It’s been a week since Apple Computer and Intel presented their landmark deal, and my opinion of the deal has come a long way. When rumors began a few weeks ago that Apple may start using Intel chips, I was…

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Apple’s comment that IBM’s chip roadmap looks weak is totally bunk. You heard it hear first….PPC will be running your Windows desktops some day. I think Apple is making a good short term move but long term their PCs will be irrelevant, if they aren’t already.

I expect this to be a good shift for Apple. Imagine being able to purchase a Mac Gx for less than $2000….

However, I have not read anything saying that Apple will go to x86 architecutre. I really hope no one thinks that Apple will allow their OS to run on any x86 platform as they like to keep tight control over their hardware specs…. look what happened to the clones years ago… which caused problems between Apple and Motorola. Has anyone played with the though that Intel may have been courting Apple so it can do an architecture shift as well? They do have 2 years to develop a new architecture, in fact this deal was in the works for 2 years so they may have done the R&D. It could be that the future Intel chip is a new fangled dual core processor designed specifically for Apple. Afterall, Apple did not want PowerPC clones running around, why would anyone think they want any crappy x86 PC running their prized Mac OS X? So this may not lead to significantly cheaper Macs… but with Intel’s mass production capabilities, it will reduce somewhat.

.. Just few thoughts from the wayward.

Reports in both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times are pretty clear. Apple is getting into bed with Intel. If correct, it marks an about turn the likes of which we haven’t seen before….

Apple is going to use Transitive technology to make the current Mac software run on x86 processors. Darwin runs fine, and at least some of the remaining Tiger stuff is easy to port. The rest will run via fast emulation. No Mac OS 9 support.

Then you have a computer that will run both Mac OS X and Windows. No generic x86 will run Mac OS X, ever.

Remember, Apple is a hardware maker. This allows Apple to use dual core processors to host both Windows and Mac OS X at the same time. Apple can’t sell computers into businesses because their computers can’t run Windows. That is what changes. But if you had a computer that ran Windows and Mac OS X at the same time, what would see greater use?

Exactly….

So now Apple can sell to enterprise, compete with Windows on a level playing field, raise its profile yet again, and tout its virus-free nature.

If you were a CIO, wouldn’t you get a computer that would run both operating systems, allowing you to switch any time in the future?

Now the Switch campaign really gets going….

x86 is a dying platform. A Mactel allows a painless transition to PowerPC down the road.

Clarence Wooten, Jr. – General Partner Prior to establishing Venturepreneur Partners, Clarence Wooten was managing partner of Wooten Ventures, an angel investment firm providing seed funding and guidance for entrepreneurs building innovative businesses…