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Apple to Continue to Supply PA Semi's Chips

TheRegister.co.uk reports that Apple will continue to provide PA Semi's low-power PowerPC chip to existing customers, despite the acquisition:

PA Semi's staff has started notifying a limited set of customers that the company's existing dual-core processor will enjoy long-term support. Apple will employ a number of old PA Semi staffers just for this task, which is good news for folks making missiles, mine-sweeping gear and storage boxes.

Apple acquired PA Semi in April, but had no interest in its existing product line. PA Semi had originally told customers that they would be unable to guarantee a supply of their chips in the future. PA Semi's PWRficient processor had reportedly seen quick adoption in a number of Department of Defense projects.

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49 months ago
I'm sure those customers are probably happy about this news, but since Apple is unlikely to devote many resources to improving those chips, it really just seems like it ensures that those customers will be using outdated technology for the foreseeable future.

All the same, hopefully it won't cost much for Apple to keep those chips around, and it will just serve as a steady stream of revenue to help recoup the money spent on acquiring the company.
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49 months ago
Department of Defense?!?!

iPhone 3.0's newest feature...
Automatically sends out an Electromagnetic Pulse that only affects PCs and renders them useless

Cmon Jobs, Chill...
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49 months ago
We're going to end up with warmongering MBA's, it'll be like Small Soldiers, with laptops :p
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49 months ago
now we know what the new product at WWDC will be! The iMissile!
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49 months ago

We're going to end up with warmongering MBA's, it'll be like Small Soldiers, with laptops :p


Introducing the iGun, iTank, and iMissile. Each comes in a lovable range of colours, with FREE laser engraving. Each is built to the high standards we've come to expect of Apple. Pick up the iGun and BAM! It just works. The iTank is a new low profile model that sits just 3 feet off the ground: that's THIN! We think once you get a chance to play with it you'll just love it.

The iMissile is of course the smaller cousin of the iNuke. For when you need a little gunboat diplomacy, right here, right now. With a user interface so intuitive that even a five year-old can use it, it's simply the fastest, most elegant way of inciting racial hatred.
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49 months ago
i really don't like this. I had hoped Apple was better than this...:(
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49 months ago

i really don't like this. I had hoped Apple was better than this...:(


What :confused: Apple are essentially going out of their way, with no obligation, to supply chips so that the current customers aren't left high and dry. It is a good thing for them to do.

I fail to see how this is a bad thing, unless of course your only goal is profit and even then it is not exactly a great argument as this may lead to more customers in the future.
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49 months ago
If I recall, one of the reasons Apple stopped using the PowerPC platform was the lack of lower power variants. And now here they are selling one themselves. It's a funny old world.
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49 months ago

If I recall, one of the reasons Apple stopped using the PowerPC platform was the lack of lower power variants. And now here they are selling one themselves. It's a funny old world.


I'm supposing it costs less and is a smaller disruption in this instance to keep things as is, considering the lower throughput from a smaller customer base
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49 months ago

If I recall, one of the reasons Apple stopped using the PowerPC platform was the lack of lower power variants. And now here they are selling one themselves. It's a funny old world.


A very modern system on chip one too.
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