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The Forgetful CPU (Linux on M4)

267 points · 203 comments · signa11

  1. sscaryterry · · focus · HN ↗
    Imagine how big Apple would/could be if they embraced open hardware. They do have a moat here. macOS is so bloated, I hate it, but the hardware is just so much better than anything else.
    1. MBCook · · focus · HN ↗
      Apple is a vertical company. They don’t WANT to sell you hardware. They don’t want to sell you software.

      They only want to sell the whole package. You might as well ask the Catholic Church to start a rap music 8-track only record club. Same probability.

      The hardware is a means to an end, and nothing else to them.

      1. UltraSane · · focus · HN ↗
        But Apple could make a lot of money selling Linux servers with their CPUs.
        1. internet2000 · · focus · HN ↗
          Why would they want to? They make even more money selling their own computers with their CPUs.
          1. UltraSane · · focus · HN ↗
            The Server market is enormous with a much higher average selling price. It would make perfect sense for Apple to make servers if it meant more revenue and profit than they could make not doing it. There are rumors that Apple is planning a M8 based server in 2029.
            1. fragmede · · focus · HN ↗
              That's a helluva rumor. Apple tried b2b with Xserve, back in the day, but didn't have the stomach for it.
              1. boredatoms · · focus · HN ↗
                That’s because they tried integration with the rest of their SW ecosystem.

                If they just did motherboards with cpu/ram/pcie and let other OEMs build complete systems the story would be very different

                1. scheme271 · · focus · HN ↗
                  They tried it with various open systems that allowed licensed powerpc clones of their systems and they ended it because it reduced their profits as people bought the clones instead of mac hardware. I don't see them redoing that anytime soon.
                  1. MBCook · · focus · HN ↗
                    Also in that case they didn’t even own the hardware. They were IBM chips. They just had a reference design and a BIOS.
                2. MBCook · · focus · HN ↗
                  That still doesn’t overcome the issue that they are selling every single one they can already. They have no need for additional chip sales.

                  All the capacity at all the fabs is booked up for years. They can’t make more if they want to.

                  So any hypothetical sales of OEM style guts would only cut into the number of Macs they can sell to existing customers. And there’s no way they would ever do that.

                  1. adgjlsfhk1 · · focus · HN ↗
                    > They have no need for additional chip sales.

                    Higher margins?

                    1. SXX · · focus · HN ↗
                      Servers need a lot of RAM. Apple can either make 42 iPhones with 12GB or one server with 512GB RAM.

                      42 people with iPhone will buy airpods, some subscriptions and apps. They also be vendor locked into Apple ecosystem and almost guaranteed to bring more iPhone sale in 3 years.

                      Apple must be dumb to canibalize their own market.

              2. Wowfunhappy · · focus · HN ↗
                With the Xserve, all Apple had to sell was repackaged Intel systems—with an Apple markup. They had nothing special to offer on the hardware side.

                Now they have Apple Silicon.

                1. pjmlp · · focus · HN ↗
                  It really isn't that great when comparing against server systems.

                  I think most people here never seen the inside of sliding pizza boxes on server racks, really seeing them.

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