* Is Apple weighing a move to Intel hardware?
The rumor published last week in The Wall Street Journal that Apple would start to use Intel chips is an interesting rumor indeed.
At present, Apple uses RISC-based PowerPC chips from IBM and Motorola. If Apple were to switch to Intel processors for its Macintosh computers, it would mean that finally users might have a choice between using a Mac for running Windows applications or Macintosh applications.
Whether Apple would allow Windows to run on its Mac is anyone’s guess.
The PowerPC platform on which Macs are based trails Intel and AMD for market share. Add to that the fact that IBM just sold its flagging PC division to Lenova, and the implications of that could be telling, if the hardware giant were to lose Apple’s business.
Another consideration is that Intel could give Apple power-saving technologies that the company could deploy in its PowerBook laptops.
If Apple decides to go with Intel, Apple would have to rewrite some OS X code. The company isn’t expected, however, to allow OS X to run on just any Intel-based PC.
The rumor of Mac OS running on Intel hardware has been around for several years. Neither Apple nor Intel will comment.
Apple could just be using the rumors to escalate its bargaining power with IBM over the PowerPC platform. Or it could really be looking at capturing a larger market share for its PCs. If the company were to adopt Intel hardware, sources say it would allow Apple to more easily match prices from competitors like HP and Dell.
The company sells nearly 3 million computers a year, 1.5% of the 200 million machines sold around the world.
Should Apple use Intel processors? Let us know at mailto:dconnor@nww.com
