Shark Bait

Knowledge Centers

Operating Systems

Networking & Internet

Mobile & Wireless

Security

Storage

Business Intelligence

Servers & Data Center

Computerworld Reports

Industry

See your link here

Seth Weintraub

Apple versus Google

Intel-ARM hybrid Mac coming?

10 comments

TAGS:Arm, hybrid, iPhone, Pegatron
IT TOPICS:Macintosh & Apple, Mobile & Wireless, Personal Technology

I've talked a lot here before on how I think that, with the purchase of PA Semi, Apple has long term plans to ratchet up its ARM usage. One such usage, or transition, would be employing a hybrid ARM/Intel architecture for the Macintosh portable line. Why would Apple do this?

First of all, the idea didn't hit me out of the blue. Warren East, ARM's CEO, revealed that Dell and unnamed others are building hybrid PCs that have two modes: A mobile phone-like mode where you can do email and web browsing on very little power. Then you can turn on the main CPU and have "Big Windows" mode that acts like a regular PC.

Not a bad idea, if a bit complicated. But more importantly, if Dell is doing this, why wouldn't Apple, who bought an alleged ARM license with PA Semi and has an ARM OS (iPhone OSX) with a lucrative App Store waiting in the wings? Imagine being able to run an iPod touch OS for three days on your MacBook on one charge instead of running full Mac OSX Leopard.

This hybrid system could also allow Apple to enforce some additional security on their OS. It could eliminate the ability of Hackintoshes to run Mac OSX by requiring a special PASemi ARM chip to work properly. This wouldn't be an immediate fix, Apple has a lot of legacy hardware that will need to be supported. But over the course of a few years, it could better tie the OS to the Mac hardware.

Realistically though, it would be preparing Apple's low power machines to go to ARM processors from Intel. Pegatron (a spinoff of ASUS - of EEE fame) already has a Netbook based on an ARM Cortex processor - the TI OMAP 3 series and using Ubuntu Linux. This product is supposed to sell for $200 My understanding is that a few more vendors will be shipping similar products based on ARM Cortex A8 processors and running Android OS in the coming months.

If Apple wants to enter this low power game, perhaps the best way to do so is with a hybrid setup.

But then again, this is all just wild-guessing and wishful thinking.

Email this

Digg this

What People Are Saying

Add new comment

Hackintosh Limitations

Submitted by Joe Cassara on February 23, 2009 - 7:01 A.M.

Certainly interesting speculation. Reminds me of the Commodore 128, which had both a 8510 for 128/64 mode, and a Z80 for CP/M programs.

One hitch regarding killing the Hackintoshers: Apple does allow for OS X Server virtualization on any hardware you choose, which means VM developers would have to license whatever lock/key security tricks Apple would implement, or Apple perhaps would not institute such a mechanism in OS X Server. Hackintoshers might (begrudgingly) pay the premium for that version.

Reply | Report this comment

This is the greatest

Submitted by Anonymous on February 12, 2009 - 4:46 A.M.

This is the greatest nonsense I´ve ever heard and it remembers me on the bad and not very successful idea of Side Show which disappeard completely in the meantime.

Who on earth with at least a little brain will have a operating system, which is optimized for small touch screen devices, on a regular notebook when you can use the same functionallty with your iphone or ipod.

And a second device will be much cheaper as a hybrid chip design and a large touchscreen in every Apple Notebook.

Reply | Report this comment

Hi...

Submitted by ZinkDifferent on February 12, 2009 - 3:40 A.M.

"I'm Seth Weintraub.......and I'm high as a kite."

'nuff said!

Reply | Report this comment

This is a good idea.

Submitted by ibookboyuk on February 11, 2009 - 9:00 P.M.

This is a good idea. Sometimes it's all about choice, like when there's no power supply available. I see what is being said about lost revenue, but this dual chip boot idea thing could happen.

Reply | Report this comment

Maybe this is one of the

Submitted by M. on February 11, 2009 - 11:22 A.M.

Maybe this is one of the reasons why Snow Leopard is being trimmed down with many of it's apps like quicktime.

Think of that Mactablet thing with dual boot OS, ARM processor + 32nm Core 2.

Make it 8 inches and I would've died and gone to heaven

Reply | Report this comment

Intel-ARM Macs would be great!

Submitted by James Katt on February 11, 2009 - 11:21 A.M.

Apple already uses two selectable GPUs on the MacBook Pro. Thus saving money is not the only reason to avoid using chips which do the same thing.

Mac OS X Snow Leopard has Grand Central - software which can coordinate different types of CPUs and GPUs easily.

Having customized hardware is the way to kill attempts to build illegitimate clones.

I wish Apple would also buy nVidia and make it a subsidiary. This way, nVidia can create custom chipsets for Apple and custom GPUs for Apple. This would be another way to stop clones.

Having Mac OS X check, register, and verify the serial number of the Mac with an online database at Apple would also be another way to help stop clones - particularly during updates.

Reply | Report this comment

Not for Apple users

Submitted by iphonerulez on February 11, 2009 - 10:58 A.M.

Apple wants you to buy two different devices in order to get maximum money from you. None of that hybri stuff. When you combine two platforms, you cut into other product lines which makes no sense at all when you're trying to maximize profits.

Reply | Report this comment

You are nuts!

Submitted by Anonymous on February 11, 2009 - 2:25 P.M.

First of all, my mac can already pretty much do whatever my iPod can do. Except for the app store--but why would I want to run a mini-screen iPod app on a 15 inch monitor.

....and do you really think that if you could run a tiny ipod app on your MacBook Pro you wouldn't need an iPod?

...oh, I get it, with a longer battery life, you'd be content to carry your MacBook pro in your pocket. I'm starting to agree, if Apple built iPod capabilities into a MacBook, the iPod market would suffer!

I think this article is silly and all the comments about it are too! I think you should all get on line at the nearest Apple store and wait for this exciting new device. Hold a place on line for me please!

Reply | Report this comment