Apple completes booting Intel on its Macs

The new operating system from Apple to be called Leopard, which will follow Tiger

Apple Computer has completed a swift transition from computers based entirely on Intel processors. The latest desktop computer, a 2,499 machine called the Mac Pro that will succeed the Power Mac in Apple8217;s lineup, is the last of its computers to make the switch to the Intel architecture.

In an interview, Apple8217;s chairman, Steven P. Jobs, called the transition 8216;8216;the best and smoothest one we8217;ve ever seen in the whole history of the industry8217;8217;.

Jobs said that in the last quarter, Apple shipped 1.33 million Macs, its best showing ever, and that three-quarters of the computers sold were Intel-based.

Analysts agreed that Apple8217;s shift to Intel, in a quest to improve upon the performance of the Power PC chips developed by IBM and Motorola, had been a success.

8216;8216;Apple8217;s product plan is in place and is coming together nicely,8217;8217; said David C. Bailey, an analyst with Goldman Sachs, adding that the transition to Intel chips is an integral part of the plan.

8216;8216;We see the next version of the Macs very tightly intertwined with the Intel transition in that together they can drive an accelerated upgrade cycle within Apple8217;s installed base as well as attract new users8217;8217;.

In his address, Jobs detailed features that would be included in the next version of the Macintosh operating system, known as Leopard: a new data and file recovery feature called Time Machine; upgrades to the Apple Mail programme; new animation and conferencing software; and Spaces, a new way to group and view applications.

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Jobs also took occasional swipes at Microsoft 8212; 8216;8216;our friends up north8217;8217; 8212; which has yet to release its successor to Windows XP, known as Vista.

Apple has introduced four versions of its operating system since Microsoft brought out Windows XP in 2001. The current version of OS X is known as Tiger.

8216;8216;My guess is that Vista is going to pale beside Tiger, much less Leopard,8217;8217; Jobs said. He said Leopard would be released next spring.

Jobs also said that Leopard would include Boot Camp, a programme that allows users to run the Windows operating system on a Macintosh, but not simultaneously with the Macintosh operating system.

8211;KATIE HAFNER