Apple Intel Switch, and Linux

[Tommaso]

Just a simple question about apple's intel switch. Will these new intel processors be compatible with the standard i386 linux or will distro developers continue to have to offer special mac iso's (which i have heard are more problematic than i386 downloads)?

How about hardware support? If standard i386 isos will work on macs, will the linux hardware detection of mac's components prove effeicient, or will alot of the hardware require addition drivers or even be unsupported?

Oh, and are macs actually going to become cheaper, and if so, by how much. If they become cheaper, and they can run linux well, then i might go for a mac laptop in the future.

[techieMoe]

Just a simple question about apple's intel switch. Will these new intel processors be compatible with the standard i386 linux or will distro developers continue to have to offer special mac iso's (which i have heard are more problematic than i386 downloads)?

Although the software and OSes *should* work, the problem is the new type of BIOS that these computers use, called EFI. It is not currently compatible with existing OSes other than Mac OS X. Redhat is working on a project to get their distribution working with it, but as far as I know they're the only ones.

How about hardware support? If standard i386 isos will work on macs, will the linux hardware detection of mac's components prove effeicient, or will alot of the hardware require addition drivers or even be unsupported?

That depends less on Linux and more on the hardware Apple uses. If they use industry standard hardware that has Linux drivers, then their devices will work in Linux. If they use new bleeding-edge hardware (as they've been known to do) then no.

Oh, and are macs actually going to become cheaper, and if so, by how much. If they become cheaper, and they can run linux well, then i might go for a mac laptop in the future.

Are you kidding? Apple is very proud of all their products, and I don't see that trend changing.

[sbn]

Hi, just wanted to add that I read just a few days ago about this issue in an article on CNET. TechieMoe, in the article I learned that Gateway actually has/had some of their computers running with the EFI and not the old BIOS. The implications was that yes a customised boot record needed to be made for Windows to be loaded, but according to the Gateway person interviewed this was a non-issue.

I think it will only be a matter of time before we see a "hacked" version that allows the Apple OS to be installed on a typical computer. Vice versa I have seen somewhere where Red Hat is readying a release to allow for dual booting Linux on a new intel Mac.

[Tommaso]

As, usual, thanks for the reply techimoe.

Are you kidding? Apple is very proud of all their products, and I don't see that trend changing.

I am assuming that means that you think that they are going to remain higher priced. I don't know, but, i heard the the new processors will cost mac less to make, and this will lead to cheaper products. I guess only time can tell.

I also wonder if redhat will extend their new mac compatible option to Fedora Core when it comes out. Why is redhat the only one developing this? Are other distro's trying to avoid macintosh compatibility altogether, or are they just a little overwhelmed now?

[SpaceSquad]

I have heard that at least the iBooks will be coming down in price. They are currently starting at $1250 CAD ($999 USD), and are supposedly gonna fall down to almost $999 CAD.

It would make sense, the new intel chips are less expensive than the G4s were.

[chopin1810]

I am assuming that means that you think that they are going to remain higher priced. I don't know, but, i heard the the new processors will cost mac less to make, and this will lead to cheaper products. I guess only time can tell.

They probably will. Although, just because Apple is spending less money itself doesn't mean that they will charge you less. In fact, they'd end up with a larger profit margin if they used Intel chips and kept their prices the same. Although, I certainly wouldn't mind a price drop, I've been waiting to buy a Mac for years now.

I also wonder if redhat will extend their new mac compatible option to Fedora Core when it comes out.

Definately. It would be a huge big change that could cause drastic instability on your comupter. Which are the changes RedHat usually likes to screw over Fedora users on before they make them available to their priviledged customers.

[Tommaso]

Definately. It would be a huge big change that could cause drastic instability on your comupter. Which are the changes RedHat usually likes to screw over Fedora users on before they make them available to their priviledged customers.

Now this is good news for me, i am still a newb, i have slightly unstable hardware (its really old), and maybe i will soon have an unstable system as well. This is awsome! Now i really won't be able to solve all my problems on my own. Wait, hold on, why am i cheering?

[Cabhan]

The price drop will occur, as the Intel processors are cheaper. At least, this is what I understand will happen.

That said, when you buy an Apple laptop, a good part of it is Mac OS X. I don't see why you'd run an iBook with anything else...

[cheetahman]

What about the Triboot Linux,Apple,Windows

[Weedman]

ahh, my geek life would be complete if i could install windows, linux, mac osX and *bsd on the same system.

[now dreaming]
/weed