MacIntel: Its all about the drivers stupid!
I am refraining from reciting all the Mac News regarding the Intel switch. I still have very mixed feelings - of course I want the faster processors - but I would like even more is clean code running on my computer that is optimized and if the switch killed one thing its architecture optimization and clean programming. I let the developers surprise me with their marvelous code that runs on two architectures as fast as it runs on their native one.
What just struck me so and I have not heard much discussion about it yet is drivers. Of course there are all the printerdrivers a normal mac user ever needs included and most point and shoot cameras have drivers as well, but the professional crowd has things attached that even in the age of plug and play need a driver installation. Scanners, Midigear, Video Output Cards (Firewire IOs) etc etc. Now most of those drivers need to communicate with the kernel on some level and this is where it gets nasty because Rosetta - even in its newest G4/Altivec compatible mode - does not support ANYTHING that talks to the kernel - including 95% of all drivers. Now device makers - especially those that offer products on Wintel and Mactel - are known to be not very fast and responsive when it comes to driver updates - especially for slightly older gear. I can remember waiting for an OSX Scanner driver from Epson about two years. In that regard past transitions in the Mac world did not bode well and the tiny market share had a lot to do with it. I do fully expect a big hassle in this area in the coming six to nine month. At the moment I just would tell everyone with a professional need for their computer equipment that goes beyond the "iApps" to sit out the transition for a while - no matter what Apple says it will not run totally smooth.