Where did we go right?

I was n’t working in the Mac game when Apple move from 680X0 chips to PowerPC CPU . But the grizzled veterans who were here assure me that it was simply horrific . Iwasaround for the OS 9 - to - OS 10 changeover , and that did n’t strike me as in particular pleasant . I think back establish Mac OS X not long after its March 2001 sacking — and shift back to OS 9 just as shortly as the organisation preferences let me . It was n’t until OS X 10.1 come around in September of that year that I began using OS X in earnest — and it really was n’t until 10.2 issue forth out about a year later that I really felt prosperous with the new OS .

The lesson of this promenade down not - so - happy store lane : applied science conversion be given to be nasty , brutal , and not nearly as short as you would prefer . I have n’t seen one yet where all but the hardiest , most venturous soul had to be dragged kicking and scream into the future .

At least , Ihadn’tseen a changeover like that until Apple decided to make the substitution to Intel - supplied processors .

Elsewhere on this site , my colleague Jim Dalrymple attempt to get hold out how the Intel transition is go a year after Apple annunciate the move . The answer : swimmingly , at least if you talk to developer and analysts . And it ’s hard to argufy the point .

After all , every bit of Apple computer hardware , hold open for the Xserve and whatever pro desktop will replace the Power Mac , now run on an Intel C.P.U. . A whole mess of covering already extend natively on Intel - based Macs , with a bunch more expect in the wing . for certain , you get a end of the world - and - gloom author sound off about the pace at which high - visibility Universal binaries are appearing every now and again , but for the most part , the retiring year has been perceptibly miss theSturm und Drangthat normally accompanies these sorts of migrations .

Just off the top of my head , I can think of three reasons why Apple ’s transition is going so well .

A year ago , we peach to a mediocre amount of Mac user about the Intel transition . And while there was a noticeable level of trepidation among some users , the world-wide consensus seemed to be : If I can sit around down at a reckoner and do what I want to do without any singultus or break , I really do n’t carewhatkind of cow dung is inside my Mac . And that ’s what Apple , Intel , and the software developer have managed to deliver — I can sit down in front of a MacBook Pro and get the same experience that I would from a PowerBook G4 , save for the built - in iSight camera staring back at me . PowerPC or Intel Core Duo buffalo chip , I ’m still using a Mac .

And that ’s why the Intel transition has rifle as swimmingly as it has .