Last month’s rumor that Apple will change chip suppliers from IBM to Intel has been confirmed. On Friday, CNet.com reported Apple founder and CEO, Steve Jobs is expected to announce the switch in his keynote speech on Monday during Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco.

This is a seismic shift in the computer market as personal computer makers generally don’t shift allegiances to chip makers on a whim, since operating systems are closely tied to specific processors. However, Apple has grown increasingly frustrated with IBM, their current Power PC chip manufacturer, who have yet to deliver a G5 chip that runs cool enough in Powerbook and iBook laptops. The machines don’t have enough room inside for the large fans necessary to keep the computers cool. In the never ending race for faster computing, Apple must keep up with other computer manufacturers or face losing momentum and sales.

Wall Street analysts are concerned the time it takes to develop a next generation OS compatible with Intel’s chip will hurt Apple’s reputation with consumers and force the computer maker to take too long to deliver products too market. Apple says thier current Mac OS, which is similar to the open source Free BSD operng system currently running on Intel’s X86 chip, is compatible.

Apple will start with new chips for the MacMini in 2006 and Power Mac’s will have new Intel chips by 2007.

In a related story, CNet reports that Hollywood may applaud the deal, since Intel has been negotiating at length with the movie industry regarding downloadable movies. CNet staff writer, Michael Michael Kanellos writers, “Apple has been working with Taiwanese contract manufacturers for the last year on a portable video player. Intel has designed several of these units, which later got sold by outfits like Sonicblue. Right now, however, sources have not said Apple and Intel are working on these products.”

Netmix founder, Tony Zeoli is an accomplished DJ and currently works in Product Development and User Experience Design for Zaah Technologies in Farmingdale, NY.  Netmix founder, Tony Zeoli, is an avid blogger and DJ. His day job is in Product Development and User Experience Design for Zaah Technologies. In his spare time, he likes to work on electronic dance music, play basketball and develop his digital photography skills. Once in a while, he indugles in a peanut butter and fluff sandwich with an ice cold glass of low-fat milk.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 5th, 2005 at 6:58 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.