Apple welcomes
Intel to Macpower
(The Gamecock) (U-WIRE) COLUMBIA, S.C. -- 2006 is
set to start out with a bang for Apple Computer, as Apple CEO Steve Jobs
announced the initial roll-out of the first Intel-based iMac at last week's
Macworld Conference & Expo.
In his annual keynote address at the San Francisco-based conference, Jobs touted the power of the new Intel iMacs as "two to three times faster" than the current generation of iMacs with the IBM/Motorola PowerPC processor. Jobs then proceeded to explain to the audience the benchmarks between PowerPC-based iMacs and the Intel-based iMac. The numbers show a considerable difference in power between the two computers.
Many probably wonder what kind of Intel processor has the ability to outperform the PowerPC processor. Intel's new Core Duo processor is set to be standard on every new Mac. The Core Duo processor is actually two processors on one chip. What does this mean for the user? In theory, one processor can be dedicated to running the Mac OS X Tiger operating system, while the other processor can be dedicated to running software. This kind of chip allows for maximum power and ability at all times.
The question on many computer users' minds has been "What does this change do for me?" Computer enthusiasts and analysts wonder, "What does this change do for Apple?"
Power has certainly been an issue with Apple for the last several years, as Intel and AMD-based Windows PCs have been burning through Macs in processor numbers. Apple executives were themselves aware of this fact, and viewed it as a thorn in their side.
At last year's Worldwide Developers Conference, Jobs noted the promise he made two years prior at the same conference where he said the company would deliver a 3.0GHz G5 computer within 12 months. Those 12 months came and went, but Apple was never able to deliver on that promise. Jobs also noted that the future of PowerPC architecture looked too hazy for Apple, and so the alliance between Intel and Apple was born. Jobs also promised everyone that the roll-out of these new Macs would begin in June 2006. With last week's MacWorld announcement, the new Macs have arrived almost six months earlier than expected.
Apple hopes that users of the new iMac will notice a considerable difference in performance. The new iMac is being released in two different models: a 17-inch model with a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor, and a 20-inch Model with a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor; the models will cost $1299 and $1699, respectively.
Laptop users aren't getting left out in the cold either, as Apple also announced the coming of an Intel-based laptop dubbed the MacBook Pro. While these new laptops weren't ready out of the gate like the new Macs, Jobs said that the new laptops would be ready for a February release. The Apple Web site is already taking preorders for users who can't wait to buy the new laptop.
Apple noted that the MacBook Pro is four to five times faster than the PowerBook.
The MacBook Pro comes with many of the standard software and hardware items that come with an iMac, such as the Apple Remote and built-in iSight webcam. As does the iMac, the MacBook Pro comes in two models: a 15.4-inch screen with 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo processor, priced at $1999, and a 15.4-inch screen with a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor, priced at $2499.
What do all these changes mean for Apple's business model? Business analysts around the world watched Apple's stock climb rapidly after Jobs' keynote speech. On January 10th, Apple's stock was trading well above the $80 mark, and by the end of the day on January 11th, the stock had climbed to near $85.
Apple hopes to claim more market share in the lucrative computer industry with the introduction of the Intel-based Macs. In an interview with the Newsweek magazine website, Jobs quoted Apple's market share to be around 5 percent. Jobs also hopes to convince enough Windows users to switch to Macs that Apple will double its market share.
� : d r �1� �� pe� ? a �1� �� s purchased worldwide, said IDC.
Yet Apple's users, who tend to work in creative professions like design, are seen as highly influential in the computer industry, and Jobs has been steering the company to try to take advantage of the blend between entertainment and technology. Its iPod reaped 23.4 percent of the revenue from all digital music players from March 2002 to February 2003, though it sold only 10.7 percent of the units, according to the NPD Group, a market research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y.
Apple yesterday also unveiled three iPods, priced between $299 and $499, that are thinner and lighter than previous models but hold more songs. Similar to plans for the Music Store, the iPod first catered only to Apple users but is now Windows-compatible.
Yet even with the success of the iPod, Tim Bajarian, an analyst with Creative Strategies Inc. in San Jose, Calif., said Apple's foray into digital music had lacked a "services business" -- one with a steady revenue stream but without the expense of building computer hardware.
Said Roger Kay, an analyst with IDC: "To package it this way gives them the opportunity to address a potentially large market with not a lot of risk."
Jobs said Apple began discussing a music service with music publishers 18 months ago. The computer maker has reportedly explored buying Universal Music Group, a record label owned by Vivendi. Apple has denied that it made an offer for Universal but would not comment on reports that it had discussed such a deal.
Apple also would not discuss the terms of its agreements with the music industry yesterday, but McNealy predicted that Apple could reap as much as 30 percent of the revenue from each song it sells.
To see more of The Boston Globe, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.boston.com/globe
In his annual keynote address at the San Francisco-based conference, Jobs touted the power of the new Intel iMacs as "two to three times faster" than the current generation of iMacs with the IBM/Motorola PowerPC processor. Jobs then proceeded to explain to the audience the benchmarks between PowerPC-based iMacs and the Intel-based iMac. The numbers show a considerable difference in power between the two computers.
Many probably wonder what kind of Intel processor has the ability to outperform the PowerPC processor. Intel's new Core Duo processor is set to be standard on every new Mac. The Core Duo processor is actually two processors on one chip. What does this mean for the user? In theory, one processor can be dedicated to running the Mac OS X Tiger operating system, while the other processor can be dedicated to running software. This kind of chip allows for maximum power and ability at all times.
The question on many computer users' minds has been "What does this change do for me?" Computer enthusiasts and analysts wonder, "What does this change do for Apple?"
Power has certainly been an issue with Apple for the last several years, as Intel and AMD-based Windows PCs have been burning through Macs in processor numbers. Apple executives were themselves aware of this fact, and viewed it as a thorn in their side.
At last year's Worldwide Developers Conference, Jobs noted the promise he made two years prior at the same conference where he said the company would deliver a 3.0GHz G5 computer within 12 months. Those 12 months came and went, but Apple was never able to deliver on that promise. Jobs also noted that the future of PowerPC architecture looked too hazy for Apple, and so the alliance between Intel and Apple was born. Jobs also promised everyone that the roll-out of these new Macs would begin in June 2006. With last week's MacWorld announcement, the new Macs have arrived almost six months earlier than expected.
Apple hopes that users of the new iMac will notice a considerable difference in performance. The new iMac is being released in two different models: a 17-inch model with a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor, and a 20-inch Model with a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor; the models will cost $1299 and $1699, respectively.
Laptop users aren't getting left out in the cold either, as Apple also announced the coming of an Intel-based laptop dubbed the MacBook Pro. While these new laptops weren't ready out of the gate like the new Macs, Jobs said that the new laptops would be ready for a February release. The Apple Web site is already taking preorders for users who can't wait to buy the new laptop.
Apple noted that the MacBook Pro is four to five times faster than the PowerBook.
The MacBook Pro comes with many of the standard software and hardware items that come with an iMac, such as the Apple Remote and built-in iSight webcam. As does the iMac, the MacBook Pro comes in two models: a 15.4-inch screen with 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo processor, priced at $1999, and a 15.4-inch screen with a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor, priced at $2499.
What do all these changes mean for Apple's business model? Business analysts around the world watched Apple's stock climb rapidly after Jobs' keynote speech. On January 10th, Apple's stock was trading well above the $80 mark, and by the end of the day on January 11th, the stock had climbed to near $85.
Apple hopes to claim more market share in the lucrative computer industry with the introduction of the Intel-based Macs. In an interview with the Newsweek magazine website, Jobs quoted Apple's market share to be around 5 percent. Jobs also hopes to convince enough Windows users to switch to Macs that Apple will double its market share.
� : d r �1� �� pe� ? a �1� �� s purchased worldwide, said IDC.
Yet Apple's users, who tend to work in creative professions like design, are seen as highly influential in the computer industry, and Jobs has been steering the company to try to take advantage of the blend between entertainment and technology. Its iPod reaped 23.4 percent of the revenue from all digital music players from March 2002 to February 2003, though it sold only 10.7 percent of the units, according to the NPD Group, a market research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y.
Apple yesterday also unveiled three iPods, priced between $299 and $499, that are thinner and lighter than previous models but hold more songs. Similar to plans for the Music Store, the iPod first catered only to Apple users but is now Windows-compatible.
Yet even with the success of the iPod, Tim Bajarian, an analyst with Creative Strategies Inc. in San Jose, Calif., said Apple's foray into digital music had lacked a "services business" -- one with a steady revenue stream but without the expense of building computer hardware.
Said Roger Kay, an analyst with IDC: "To package it this way gives them the opportunity to address a potentially large market with not a lot of risk."
Jobs said Apple began discussing a music service with music publishers 18 months ago. The computer maker has reportedly explored buying Universal Music Group, a record label owned by Vivendi. Apple has denied that it made an offer for Universal but would not comment on reports that it had discussed such a deal.
Apple also would not discuss the terms of its agreements with the music industry yesterday, but McNealy predicted that Apple could reap as much as 30 percent of the revenue from each song it sells.
To see more of The Boston Globe, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.boston.com/globe
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