The trouble of switching to intel and the future of OSX

First of all, a few introductory statements (and a bullet-proof suit):

I've always been a huge fan of Apple and OSX

I'm a PC user (that looks like OSX, though)

I'm a web designer (although I'm afraid to say this often in public)

And now the main course:

I was trying to figure out how the transition from PowerPC to intel would actually work. And I thought that the success of Macs and OSX does not really depend on Apple.

Macs have always been computers used in graphic design area. Ironically, the most affected by the intel transition are designers. Here's how:

Current PowerPC users (especially those who got the last PowerMacs) are the luckiest for the moment. All their software works well, but future versions demanding more and more power will eventually be a problem.

PowerPC users who wish to upgrade their hardware cannot (easily) consider an intel Mac. While other apps are not affected a lot by Rosetta emulation, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash etc. need to be run natively.

What are the options? Run them under OSX and keep them slow? Dual-boot and run them under Windows (and buying Windows versions for all of them, of course)? Or abandon the whole 2006 and wait for Universal Binaries of Adobe CS3 and get forced to upgrade both hardware and the entire CS3 bundle, abandoning all older apps. Not so cheap, I think.

Windows users can be happier. Boot camp gave them a reason to consider buying an Apple, as their apps will perfectly in the Windows partition, although Mac's price is never tempting enough. And it doesn't support the iSight camera. And it doesn't support the remote.

And even if you get the Mac, the fuss of dual-booting and the need to keep one of your Adobe apps most of the time, will keep OSX out of sight.

I realize that different kind of users come with a different approach. It's the graphic & web design area that is affected the most. Users are either forced to wait and then make an expensive transition, or (thunders and flames) use Windows.

Until Adobe(-Macromedia) releases Universal Binaries of its products, OSX is not a reasonable choice for designers of all kinds. Leopard has to be extremely good in 2007 in order to keep OSX alive.

#377563

Hmm, very well-thought out argument.

However, I think you're underestimating the depths of love developers have for Apple/OS X. Many probably have iMac G5s or PowerMacs with the PowerPC chips in them, and are just going to wait until Adobe releases CS3 to buy Intel. That would work perfectly well, wouldn't it?

Yeah, anyway, Apple is quite a popular company, especially now, and so is Adobe. I think it'll all work out. They might pull another Boot Camp--bet no one saw that coming!

-NC

#377589

You have some good points but i think you're generalizing things a bit too much.

#377591

One would argue Apple from a business perspective is attempting to gain windows users and still sell their apple macs. Maybe the idea is that windows users buy a mac, run windows and mac osx on it, and eventually realise how much better mac osx is and how compatible it is. ( well i think osx is way better, however there are a few windows programs i do miss, but never the operating system )

Interestingly, Apple has had a history of making people pay, whether on purpose or not. For example the fact that new ipods were released every mac show.

I think from a mac users perspective, and a designers, I agree with you, considering the price of Adobe Photoshop CS3. However, will the suite come with Macromedia products? I have no clue of that situation, but anyway

Valid Point.

You pay alot, but you pay for the best

#377599

Also remember, Adobe CS3 is VERY LIKELY going to be a Universal Binary, meaning it will run extremely fast on BOTH PowerPC and Intel. Designers can still purchase a Quad and enjoy extremely high rendering speeds and extensive upgradeability (things not available on Intel yet). Things won't go Intel only for several more years.

The Intel PowerMacs will likely be RevB by the time CS3 is released and trusted by the designing community. This is assuming a summer PowerMac release with a RevB appearing sometime around March-June 2007 (CS3 will appear second quarter 2007).

#377644

With their suite of integrated products (iLife and iWork), new alignment with Intel, and support of Windows on Intel Macs, Apple is trying to get away from the reputation as a niche provider of computing machines. Their primary target is home computer use. I think your argument, although valid, is looking at Apple as the company they were 5 years ago. More and more they will become mainstream, thus gaining even more profits (although losing some of their die-hard fans since they will no longer be "cool"). With that in mind, I think more and more software will become available for the Mac.

#377655

You are right about the future.

My only concern was for this year, where the option is between a discontinued processor which runs the current apps fast, and an intel processor which is the way of things to come, which currently lacks speed in many major non-UB apps.

It's one year that the Mac platform (old and new) doesn't look so wonderful as it did one year ago or as it will look in one year from now, maybe. And my question is, if this one year will be enough to do any harm to OSX altogether.

#377660