Re: And you thought Apple II users were screwed by Apple...

[salfter@chakotay.ncc74656.org (Scott Alfter)]

In article <19990904124952.12551.00001663@ng-fp1.aol.com>,
Supertimer <supertimer@aol.com> wrote:
>case, Apple is the monopoly.  Every bit as bad as
>Microsoft or Intel when it comes to its users (well, with
>regards to Intel...AMD, IBM and Cyrix, IDT, and the other
>chip manufacturers together currently outsell Intel in
>PC CPU chips, so they do have to watch it somewhat).

VIA (a major x86 chipset manufacturer, probably 2nd only to Intel) bought
National Semiconductor's x86 processor business (the part of Cyrix that
makes the MII and used to do the 6x86 and 5x86) and Centaur (the IDT
division that did the WinChip).  Right now, they're a bit of a question mark
as to their plans in the processor market.  For the immediate future, that
leaves AMD as Intel's main competition.  Fortunately, AMD now has the
fastest x86 processor on the planet (and the bragging rights that go with
it), so Intel won't be able to start overcharging people for its
processors...yet.

(The specs for the G4 might very well be interesting (haven't seen them),
and I know that Linux has been ported to PowerPC, but where are the
motherboards?  If the only way to get one is to buy an RS/6000 or a Power
Mac, there'll be a bunch of people who won't buy 'em.  I'm fairly sure you
can get Alpha motherboards that go into ATX cases, and of course x86
motherboards are available for both AT and ATX cases...how about PowerPC?)

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