3 ms·

Apple's next-gen Macs to have something special under the hood

12 points by nickb 18y ago

Alex3917 18y ago
There is something very suspicious about this article that I can't quite put my finger on. Everyone is looking forward to the Montevina chipset because it uses 30% less power, so when a rumor like this is leaked without the official story it creates fear and uncertainty that the new MBs and MBPs won't come with these benefits. Perhaps a competitor is hoaxing the rumor sites to spread FUD?
- wmf 18y ago
  My interpretation of the story is that Apple will use something better than Montevina (perhaps a chipset which runs on RDF instead of electricity). I consider that extremely unlikely.
  - Tamerlin 18y ago
    That's what it sounded like the author was trying to say, but I think you're right, it's very unlikely. If Apple is doing anything with PA Semi's technology, I'd expect a mobile device with more horsepower than we're accustomed to seeing. It could be possible however to use PA Semi's technology as an extra processor to service things like video encode/decode, physics, etc. Or even a TV tuner, for that matter. And there are of course other possibilities as well, but I don't have all day to type this :)
    - wmf 18y ago
      OpenCL suggests that Apple would prefer to perform video encode/decode, physics, etc. on the GPU. It's logical, since the GPU is already paid for.
maximilian 18y ago
A lot of the rumor seems like bunk, but I still think that apple is going to be coming out with new laptops just after their free iPod Touch student special. I think I'm going to buy a macbook with an ipod touch on like, sept. 15th and if they come out with new laptops in september still, just return it and get the new laptop. I'd love a new macbook form factor - Its just not quite what I want now, but if they made it a little smaller and lighter, with a better screen i'd buy it right now.
fharper1961 18y ago
When Apple uses standard technology they leave themselves open to competition from clones. I think this is a strategic move to avoid that possibility.
- wmf 18y ago
  But if Apple could add hardware feature X, why hasn't Intel already implemented that feature?
- Tamerlin 18y ago
  The only thing that Apple has done that successfully prevented competition from clones was to sue them. Their proprietary architecture has been cloned more than once in the past.
Anon84 18y ago
Apple did buy PA Semi chip designer just a few months ago. My guess is that they are using it to add custom functionality to their hardware (both in terms of features and lower power consumption). http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/23/apple-buys-pasemi-tech-ebiz-cz_eb_0422apple.html http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/23/apple-buys-pasem...

12 points by nickb 18y ago

There is something very suspicious about this article that I can't quite put my finger on. Everyone is looking forward to the Montevina chipset because it uses 30% less power, so when a rumor like this is leaked without the official story it creates fear and uncertainty that the new MBs and MBPs won't come with these benefits. Perhaps a competitor is hoaxing the rumor sites to spread FUD?

wmf 18y ago
My interpretation of the story is that Apple will use something better than Montevina (perhaps a chipset which runs on RDF instead of electricity). I consider that extremely unlikely.
- Tamerlin 18y ago
  That's what it sounded like the author was trying to say, but I think you're right, it's very unlikely. If Apple is doing anything with PA Semi's technology, I'd expect a mobile device with more horsepower than we're accustomed to seeing. It could be possible however to use PA Semi's technology as an extra processor to service things like video encode/decode, physics, etc. Or even a TV tuner, for that matter. And there are of course other possibilities as well, but I don't have all day to type this :)
  - wmf 18y ago
    OpenCL suggests that Apple would prefer to perform video encode/decode, physics, etc. on the GPU. It's logical, since the GPU is already paid for.

maximilian 18y ago

A lot of the rumor seems like bunk, but I still think that apple is going to be coming out with new laptops just after their free iPod Touch student special. I think I'm going to buy a macbook with an ipod touch on like, sept. 15th and if they come out with new laptops in september still, just return it and get the new laptop. I'd love a new macbook form factor - Its just not quite what I want now, but if they made it a little smaller and lighter, with a better screen i'd buy it right now.

fharper1961 18y ago

When Apple uses standard technology they leave themselves open to competition from clones. I think this is a strategic move to avoid that possibility.

wmf 18y ago
But if Apple could add hardware feature X, why hasn't Intel already implemented that feature?
Tamerlin 18y ago
The only thing that Apple has done that successfully prevented competition from clones was to sue them. Their proprietary architecture has been cloned more than once in the past.

Anon84 18y ago

Apple did buy PA Semi chip designer just a few months ago. My guess is that they are using it to add custom functionality to their hardware (both in terms of features and lower power consumption). http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/23/apple-buys-pasemi-tech-ebiz-cz_eb_0422apple.html http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/04/23/apple-buys-pasem...