks for Wintel boxes to keep up with. Clockspeed is a decieving measurement of processor capabilities.

Let's just said I'm married with the x86 platform, and for all its warts I'll stick with it. I rather have a platform that is capable of running all my applications than to have one that is supposedly "so much better" and yet it just plain doesn't do what I need.

The fact that in the timeframe leading up to the intel switch, the PPC line is stagnant anyway, and overpriced, and slow... what the hell? Is that some kind of elitist mentality?

I certainly don't want the Rolex of microprocessors in a modern computer. Pay price premiums on obsolete old junkers all you like, but just count me out on it

Take a look at the Mini Duo, if not for Intel is it even possible? Sadly, if it were up to the AIM consortium it'd never happen even in a million years (they all would probably go bust before it comes to fruitation, if ever)

 

[maya]

The original statment in the first post is very true, it almost saddens me sometimes to see what apple has become as there computers don't have the something special they used to....

I Also see the benefits of what apple has done with intel, boot camp etc, but there's still something inside me which prefers the way Apple used to be in the PPC days,

ShadoW

Well said. Apple seems to cater more to the corporation side of the market as of recent. Could be due to the DoD contract that BootCamp is released.

 

[paddy]

Ya it was sad to see the PPC go, very sad but look at the speed of the new intel macs. Theyre really incredible. If the intel switch means much faster computers for the same price as the old ones then I suppose Im happy.

 

[toothpaste]

You know, Apple is taking a HUGE risk here by using the mentality of "if people have the chance to use both side by side they'll clearly pick OS X"

I mean OS X is superior, but when your coming from windoze there is a learning curve involved. And a lot of computer users are simply going to stick with what they know.

The learning curve statement would be true if you were speaking about installing linux or comparing it to OS X. But comparing OS X to windows, the statement is untrue. Many computer users stick with what they know because it is too much work for them to install and try something new. OS X will already be installed for the lazy people.

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

What truly matters is that Apple maintain the standards on their incredible OS, and keep designing beautiful hardware to match.

The insides need to be reliable/stable, but that has never been an issue with PowerPC, and i don't see it becoming one with Intel.

Rich.

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

I don't see this as an end of an era at all whatsoever. I think that even leaving the precious, highly looked upon PPC processors and switching to Intel isn't a big deal. Why do you have a Mac? For the processor or for OS X? And for bootcamp, eh, who gives a ****. Bootcamp is meant just to help others who are switching to feel more "secure" about there purchase. If they bought the Mac for the sole reason of running Windows, well.. they bought a Mac for the wrong reason.

 

[bah-bah'd]

I refute that assumption. PowerPC Macs set the pace in benchmarks for Wintel boxes to keep up with. Clockspeed is a decieving measurement of processor capabilities.

And don't forget to mention that everything is limited to a physical 200Mhz bus. Talk about using Hyper Threading, etc to inflate some speed numbers...

The learning curve statement would be true if you were speaking about installing linux or comparing it to OS X. But comparing OS X to windows, the statement is untrue. Many computer users stick with what they know because it is too much work for them to install and try something new. OS X will already be installed for the lazy people.

But they also then have to research how to repartition OS X drives, set up dual boot, install everything and manage the system...


I can see people dual booting to use Auto CAD and other windows only things, but how many people are going to set up a complete windows system on a mac simply to surf with IE, use outlook, get online with AOL... Hmm, that would suck actually. "Hold on, let me reboot and use photoshop in windows then reboot into OS X to use all my daily software..."

I seriously doubt there are going to be that many Mac's that are being use as windows desktop replacements specifically running windows all the time.

 

[Macmadant]

On lowendmac.com I found this statment: "many people are stunned now that the only difference between a Macintosh and a conventional PC is the logo on the front and the added capability of the Mac to run OS X."

To tell the truth I am feeling a little nervous. On one hand I like the idea of boot camp and running Windows on a Mac but on the other hand this whole Intel switch to me feels like we are losing something that made the Macintosh a unique experience.

I guess the sorry state of Power PC development made the switch to Intel unavoidable but i’m still going to miss having a truly different machine and a Power PC processor at it’s core.

Anyone else feeling me on this?

i feel exactly the same, y i could just go out now buy, a cheap £299, pc hack osx to run on it. then stick ones of those apple logo stickers on

 

[Kaiser Phoenix]

I also feel abit sad. Thing is, while computers like Dell and Sony basically relied on the technology inside, Macs were valuable even if they are old. I mean look at ebay for used Powermac G4s, they still get quite a high value considering their age and speed...why? OS9 being one but it was reliable and Different. Now, an apple computer in terms of hardware is almost exactly the same as a Dell computer, just better case and design, packaging.

One day, when people start to run OSX on Dells, that may be a huge turning point, coz people wont have to buy Apple hardware then, and they can build their own pcs and have multiple OSs in their computers...Now that its all intel, I think that gap has definately diminished.

 

[bah-bah'd]

i feel exactly the same, y i could just go out now buy, a cheap £299, pc hack osx to run on it. then stick ones of those apple logo stickers on

Yea, and I could go car jack someone's $1000 car and joyride it too... but when it breaks down or I get pulled over.

 

[SmurfBoxMasta]

Well, I hate to say this, but it seems that some people just dont get IT.........

what is IT, you ask ?

IT is undeniably, unrefutablely, plainly & simply: sell-more-friggin-stuff...........whether it be hdwr or OS X or whatever.......

And NEVER, EVER forget: Apple is in business for 1 reason & 1 reason ONLY: to make M O N E Y, lots of it, as much as they can, and as fast as they can! And yes, they are very good at it too!

ALL other things aside, Macs, OS X, users, windblows, PPC, Intel, etc etc etc yada yada yada...........

This is THE bottom line real deal!!!!!!!!!!!!







ps......ya'll have a nice day now, ya hear

 

[bah-bah'd]

Now, an apple computer in terms of hardware is almost exactly the same as a Dell computer, just better case and design, packaging.

Dells and Macs are hardly the same... Same processor and even same chipset does not equal same hardware by any means.

One day, when people start to run OSX on Dells, that may be a huge turning point, coz people wont have to buy Apple hardware then, and they can build their own pcs and have multiple OSs in their computers...Now that its all intel, I think that gap has definately diminished.

Good luck writing all the device drivers for all the Dell hardware on those ?what? form factor motherboards...