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eWeek has a report on an Apple project called "Marklar," which is tasked with maintaining an Intel-compatible, "feature-complete" version of OS X. This report comes as a small but vocal chorus calls on Apple to make the switch to x86 processors and end once-and-for-all the megahertz gap, as well as the perceived notion that Macs and by extension the Mac OS is inferior. According to unnamed sources cited by eWeek, over a dozen engineers are assigned to Marklar and that the PowerPC version is regularly modified to address bugs that crop up in the x86 versions. Moreover, build numbers are kept sync with those of their pre-release PowerPC counterparts -- i.e. there is an Intel compatible version of Jaguar already up and running. Deep roots A number of commentators, in addition to eWeek, have noted that the Mac's ties to the PowerPC platform are more than skin deep. Although the X is in many respects a specialized version of BSD (i.e. NeXT) that was designed to run on Intel-compatible hardware, the beast that is Jaguar is specifically optimized for G4 chips, Mac-specific graphic cards, etc. These differences among others rule out any short-term migration to abundant and cheap PC hardware. Further, third-party software would need to be completely rewritten to run under MacOS non-PPC boxes. With the transition to X far from complete -- remember only 5 percent of us have switched -- any move by Apple at this point would likely result in a mass desertion from the platform. Software vendors have invested a great deal in X-compatible software and have seen disappointing sales thereof thus far (i.e. M$' Kevin Browne whining slow Office sales and Apple's lack of effort in pushing the new OS). The final word on the topic comes from Jobs himself. In an interview shortly after Macworld New York, the iCEO informed the world that Apple wouldn't consider a switch to PC hardware until the transition to X is complete. How long will the transition take? Likely two to three years and that's an optimistic assessment. Big Blue to the rescue? According to unnamed sources quoted by eWeek, the likeliest solution to the Motorola imbroglio is a desktop version of the 64-bit Power4 server chip in the works at IBM, which already makes the G3 chips used in current iBooks. Apple and IBM reportedly are working closely to build Altivec-enhanced Power4 CPUs. IBM had previously announced that it would not build Altivec PowerPC CPUs. However, in the company's more recent Power4 press release, the company did say that the new CPUs would include 200-odd multimedia-specific processing enhancements, which smells tellingly like a "velocity engine." Whatever plans Apple and IBM have (if any) they won't be revealed for some time. Big Blue will announce details about Power4 processors at this Fall's (Oct) processor forum, but it's unlikely shipping product will be available at that time let alone any information on their use in future Macs. Final word(s) That Apple is and has been working on an x86-compatible version of X isn't news. That the effort is known internally as "Marklar" and that current builds match those of its PowerPC cousin is new information. To sum up, Mac on x86 isn't likely any time in the foreseeable future and any speculation about Apple switching to IBM's Power4 won't be confirmed or discounted for at least six weeks. Titillating situation, isn't it? What's your take?
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