Apple to use Intel chips?

Apple to use Intel chips?According to CNet, Apple's going to switch to using Intel chips in the Mac line. I find that thought somewhat depressing.  It's hard to explain exactly why... I think it has something to do with that the x86 architecture, what we call a PC, is what's gone wrong in the computer industry.  Spyware, viruses, crap.. much of this doesn't touch the Mac platform.  Now, I know that this isn't because it's a different CPU architecture, but once you have an x86 based Mac, here are some concerns I have. First, dual-booting a PC and a Mac on the same hardware?  Would Apple make their OS generic enough to run on a Dell?  Probably not.  But are they going to make it artificially different, just to avoid running on commodity hardware?  Folks will find a way around that. The next thing that seems likely is that Apple or someone will come up with an execution environment in which you can run Windows applications.  VirtualPC, but without the instruction set translation.  Once the Mac can run Windows apps fast enough that they're usable, the need for PC developers to port lessens.  End result is less good Mac software. I guess time will tell, but this seems to have the potential to make the Mac platform into something much less unique. Thu, 01 Sep 2005 19:17:09 GMT