Transition to Intel - Apple's Talking Points

In May 2005 Steve Jobs announced that Apple would be transitioning to Intel microprocessors over a two-year period. The switch has been hotly debated on-line, and it creates obvious questions in the minds of potential Macintosh purchasers--primarily, should I wait or buy now?

I prepared a list of questions and answers for retail store personnel, but Apple has also issued their own "talking points" on the Intel transition-don't blink. It's not that long.

At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco, Apple announced plans to transition Macs to using Intel processors beginning in 2006. Please use the following talking points to address any questions your customers may have about this transition.

  • Apple plans to be delivering Macs using Intel microprocessors by this time next year.
  • Apple is encouraging its developers to create Universal versions of their applications that will run on Macs with either PowerPC or Intel processors. We believe that most developers will do this, and continue to create versions of their software for the large installed base of PowerPC Macs. For example, Adobe and Microsoft have already announced that they will create Universal versions of their applications.
  • Mac OS X will only run on Macs. Apple has no plans to sell Mac OS X software to run on PCs.
  • Apple has no plans to sell or support Windows.
  • Macs improve every year. It’s just a fact of life in technology. If a customer always waits to buy a better computer a year from now, they will never own a computer. Today’s Macs are the best Macs ever, and future versions of the Mac OS, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite and many other applications will continue to support Macs sold today.

Notice that two of the four points relate to what computer owners cannot do, rather than focusing on what the transition will allow users to do. As for the last point, if any retail salesperson told me, "It's just a fact of life in technology," I'd probably wave "bye-bye" to them on the way out the door. It's a casual and disrespectful remark that has no place in retail chit-chat, and does nothing to further the Apple retail buying experience.

Hopefully Apple can provide some additional talking points for its retail store staff, covering more real-world customer questions, and worded in a more positive and helpful way.