The idea that Apple and Intel are going to part ways is not something I can see in the near(5-10 year) future. The reason why is that besides having a reliable manufacturing base, which after the Japan earthquake Apple understands the value of, Intel recently announced 3-D processors. These processors are likely to be at the state of the art for as long as the patents last. Apple has a precedent of going with the technology of the future, and 3-D chips are most likely going to be the future for a long while. Chips aside, Apple has made a major bet with Intel on Thunderbolt and it would be illogical for Apple to ditch them without a VERY good reason.
What tells you that Intel won't be getting back to working on ARM cores? ARM isn't anything new to Intel; I'm sure you've heard of XScale. Not that other actors on the market are doing a bad job, but if anyone can make ARM shine in silicon, it's Intel. Give it a few more years before you say that Apple won't be transitioning to something better than x86. I personally predict "The Announcement" within 4 years.
Not surprising and I predicted this last June. If you plot Apple's current trajectory, it's the most obvious conclusion. If you doubt this, go look at Microsoft doing the same thing with Windows on ARM. You have a generation of people spoiled with instant-on and 8+ hours of Internet on an iPad wondering why their laptop can only do two hours.
11 comments
[ 4.1 ms ] story [ 39.3 ms ] thread