Reader Mail: Why would Apple wait to release Intel Macs?
Got this as a comment on the blog today: Why would Apple wait to roll out high-end Intel Macs? Intel just announced new processors: 64-bit, increasing numbers of cores. If they’d stop gouging for multiprocessing, there’s no reason that a dual-dual Intel Mac couldn’t be available in 2006 …which is an entirely valid question to ask. Here’s some answers as I perceive it: 1.) OK, so imagine if Apple released a dual dual (two chips each with dual core CPUs) Intel box in January, 2006: what would you run on it? The high end apps that could take advantage of it: Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, After Effects, Maya, Shake, etc. – probably won’t be ready at that time. And if they were rushed to be ready, how optimized would they be for the new platform? 2.) Apple has some nice hardware in the pipeline – the dual core, PCI Express Macs that I suspect (but don’t have proof) will be announced this month should offer a speed increase. And if they ARE twin dual core models, they could offer a SUBSTANTIAL
