PPC 970 'closer than previously thought'


Forbes.com's "People Watch" online column re-iterates the rumor that Apple will adopt IBM's 970 processor in upcoming Macs.

Here's a quote of the relevant bit:

"And speaking of Steve Jobs, rumors are starting to build that Apple Computer (nasdaq: AAPL -news -people ) is closer than previously thought to releasing a computer with a new chip produced by IBM (nyse: IBM -news -people ), which we first reported here in October 2002. The chip in question is the IBM Power PC 970, and while IBM wouldn't come right out and say so, it has been clear for some time that the chip is being aimed squarely at making Apple a big customer of IBM chips."

Nothing new?

Although this snippet doesn't present any new information, it's heartening that this "rumor" is being repeated by a source known for a better grade of reportage. Also, I will posit that Forbes is repeating information it has gleaned from its professional sources and not the Mac rumor web.

As entertaining as the rumor mill can be, it's not a very good measure of what actually is going to happen in the Mac universe.