PowerPC 970 Won't Save Company: "Apple in Long-Term Decline"


Apple is in "long-term decline" as more Macintosh users switch to Windows, claims a Geek.com writer [attrib: The Inquirer], who attended the Microprocessor Forum recently, where IBM took the wraps off its latest processor designs.

The author states that the consensus among attendees, both hardware and software developers, was that Apple was in "perhaps terminal decline". A commentary at The Inquirer also cites the opinion of Gartner analysts, who recently argued that hybrid 64/32-bit chips were "doomed" to market failure.

The Geek.com story says that only "insanely-great" products will save Apple. The article also discusses the development of 20 stage pipelines, and the importance of embedded processors and power consumption for high-power CPUs.

Analysis: Atypical FUD, given that the author cites no statistics to back up his claim that Mac users are "switching to Windows." Apple claims on the most recent evidence from its Retail Stores that around 11% of visitors currently do not own a Mac. This may mean they used to or they own no computer, but a fair slice must be Windows switchers.

64-bit processors may not be the nirvana PowerPC was thought to be in 1994, but they provide Apple with a powerful alternative to the current range of Motorola processors and they are backed up by the considerable R&D and marketing power of Big Blue. Should Apple adopt the 970, Apple will, at the very least, be giving its core pro markets the CPU power they are demanding.

There's an old saying in the PC industry: In 1985, Apple was going out of business. In 1996, Apple was going out of business. In 2020, Apple will still be going out of business.