Apple inside: the significance of the iPad's A4 chip

[Jimmypoo]

cbelt3 wrote:
It's been YEARS since a 'computer maker' made the CPU and the computer itself. Interesting...

and between ARMs and LEGs and other parts, pretty soon we'll have the cyborg to fulfill the Terminator destiny!! Cool!

[Jem]

I was wondering what this holds in store for the MacBook Air. It is the closest thing Apple has to a NetBook. Will they discontinue it? Perhaps develop a variant of the A4 powerful enough to work in a MacBook Air, but cheap enough to significantly lower the price to near iPad range?

I understand that running standard (Intel Code) apps on the ARM chip would prove a significant obstacle, but if it could be done, it might also serve to stymie those who hope to continue to setup rogue Netbooks based on the current Intel MacBook Air Architecture. Do away with the MBA as we know it, and make that much harder ANY non-Apple Netbooks since Apple holds the keys to the A4.

It might just be that Apple simply gets rid of the MBA anyway... having seen it as a stopgap measure before the iPad could be released.

[RAMd®d]

I was wondering what this holds in store for the MacBook Air.

I've been thinking the same thing.

I really like the idea of the MBA, but with it's relatively low powered processor, I think the 'Pad encroaches on it's turf somewhat.

But the MBA runs a full OSX, so I'd like to see it beefed up a little.

[Jimmypoo]

I just read up on the simple coding requirements for the ARM.

I found that if I use my HAND - it really helps! Also... add a PENCIL with an ERASER.

I don't understand why they even need engineers for this crap! It's all just random 1's and 0's!!

Look!

001010100100100100100100100101 <---- I'm writing code! With 2 HANDS attached to ARMs!


for those in need - I have a HAND for sale below!

[Mini 9]

A recent "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" also demonstrated one needs ELBOWs, too. ()

[OWC Jamie]

Jimmypoo wrote:
I just read up on the simple coding requirements for the ARM.

I found that if I use my HAND - it really helps! Also... add a PENCIL with an ERASER.

I don't understand why they even need engineers for this crap! It's all just random 1's and 0's!!

Look!

001010100100100100100100100101 <---- I'm writing code! With 2 HANDS attached to ARMs!


for those in need - I have a HAND for sale below!

slightly used ?
you've had that thing forever:http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,1121

[Jimmypoo]

Ya got me!

But it's only been used for programming - plus whatever happened that night.

[Lew Zealand]

RAMd®d wrote:
I was wondering what this holds in store for the MacBook Air.

I've been thinking the same thing.

I really like the idea of the MBA, but with it's relatively low powered processor, I think the 'Pad encroaches on it's turf somewhat.

But the MBA runs a full OSX, so I'd like to see it beefed up a little.

The MBa is low powered, as compared to the iPad? Not even close.

The MBA will run rings around the iPad. It has a 1.8-2.2 GHz Core2 Duo with a 1067 bus speed and 2GB built-in RAM. The iPad has a low-power 1GHz single core chip of unknown provenance with what will probably be slower memory speed and certainly lower RAM capacity.

[Panopticon]

cbelt3 wrote:
It's been YEARS since a 'computer maker' made the CPU and the computer itself. Interesting...

Ever seen a Sun Microsystems UltraSPARC T1, T2, T2+, or T3 {latest model} ??

Now we know why Apple purchased PA Semi {$278M April 2008} :thumbsup:
Question is, who is actually fabbing the chip?

[RAMd®d]

The MBa is low powered, as compared to the iPad? Not even close.

And what you inferred isn't even close to what I said.

The MBA *is* low-powered. That's not just about the processor, but the pokey HD as well. Nobody comments on how fast it is. But a lot of people comment on how slow it is. Now if one wants to pop for an SSD, that's a little different story.

And you're making a huge assumption about the speed of the iPad, not that I was comparing the two. But in contrast, so far nobody who's used the 'iPad said it was slow. In fact, almost everybody raved about how fast the thing is.

A lot of people want to travel with a device and I say a number of them chose the MBA because they viewed it as Apple's netbook, even though Apple didn't. Those people didn't/don't really need a full fledged computer but in the light/small/Apple dept. that's the MBA.

So I think the iPad, especially with a ten-hour or so battery life will satisfy some of those people who would consider an MBA for the size and weight. The iPad won't satisfy those who need a "real computer" but it very may well work for those who only thought they needed a real computer.

So I still say that the iPad encroaches on it's turf somewhat.