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Why Apple Picked Intel Over AMD

Posted by Zonk on from the low-power-and-made-of-chocolate dept.

An Anonymous Reader writes "Macworld has a piece looking at why Apple chose Intel chips over AMD's offerings when it decided to move away from IBM." From the article: "The reason, industry analysts say, is that Jobs has a clear goal in mind: innovative designs. And such designs require the lowest-voltage chips, which IBM and Freescale were not going to make with the PowerPC chip core--and which AMD has not yet perfected 'This is a practical, pragmatic Steve Jobs decision,' says Shane Rau, Program Manager, PC Semiconductors for market research firm IDC. Intel serves up the most complete line of low-power chips for mobile and small form factor computers, and a good-looking future roadmap for it. Also, Intel's mammoth production capacity erases any supply worries. "

14 of 376 comments (clear)

  1. Transmetta by hey · · Score: 3, Funny

    In that case, why not use Transmetta!

    1. Re:Transmetta by Thuktun · · Score: 4, Funny

      In that case, why not use Transmetta!

      Because that extra 't' increases power consumption.

    2. Re:Transmetta by JollyFinn · · Score: 2, Funny

      Who is she?
      The lady friend of Transmeta?

      --
      Emacs is good operating system, but it has one flaw: Its text editor could be better.
    3. Re:Transmetta by greck · · Score: 4, Funny

      Then why didn't the pick ADM?!?!?!?!

      Because they need to process data speedily, not soybeans.

  2. double function by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because Jobs wants a double function for his new Mactel line... A) The power of a supercomputer B) A space heater since most of the country is transitioning into Fall and eventually winter.

  3. beyond thunderdome... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple were worried that if AMD were to change the letters in their name around, then they would have some MAD Mac's on their hands! ... sorry i couldn't hold that one back...
    -Sj53

    1. Re:beyond thunderdome... by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 4, Funny
      ... sorry i couldn't hold that one back...

      Please! For the sake of all that is good in the world, the next time you feel the urge to i-Pun, don't.

  4. Apple Management loves Steak, Lobster & Stripp by kianu7 · · Score: 5, Funny
    Everyone knows, except AMD apparently, that the management chain at Apple has a real sweet tooth for steak, lobster, and high-end strippers. The sales force at AMD seemed to have overlooked this key point when they came up with their sales strategy.

    Sure, those AMD sales guys can put together a killer Powerpoint presentation, but the Intel guys know that the real key to making the sale is taking the management out for food, fun, and a night they won't be able to tell their wives about. If AMD doesn't figure this out quickly, their sales will continue to lag behind Intel.

    This is Sales 101, folks.

  5. Re:"..supply worries.." - Isn't Intel SOLD OUT??? by Spy+Handler · · Score: 3, Funny

    Maybe they're sold out cus they delievered all their chips to Apple.

  6. Re:How bout why Mach vs LINUX by 42Penguins · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can imagine: OS X ManSe 10.4.20.01.5.4 dev OS X GentIs 10.6.25.52 daily build OS X UbuntOra 10.1.545.1.2.0 OS X KnoppDros 10.2.0.25.5.6 unstable

  7. Re:From the GWB school of speech writing by Guysmiley777 · · Score: 5, Funny

    This message is approved by the Department of Redundancy Department.

    --
    Coding with assembly is like playing with Legos. Coding an application in assembly is like building a car with Legos.
  8. Re:Waiting for OSX on Intel by OmegaGeek · · Score: 3, Funny

    hell, the current version (Tiger) has a lot of the features Vista is supposed to have already.

    You mean that the current version has a lot of the features that are going to be dropped before Vista is actually released.

    --
    Even heroes have the right to dream
  9. Re:gah...apple zealots AGAIN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "PPC good, x86 bad" => "PPC good, x86 better"

  10. Re:Not so fast by cosmo7 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Apple is using a version of C that fakes object orientation

    Whereas C# has real objects inside your computer!