Briefly: MacBook Pro, Mac OS X 10.4.5, WINE
Apple updates MacBook Pro lead times
Overnight, the Mac maker quietly updated lead times on its online store for the MacBook Pro from shipping in "February" to "3-4 weeks." This suggests that Apple is unlikely to meet overall world-wide demand for the laptops within its current quarter, as stated by company executives last month. However, it also implies that that Apple has aligned demand and is currently confident that it can begin shipping new MacBook Pro orders placed today by this time next month.
It was reported last month that Apple is witnessing stellar sales of the MacBook Pro through pre-orders placed through its direct sales business and authorized resellers.
New builds of Mac OS X 10.4.5
According to tipsters and reports already present on the Internet, Apple this week seeded the fourth external build of Mac OS X 10.4.5 for PowerPC Macs. The build, reportedly labeled Mac OS X 10.4.5 8H14, is said to address issues with multi-application audio support. In the distribution of the operating system update offered to Apple Developer Connection members, Apple did not list any known issues.
Apple's precise release plans for Mac OS X 10.4.5 are currently unknown. It's also unclear if the Intel-native version of the update will be the first to package support for the company's forthcoming 13-inch widescreen iBook laptops and updated Mac mini desktops. Both are reportedly slated for a release this spring.
WINE for Intel Macs
MacRumors notes that the X86Project is claiming to have the first version of WINE for Intel Macs complied and running.
The Darwine Project has reportedly been working to port WINE — a compatibility layer that has allowed x86-based PCs to run Windows applications under Unix/Linux operating systems — to run on Mac OS X for Intel.
Though compatibility remains limited in these early stages, the software could offer Mac users an alternative to running Windows applications on Intel Macs sometime in the future.
This could be of interest to some users, as sources have told AppleInsider that Apple and Microsoft are in a disagreement about the way Virtual PC should be supported on Intel Macs. Progress on the next version of the Windows emulation environment is said to be moving slowly, with an official release unlikely "for some time."
15 Comments
The WINE news is great. Isn't this an exciting time when you can't decide whether to use Rosetta with PPC software or (now the possiblity possibly ) WINE with PC software all on a Mac.
What a day we live in and what choices we have to make!!
I am torn between a MacBookPro (obviously will be a great machine in 2007 when software comes around) and 15" G4 Powerbook (may have 1 year left of life in it, maybe 2) purchase that needs InDesign to put together a catalog that has to be out by September.
When MS bought VPC I was afraid that at some point there would be a problem with this awesome emulator (Before I get flamed for saying it is awesome, I love the fact I have two MS based programs that I don?t use all the time but still need and does not merit a dedicated win box for this, it is awesome). Now I think MS will eventually kill this for us who use this emulator, and do not have the capitol to run out and buy the latest Intel Mac. And who have to use their PPC box?s for a year or two longer. This is a famous MS move, buy it and kill it.
Having WINE ported to the Mac is great news. At the same time I hope it won't stop companies making an effort to port to the Mac. I say this because Windows offers a different user experience in terms of UI design and in the way things are used. I would consider WINE as a stop-gap solution and not an excuse for companies not porting their software.
If I ever hear a company say 'well why not use WINE to run our software?', as an excsuse for not doiing the work. I will feel like they deserve some sort of bodily damage.
I agree. For some apps, it'll be great. But I've got a special Windows only VPN client that probably won't work in Wine so I'm hoping VPC comes out sooner than Office.
I think this means that MS has found that it's VPC emulator may be much better than originally thought and that it will be awesome if they don't kill it from a thousand cuts. Since Rosetta won't be useful for pro apps, VPC would be great to get those apps on new faster Macs. Of course only Apple would benefit from that. Adobe wants you to wait and upgrade for a price! Why didn't Apple buy VPC first?!?!?!?!?