Well I guess I'll be boycotting Apple 10076
Yes - the OS will be tailored for that specific set of hardware (Apple's hardware) rather than being kludged to work on all sorts of crap labels from all over the place. That's Apple's advantage today, and there is no reason for that to change just because one component inside the machine will be changed.
One of the problems Apple has had with IBM and Motorola have been their inability to manufacture enough processors. Going AMD would be pointless in that respect.
They tried something similar in the nineties with the clones. It failed. Why should they try to repeat that failure now?
Apple, on the other hand, would LOVE to stay in business.
Apple is one of the few computer companies that are doing well these days. IOW they know what they're doing.
So don't buy it then.
You seem to think Apple now is just another beige box manufacturer.
If you weren't a potential Apple customer when the mac was PPC, you won't be one when the mac is x86.
Companies are in business to have a business and that means that companies that are for-profit must make a profit. They look at the world...
Switching to x86 in itself shouldn't have any effect at all. It's still a mac, still runs OS X, just like before. They've just changed *one* component.
However, a x86 mac should be able to run not only OS X but also Linux and Windows. That might attract more users.
-- C Lund, www.notam02.no-~clund