Thoughts on latest PM G5 upgrades?

[martygraw1000]

Hello all,


I'm curious your impressions on the latest round of upgrades announced yesterday by Apple, with the new "top-dog" G5 tower getting bumped to 2.7ghz.

And, to stay true to this particular forum, I am curious about any speculation you'd care to offer for when Apple will finally be able to deliver the long-delayed 3ghz G5 PowerMacs that Steve Jobs promised oh-so-many months ago.

Specifically, if you have a time frame in mind, I'd love to hear it, and I'd love to read any data, rumors, or just plain-old speculation you'd care to offer in support of your time target.

Finally- and not to over-burden this one little thread- if you'd care to speak to some rumors I read on some other Mac site that Steve and Apple are getting mighty tired of IBM's inability to reach the vaunted 3ghz mark, and are beginning to look seriously at a switch to Intel processors.

I know, I know- that last one seems a bit fantastic to me, too. And it's certainly not a new rumor. But hey- at one time it seemed impossible that Apple would EVER abandon Motorola for their arch-enemy (again, at one time) IBM. So let's not dismiss this rumor out of hand.

Anyway, thanks in advance for your insightful, intelligent, and pithy comments.


Marty Graw
1000

[cfleck]

Don't know about the rest, but x86 isn't going to happen anytime soon.

I'm guessing you don't have any sources for that rumor.

[martygraw1000]

cfleck,


Well, I guess it's fair enough to call me on the source of that rumor. I guess you're just going to have to trust me that I read it in one of the seven or eight Mac-oriented news/rumor sites I peruse most days.

I did go back through them quickly, but couldn't find it. I fully acknowledge that I'm just repeating a rumor, but - Scout's honor here- I promise I'm not making it up.

If I stumble across the site, I'll post it. In the meantime, you'll just have to take my word for it.


Marty

[martygraw1000]

Well, this doesn't exactly vindicate me, but I think I found at least one source of the discussion about Apple wanting/needing/planning to switch to Intel processors:

http://www.cnet.com/4520-6033_1-6213658.html


Marty

[HateEternal]

It Apple switches over to x86 they are going to have the same problems that Microsoft does with Windows, device compatibility. Right now Apple knows the core components of every Mac out there. With PC's there are infinite possibilities.

[Pengu]

why would they want to switch from a just-released technology that has legs, and the power of IBM behind it, to a fading technology that has been flawed from the get-go???

[mindbend]

500 MHZ in a year followed by a mere 200 MHZ the next year is not good. At that rate we might hit 2.75 GHZ next year.

I had definitely expcted 3 GHZ by this summer. I figured at minimum they'd keep pace with the .5 GHZ per year, especially since the transition to 90nm (is that right?) was complete. I have no explanation for why they can't get there. Here's some completely baseless guesses:

1. They just can't pull it off yet
2. IBM is reserving its resources for other things
3. They CAN get there, but don't want to outpace dual core, which may debut at lower than 3 GHZ rate.
4. Apple/IBM have focused on dual core, willing to except snail's pace on the current G5 chip for now

I will place dual core at end of this year coming in at just under 3 GHZ. I have absolutely no evidence for this wild guess.

As for the good old Intel chip thing…once again I will proclaim IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. NOT EVER. There are a LOT of reasons why it won't happen, but let's just go with the most upfront, pragmatic one. Apple invested a boatload of their own cash and resources into developing the system controller for the G5. They're not going to give up on that quite yet.

For now, let's all try to be happy and remind ourselves that these machines are actually quite good. The worst of them is way better than what I'm using now. And, in general, I'm pretty satisfied with what I've got (Dual 1 GHZ G4). But not satisfied enough. I'll be placing an order tomorrow.

[RGrphc2]

I knew Speedbumps were coming, yea we were all wishing for a 3Ghz DP G5, but oh well, stuff like this happens. Steve Job's Said this was the year of HD, most people don't have anything HD right now, save a TV or iMovie HD.

Intel claimed their 64 Bit chip was supposed to debut in 2003....it's now when? and where is this chip???

The one thing that kinda ticks me off about the update is the Dual 2.0 can only take 4GB of RAM ...while the old one took 8, but i'm not gonna be doing something that takes that much RAM, lol.

BTW has anyone noticed the price drop on Monitors the 20" in $799 and the 23" is $1499 the 30" remains the same at $2999

before they were $999 and $1799