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April 24, 2008

hardware

Jobs, Intel still k-i-s-s-i-n-g in proverbial tree

Posted Apr. 24, ’08, 12:35 PM PT by Dan Pourhadi
Category | Hardware

jobsIntel1.jpgAs with every Apple move, the acquisition of processor-producer P.A. Semi spurred a lot of discussion and speculation as to why, and how this $278 million deal fits into Jobs’s Master Plan. My theory is that Apple is just having some relationship issues and turned — as many do — to shopping to ease the pain. I know when I’m upset I often go out and spend hundreds of millions of dollars purchasing small technology firms…it’s comforting, you know?

Some, though, think it’s Apple building a foundation for eventually moving away from Intel and producing its own line of processors. It’s kind of an impractical theory as it is: P.A. Semi designs processors suited for mobile devices, and Apple’s great at engineering…but this is a whole different ballgame. And after the company’s earnings report yesterday, Steve Jobs, speaking to The Wall Street Journal tech blog, worked to alleviate Intel’s worries that he’s is going to break its heart and run off with some cheap chip floozy:

“We have a great partnership with Intel,” Jobs said. “We expect that to continue forever.”

Jobs said Apple acquired P.A. Semi mainly for its chip designers and suggested it will rely on P.A. Semi’s expertise primarily for portable electronics devices like the iPod and iPhone for which Intel doesn’t currently supply chips (though they would like to). Jobs says Apple has long been involved in custom designing chips for iPhones and iPods and P.A. Semi will help enhance its capacity to do so.

(…) “I wouldn’t lose too much sleep over that,” he said. “We’re very happy with Intel.”

Jobs then hugged Intel and said “I love you” while kissing its forehead and whispering naughty things in its ear.

Check the WSJ blog post for more, then treat your Intel Mac to a movie followed by a romantic candlelight dinner…it deserves it.


1 Comments

fletcher Author Profile Page said:

One of the reasons why Apple has been able to produce svelte hardware, since the days of the Apple II, is because of their ability to create custom chips. The ability to combine many different chips into one saves a lot of motherboard real estate. This is essential when you want your products to be as thin and light as possible. However, that's not to say that most chips in an Apple are not off-the-shelf components.

April 24, 2008 1:13 PM

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