Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpl-opus!hpspdra!stevewi
From: stevewi@hpspdra.spd.HP.COM (Steve Witten)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Apple talking to IBM
Message-ID: <21480009@hpspdra.spd.HP.COM>
Date: 14 Jun 91 18:26:32 GMT
References: <1991Jun11.211857.7834@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu>
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 31


> So, is IBM that much ahead in RISC? or is the whole explanation baloney?
> Just curious.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that it would take IBM at least 2
years to modify the RS6000 chipset so that it would be usable by Apple
in there systems (not to mention all the legal hassles that would have
to be worked out and all the $$$ that would have to change hands!).
The SJMN also reported that Apple has been working with Motorola from
the very beginning on its RISC chipset (MC880x0) and that the Motorola
chipset was "Mac-ready" now...

The SJMN speculated that a "future" MacOS could appear on IBM's
workstations (I believe it is common knowledge that Apple is working
on a portable successor to the MacOS but that it will be some time
before this effort sees the light of day).  The SF Bay Area TV news
reported that the talks were very preliminary and were aimed
primarily at network interoperability.

While the talks may be sincere, the hype that was made of them to the
press (as evidenced by the Apple spokesman's remarks in the SJMN) was
definitely spin aimed at the controlling the damage that the recent
layoff announcement (despite staggering sales figures for the new
Macs) has done to Apple's public image.

My opinions only... not my employer's.

===============================================================================
Steve Witten                    stevewi%hpspdra@hplabs.hp.com
Intelligent Networks Operation  ...!hplabs!hpspdra!stevewi
Hewlett-Packard Co.             stevewi@hpspdra.spd.hp.com