Apple Wants to Stop Using Intel Chips in Mac Computers

[Anthony Bouchard]

Most would probably say that Apple bringing Intel chips to the Mac computer lineup was one of the company's better decisions. It brought compatibility and support to a whole new level and it offered processors for the computers that were simply put, a better decision for Apple than the PowerPC processors.

A report this morning from Bloomberg reveals that Apple is still in talks about abandoning the Intel processors in favor of something different to "further distinguish" its machines and software from that of its competition:

Apple has also deliberated over moving away from Intel chips in the Macintosh, say two people familiar with these discussions. Such a shift would be difficult and isn’t imminent, though it would allow Apple to further distinguish its laptops and desktops from competitors that run Intel’s (INTC) chips and Microsoft’s Windows software.

It wouldn’t be an easy process to convert to something different, as the company would have to choose what direction to go besides Intel. There are other alternatives such as AMD, but Apple could also choose to design their own type of chip for Macs, as they have done with the iPhone 5’s A6 chip.

Judging the magnitude of the change, it is likely that it won’t happen any time in the near future as such a change would require countless prototypes and testing phases to get everything just right.

Sources: Bloomberg

[AUZambo]

I hope this is just another one of those unfounded rumors that fizzles out.

[turdsmoka]

If they leave the processors that run Windows instructions I won't be able to buy Apple any more. Oh well.

[hogcia]

This is retarded, bringing Intel to macs was the best move apple made. I love running windows 7 on its own partition on my Mac, something that may not be possible if Apple designs their own chip. Hope it don't happen.

[GmAz]

LOL, modifying the A6 chip is way different than using something new. And going to AMD from Intel isn't really much of a difference. All in all, I hope they do it and lose billions in the process.

[dennder]

WHAT!? Bullcrap... gaming have just began to spread across Mac systems and someone says apple wants to kill it?
Unless the chip is x86 compatible, no, no, no, no...

[jrrtps]

bad for Apple users

[klouud]

Intel > AMD

[miztahsparklez]

that would be the worst decision Apple has made. Welcome back to the stone age. LOL too bad steve isn't here to save the company

[Raptor2213]

Agreed, this is a horrible choice. Being able to run other OSes on a MAC was HUGE and has been a major selling point. Nixing that could have major repercussions.

[chstriker11]

Agreed, this is a horrible choice. Being able to run other OSes on a MAC was HUGE and has been a major selling point. Nixing that could have major repercussions.

I really don't think that is what is going on in this article. I doubt Apple is talking about moving away from the x86 (or x86-64) architecture. Just the brand of the CPU... AMD processors can still run a windows OS just the same. If I am reading it correctly (and if i'm not, then that is time to panic) they would just be moving brands to another processor, or create their own silicon like an A6 (only not ARM based) to sell over intel. It would be extremely silly to move away from the x86 architecture.

[kddo14]

In the world of PC CPUs, there's intel, and then there's everyone else. A move like this would be silly for apple, it's not like they've got an intel inside sticker slapped on every box.

[iYeow]

Bad move, Hackintosh family will not be able to build their dream machine.

[PatrickGSR94]

I would take an Apple custom-designed chip over an AMD piece of crap any day of the week.

[tryme1029]

I'd be fine with apple designing their own chip, but definately not using PowerPC

[Mrteacup]

Just change their intel graphics please..

[JedixJarf]

I really hope this is just some half baked rumor, going to AMD would be a downgrade and switching to anything other than x86 would destroy them.

[cmwade77]

Yeah, but if it isn't, at least be sure to maintain Windows compatibility, it unfortunately very much needed.

[cpotoso]

Wow, if they abandon x86 (which the article DOES NOT say they will) this will show how much apple is missing SJ. That would be a huge step backwards as it would eliminate a major advantage of mac's (the ability to run BOTH mac os x and windows). There is still a whole lot of programs that (unfortunately) run only on windows, without them os x is back to a niche os.

[primilous]

Am I the only one thinking they'll push ARM on the desktop, and combine their iOS and OSX ecosystem even more?

But someone needs to drop the x86 ISA and push for something new for this day and age of parallelism (although itanium DID fail...)