Apple's Intel Transition

Apr 22, 2024
54 mins

Episode Description

Apple helped develop PowerPC processors as competition against Intel in the 1990s, but by the early 2000s, the architecture was falling behind. Apple's switch to Intel x86 processors revived its Mac computers, kicked off the Hackintosh era, and made AMD jealous.

Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Cody Toombs.

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Videos:
https://archive.org/details/wwdc-2005

Sources:
https://lowendmac.com/1998/powerpc-vs-pentium-ii-escargot/
https://lowendmac.com/2014/cpus-powerpc-604-and-604e/
https://lowendmac.com/2015/cpus-powerpc-g5/
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2003/06/23Apple-Unleashes-the-Worlds-Fastest-Personal-Computer-the-Power-Mac-G5/
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2004/06/09Apple-Unveils-New-Power-Mac-G5-Line/
https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/apple-on-g5-powerbook-not-so-fast/
https://www.macworld.com/article/174337/pbg5-2.html
https://www.cnet.com/science/amd-says-intel-only-deal-struck-at-apple-in-2005/
https://www.macstories.net/stories/this-is-not-a-product-the-apple-developer-transition-kit/
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2006/05/16Apple-Unveils-New-MacBook-Featuring-Intel-Core-Duo-Processors/
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2006/01/10Apple-Unveils-New-iMac-with-Intel-Core-Duo-Processor/
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2006/02/28Apple-Unveils-Mac-mini-with-Intel-Core-Duo/
https://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,261038,261270
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2006/01/10Apple-Introduces-MacBook-Pro/
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2006/05/16Apple-Unveils-New-MacBook-Featuring-Intel-Core-Duo-Processors/
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2007/12/santa-rosa-macbook-review/
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2006/08/macpro/
https://www.macworld.com/article/666300/15-inch-macbook-pro-2006-review.html
https://www.wired.com/2005/08/mac-hacks-allow-os-x-on-pcs-2/
https://www.anandtech.com/show/7204/ibm-offers-power-technology-for-licensing-forms-openpower-consortium
https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/17/ibm_t7nm_power10/

Chapters:
0:00:00 Intro
0:00:48 The PowerPC era
0:12:00 The Intel announcement
0:23:01 Apple Developer Transition Kit
0:26:03 The Intel Macs
0:35:51 The reviews
0:40:34 Hackintosh PCs
0:44:49 AMD's complaints
0:47:36 Farewell to PowerPC
0:50:28 PowerPC after Apple
0:53:16 Outro
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