[iBook] Re: Apple Announces Intel MacBook Pro

[Angus Wallace]

You might be right about dual booting, but I'm fairly certain one could do
something better than that.

There's an open source program called QEMU that emulates an x86 (PC) processor,
so that one can install Windows on Mac (PowerPC). It's a bit like virtual PC,
and it takes a big performance hit because it has to emulate the processor.

The same program exists for Linux, but because it is running natively on the
'correct' processor, it doesn't take this performance hit. My understanding is
that QEMU in this case can run at greater than 75% of system speed (contrast
with VirtualPC on Mac which runs at about 25% system speed) *. With Mac now
using these chips too, I think it should be possible for us to have access to
such a system, if we want it. 

Of course, then you have to put up with Windows... :-)

-Gus

* these numbers are almost entirely made-up. But, it's *heaps* faster to run
QEMU on x86 Linux then PPC Mac...



Quoting "jrag_1999 at yverizon.net" <jrag_1999 at verizon.net>:

> Are we sure that there will be a new ibook or is the MacBook taking the
> place of both line of notebooks?
> 
> 
> Also, these intel macs will not be running windows according to this:
> 
> http://www.betanews.com/article/XP_Wont_Run_on_Intel_MacBook_iMac/1137003330
> 
> With the announcement of the first Intel based Macs yesterday, many users
> have rejoiced in being able to dual-boot both Mac OS X and Windows.
> Unfortunately, this is not the case; due to Apple's use of the extensible
> firmware interface (EFI) rather than BIOS, current Windows releases will not
> run on the systems. [...] 
>   With the switch to Intel processors, Apple also moved from Open Firmware
> to EFI, which is an updated BIOS specification developed by Intel. Advanced
> features include the ability to boot into an EFI shell and run diagnostics
> and power up the CPU into a fully functional state immediately. [...] 
>   Intel initially deployed EFI as part of its Itanium architecture. As such,
> Microsoft only included support for the BIOS replacement in its IA64 and
> later x64 operating systems. While Microsoft plans to add EFI support in
> 32-bit versions of Windows Vista, a final release isn't due until the end of
> the year. 
>   Microsoft's 64-bit versions of Windows will also not work despite
> supporting EFI, because Apple's Intel platform is strictly 32-bit at the
> moment. 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ibook-bounces at listserver.themacintoshguy.com
> [mailto:ibook-bounces at listserver.themacintoshguy.com] On Behalf Of NM.
> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 6:31 PM
> To: ibook at listserver.themacintoshguy.com
> Subject: [iBook] Re: Apple Announces Intel MacBook Pro
> 
> I'm excited about the new MacBook, but not the name. "MacBook" doesn't
> seem to roll off the tongue like PowerBook does (did?) People have
> told me that it was renamed out of respect for the PowerBooks, but I
> have trouble seeing it that way. The PowerBook name has been in the
> family for 16 years now, since October 1991 with the original
> PowerBook 100. Since then, it has been on every portable (save the
> beloved iBook) up until now. That includes the transition from 68k to
> PPC, so why not PPC to x86?
> 
> First the Happy Mac on bootup, then the PowerPC chip, now the
> PowerBook name ... what will become of it all? (^;
> 
> I sincerely hope they do not rename the iBook. If it becomes the
> "iMacBook" I'm going to throw myself off a bridge!
> 
> Yours in sarcasm,
> _nickm
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> 
> Listmom is trying to clean out his closets! Vintage Mac and random stuff:
>          http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmacguy1984
> 
> 
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> 
> Listmom is trying to clean out his closets! Vintage Mac and random stuff:
>          http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmacguy1984
>