Mac future proofing.

[crus]

Hi All,

my trusty 4 year old Apple laptop died,
I am looking to replace, but low and behold Apple have done a deal with Intel which means they are selling one product that they already state will not necessarily be compatible with future software, alongside one that is not neccessarily compatbible with existing software.

With substantial investment in current OS X based apps I am tempted to opt for a top spec Powerbook (17" 1gb stick and fast HD) and look to run that for 3 years. Then switching to an intel based machine.

I was wondering if anyone knows details on Adobe/Macromedia's upgrade path for products such as Studio 8, and the legacy support stratergy to deal with this, as well as other vendors.

Suggestions.

D

[Coding Monkey]

Where do you get the impression from that it isn't compatible? The difference is that an emulator, Rosetta, runs which means specific apps will not run at the full processing power. Over the next 12 months, every major application will be being converted to Universal, meaning it will run without Rosetta on Intel/G5 Macs. As for the time being, EVERY piece of software still works. If you require Photoshop etc now, than it might not be the best solution, yet when CS3 comes out, it will undoubtedly be Universal and the G5 is now dead.

[creacom]

Macbook Pro all the way...... Its certainly on my Spring shopping list.

G5s are great too. We have a couple of them in the office and even though we will have to upgrade soon for the Intel versions they run like a dream.

Jacqui

[crus]

Hi Tom,

thanks for making me look again, but having gone through
7 > 8,
8 > 9,
and the X classic kill off.

I find the following kinda concerning.

'When Mac technology makes something easy, it’s hardly news. So here’s more non-news for MacBook Pro owners: software just works. If you see the Universal logo on a new application, that means it will run on Intel- and PowerPC-based Mac computers. For most existing applications, you simply do what you’ve always done: double-click them. Thanks to the Rosetta technology in Mac OS X, they look and feel just like they did before '

the following sticks out.

'Universal logo on a new application, that means it will run on Intel- and PowerPC-based Mac computers.'

&

'For most existing'

I have not spent more than a short while looking at the sites of existing software expenditure for both Server and Client but I seem to have found a bit of a lack of info on this matter. which is strange as apple tends to seed its new software and hardware well in advance to developers.

Thats why I posted here.

Had a feeling it might get a response from the macster.

D

[crus]

Hi Creacom,

couldnt agree more, have had one of outr xserves stay up longer than the lease agreemtn lasted that it was bought on.

G5 xserve's by chance that you might be offf loading, if so PM me.

D

[Coding Monkey]

No probs.

Check this review on the iMac (http://www.macworld.com/2006/01/features/imaclabtest1/index.php) and make sure you go onto page 2 where it shows the difference using Rosetta.

[crus]

Good find,

so from what I gathered,
the new duos are not 64 bit!
Adobe wont be doing universal apps until late 2006, so next year realistically by the time you bug dodge.
Apples own software does not run natively.
And the concensus was that if you use your mac, go for a g5.

Interesting.

D

[crus]

http://macfixit.com/article.php?story=20060120075649292

studio runs sluggish, not good, probably the same for other apps like PS etc.

D

[Coding Monkey]

Apple's applications do run natively. The first page of that review are Universal tests on OS X. The next page are Rosetta tests. You can see the hugh speed difference. But, yes, they can't have made many friends. First Adobe upgrades their products to 64-bit, and now they're on Intel, they're going to have to modify everything.

[cjd]

Have you considered finally dropping Mac altogether?

I realise you'll have a lot invested in software and Mac knowledge base but the new AMD dual processors will run photoshop faster than anything Mac has now - natively or otherwise.

And although not as fast as AMD, the dual Intels will be the same even before Adobe write their applications to Intel's 'metal'.

Just a thought; I know you Mac guys are always open to new operating systems :twisted:

[crus]

good point cjd,

I almost feel I might as well switch the mac stuff back.

I run 98 XP OSX and unix all alonside each other.

Mac is just a nicer place to spend the time.

But, if it just ends up a Windows variant whats the point? (I guess they are trying to make it easier for programmers to port code so that customers will shift and keep their favourite apps.)

I can see another Non apple made hardware balls up coming!

D

[Rob Holmes]

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