Apple announced June 6th at its Worldwide Developer Conference its intents to begin utilizing Intel microprocessors in 2006. This announcement has met mixed critiques, from the Apple users’ excitement for a better product, to the PC users’ snickering at Apple’s slow transformation into a PC, and the conspiracy theorists claiming this as Apple’s first step in an attempt to dethrone Bill Gates. Whatever the reviews, the fact remains, Apple is switching to Intel, and they are hoping to have Macintosh computers using Intel technology by this time next year, with a goal of all Macintosh computers utilizing Intel by 2007.
Previous to the new relationship with Intel, Apple had been using IBM chips to power their computers. The switch is predicted to help Intel immensely, at the expense of IBM. It is speculated that the move was brought on due to IBM’s unwillingness to produce as many chips a year as Apple would have liked. IBM chips will be employed in most gaming systems, making the Apple contract a relatively insignificant source of IBM’s income, therefore not as big a priority as Apple necessitated. With Intel’s ability to make more chips, it is possible the switch will bring the price of Macintosh computers down considerably.
The move to Intel will be accompanied by some difficulties though. It is expected that the sales of Macintosh computers will plummet in the coming months as users await the introduction of a new, more powerful machine. Also, the operating system, the latest version being OS X, will need to be adapted to run on the Intel chips. It is being speculated if Apple can survive another redevelopment, every time they have undergone dramatic change previous to the Intel switch, they have lost a significant amount of customers.
Regardless of the obstacles, the transition from the IBM chips to an Intel chip in theory is the most viable solution. Apple has been unable to keep up with customers unending demand for better technology. With the incorporation of an Intel chip, Apple will be able to create a lighter and cooler system, two areas that Apple has recently been behind the times in.
