Apple ’s conclusion to substitute PowerPC chips with processors from Intel may have long - full term benefits for both the company and its client . But the central processor electric switch could potentially hurt close - full term hardware sales , if the attitude of those survey in the Macworld Reader Panel are any indication of what Mac drug user are thinking .
ask how Apple ’s decision to change chip suppliers could affect their determination to buy a unexampled Mac in the next 12 months , a third of the 414 panelists appraise by market - research firm Karlin Associates say they would belesslikely to make that purchase .
The study was convey between June 15 and June 17 , a piddling more than a hebdomad after the Worldwide Developers Conference tonic where Apple CEO Steve Jobs foretell his company ’s fresh partnership with Intel . During that speech , Jobs also suppose the first Macs powered by Intel - built chips would appear in 2006 , with the conversion complete by 2007 .
That two - twelvemonth crack between Jobs ’ initial announcement and the pass completion of the Intel transition get one of the with child risk of infection for Apple — how does the party win over Mac user to keep buy newfangled hardware if Intel - power machine are just on the horizon ? And the 33 percentage of respondents who identify themselves as less inclined to buy a fresh Mac in the next 12 months indicate that challenge is a very material concern for Apple .
“ I was plan to upgrade my office with the non - existent PowerBook G5 and home organization with a dual-2.7GHz tower , ” said one respondent who described himself as rag by the news . “ So now I ’m in the lunge , especially when there are no Modern simple machine ready . ”
“ My concern after already purchasing a Power Mac G5 this year [ is ] will Apple carry on to make software program updates [ so ] that I can get four to five days of life out of my motorcar like I plan ? ” another respondent asked .
Still , the results of the Macworld Reader Panel survey do offer some comfort for Apple . A bulk of the lector surveyed said the switch to Intel chips would n’t affect their purchase plans over the next 12 months at all . Another 13 percent said they were more inclined to buy a Mac in that meter frame .
“ My next Mac will probably still be PowerPC[-based ] just so I do n’t have to elevate my current software , ” enounce a respondent who is more likely to buy a Mac this yr .
The reluctance of some Mac exploiter to buy young ironware before Intel chips make their Mac entry could be related to the perceived speed and monetary value benefits of a “ Macintel ” computer . Eighteen percent of the panelists surveyed believe Macs with Intel chips will be dissolute than ones using PowerPC mainframe ; another 15 percent expect the Intel machines to be flashy . And 29 percent said they believe Intel - based Macs will be both faster and cheaper than their PowerPC counterparts .
“ If it brings us quicker , cheaper machine that I can yield on my teacher salary with trivial problems , I think it will be terrific , ” a reader said . “ If not , what ’s the sense in changing a good matter ? ”
disregarding of the perceived welfare of an Intel switching , Mac users are not expecting an whole hitch - gratis transition . Two - third of the panelist surveyed anticipate some bumps in the move to Intel chips , though nothing serious . Another 26 percent require more problems , but trust the transition will be made successfully . Only 4 percent are await a disorderly transition .
“ I mean Apple may have underestimated the challenge of the transition , ” a respondent say . “ Not all apps will demand only a tweak and a recompile . ”
Other panelists were more convinced . “ I do n’t think it ’s as great a deal as the Mac community seems to be portraying it , ” one articulate . “ For me , as long as my Mac continue to move like a Mac , I do n’t worry who supplies the insides . ”
