Schwarz
02-06-2006, 11:13 PM
One of the biggest problems with Apple `s change from PowerPC to Intel is going to be compatibility with existing applications written specifically for the PowerPC architechture.
While apple`s two new consumer package (Iwork and Ilife) are designed to work with either processor, the company has already admitted that the Intel-ready versions of its professional applications (Apperure, Final Cut and Logig) won `t be ready until March; users with PowerPC-only versions of the software will then be able to cross-grade to the new versions for 49 bucks.
What `s less certain is when Intel-ready software from outside the companies will be available,wich means some users upgrading to the new machines may find themselfs unable to run some of their favorite apps.
One thing that will act as a buffer for the time being is an emulation package known as Rosetta, which is included with all new Intel-Based Macs.Rosetta is designed to seamlessly emulate the PowerPC environment for apps not yet Intel-friendly, but there will be a performance hit as part of the bargain , and there may be some flakiness.The bottom line: if you don `t have to upgrade rigth this second, you `ll probably want to wait for another few motnhs until your favorite apps have been updated to handle the new Intel Processors.
To make sure the transition goes as smootly as possible, Apple has provided tools for software developers for compilation of software into both powerPC and Intel versions, to make sure all newly released software will be universal.The upside of this is that software developers will continue to be able to support Mac uesrs who haven``t made the change to the new Intel-Based systems.
One downside of the move to intel processors is that MAC OS 9 support is now being phased out.It was nice while it lasted...
Source: HUB magasine.
- Schwarz
While apple`s two new consumer package (Iwork and Ilife) are designed to work with either processor, the company has already admitted that the Intel-ready versions of its professional applications (Apperure, Final Cut and Logig) won `t be ready until March; users with PowerPC-only versions of the software will then be able to cross-grade to the new versions for 49 bucks.
What `s less certain is when Intel-ready software from outside the companies will be available,wich means some users upgrading to the new machines may find themselfs unable to run some of their favorite apps.
One thing that will act as a buffer for the time being is an emulation package known as Rosetta, which is included with all new Intel-Based Macs.Rosetta is designed to seamlessly emulate the PowerPC environment for apps not yet Intel-friendly, but there will be a performance hit as part of the bargain , and there may be some flakiness.The bottom line: if you don `t have to upgrade rigth this second, you `ll probably want to wait for another few motnhs until your favorite apps have been updated to handle the new Intel Processors.
To make sure the transition goes as smootly as possible, Apple has provided tools for software developers for compilation of software into both powerPC and Intel versions, to make sure all newly released software will be universal.The upside of this is that software developers will continue to be able to support Mac uesrs who haven``t made the change to the new Intel-Based systems.
One downside of the move to intel processors is that MAC OS 9 support is now being phased out.It was nice while it lasted...
Source: HUB magasine.
- Schwarz