Intel Developing Next PowerMac for Apple?

Did not expect this.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1431

EDIT: That was a mad dash to get this into MR before everyone else. After reading the article, it seems that Intel is simply designing the internals.

iMacs as well in the first 4 months? Interesting, particularly for a close friend of mine who wants to get a new iMac in Feb.

Thanks for the mad dash. All that hyperpasta gave you the necessary carb-boost. :)

"13" iBooks and 15" PowerBooks?" No other sizes?

But Intel designing the boards makes a lot of sense, considering the number of Intel chips that are likely to be in there anyway.

I think it's a smart move by Apple. The PowerMacIntel will be pretty much the same as the new dual core G5's. DDR2, PCIe, etc. - other than the Intel chip and any TPM/custom modules. Don't you think Apple's evaluated the situation and is well aware of the higher "leak-potential" of contracting the PowerMacIntel mobo design out? The MacIntel hype will be pretty much past its peak by the time the PowerMacIntel is out. Like the article says, we'll be seeing Intel iBooks, iMacs, Mac minis, and PowerBooks before the PowerMac. I'm assuming that it'd be easy to estimate the PowerMacIntel's specs based on the specs of the other MacIntel introductions.

So it's a good move by Apple - no need to spread themselves thin. It may also have been in the original contract too, who knows? It's a win for Apple, and a win for us users - it should translate into lower costs for us. :D

Is it really considered outsourcing if it's the Intel/Apple group?

Fishes,
narco.

So much for "Designed by Apple in California".

But, I suppose if it makes PowerMacs cheaper for us, then good.

But if the quality suffers or innovation slows, then bad.

Does Apple design all thier own motherboards now?

I don't want to lose features or be locked into Intel only tech though.

And this article implies that the Intel transition will be complete by 3rd quarter this year. That seems awfully optimistic to me, especially since we still don't know what is going to shake out in MWSF.

No BIOS please. And don't change the boot tone either. Other than that, as long as the boot process is similar to what we currently have it doesn't matter who designs the motherboard.

plus, it's not like we don't know what it's going to look like. Remember, the iMac was just revised a little while ago, so there's not really anything secret about it anyway.

So much for "Designed by Apple in California".

not true. All that think secret reports could mean is that intel is being told "this is what we need, build it" and they can put the resistors and transmitters whereever they please, but in the end it's an apple computer, designed by apple, in california.

I just hope that silent/quiet computing remains a goal through all of this... I'm sure Apple will have at least some say in the shape/design of the motherboard, in order to ensure that the overall case design works well with regards to air flow.

Some of those beefy PC boxes are just too dang noisy...