Rumour - Lion not to support CD and C2D cpus

Rumour - Lion not to support CD and C2D cpus
Lion to require Core 2 Duo or later? | MacNN

In this developer seed of Lion these intel machines are not supported.

In all, 17 Intel Mac models are not currently supported, though this number may drop to 14 if the late 2006 Core 2 Duo iMacs are supported later.

Models include the 1.83GHz and 2.0GHz 17- and 20-inch iMacs; the original 13-inch MacBooks (both black and white models, 1.83 and 2.0 GHz clock speeds); the 1.67, 1.83, 2.0 and 2.16GHz 15-inch MacBook Pros; the 2.16GHz 17-inch MacBook Pro, and the 1.66 and 1.83 GHz Core Duo Mac minis.

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I'm sure it's just for this developer seed. But not supporting this many C2D Macs would be potential suicide for the company.

I'm hoping for an "across the board" Intel support. I think the best way to go would be to make it support any Intel Mac!

- Simon

If it's 64 bit only then CD will not be supported as CD can support 32 bit but not 64 bit. But not supporting some C2D Macs but supporting others? That makes no sense. Yes all C2D can support 64 bit. I just don't understand that part.

I find all this a bit hard to believe. I mean, it's not like they're going from IMB to Intel all over again! Make them work...as long as they can handle it without degradation.

None of those unsupported CPUs listed are the C2D. They're all CD.

There was some crossover in processor speed between the two of them. But if the C2D models are included in the ones not being supported, the 2.33 C2D would be listed there as well.

Am almost hoping it doesn't support the '06 C2D. That might give me the final push that would make upgrading to a newer machine from this 4 yr old one finally worth the investment. (At least it might convince the wife it's time to spend the money. ;D)

the8thark said:

I'm sure it's just for this developer seed. But not supporting this many C2D Macs would be potential suicide for the company.

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I doubt it would be suicide, Apple has a very long history of quickly end-of-life statusing products and removing support for old hardware.

I mean look at the way they treat the iPhone with OS upgrades and people keep buying new iPhones.

They did the same thing honestly with the PPC Macs with the switch to Intel.

bobtomay said:

Am almost hoping it doesn't support the '06 C2D.

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I would not be happy with that cause I use a 2006 C2D imac now. So I'm hoping it still supports all C2D.

the8thark said:

I would not be happy with that cause I use a 2006 C2D imac now. So I'm hoping it still supports all C2D.

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Based on what they have posted so far, I think both of us are safe and will not have a legitimate reason to go buy a new computer just for the new OS.

That's insane! How could they not support a processor that is used in their current lineup of computers?? (Mac Mini and MBA)

Nonsense

bobtomay said:

None of those unsupported CPUs listed are the C2D. They're all CD.

There was some crossover in processor speed between the two of them. But if the C2D models are included in the ones not being supported, the 2.33 C2D would be listed there as well.

Am almost hoping it doesn't support the '06 C2D. That might give me the final push that would make upgrading to a newer machine from this 4 yr old one finally worth the investment. (At least it might convince the wife it's time to spend the money. ;D)

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I'm in the same boat, but I would prefer to hold out another year. I suspect significant design/hardware changes in 2012 to bring MBP in line with MBA design.

bobtomay said:

None of those unsupported CPUs listed are the C2D. They're all CD.

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Exactly. The article notes that the lack of support is for any processor before the C2D (so the CD and CS):

Preview notes for today's developer release of Lion require a Core 2 Duo machine or later, a requirement that may make it to the final release -- leaving out certain classes of early Intel Macs sold in 2006 and 2007.

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This could be reasonably expected especially if Apple is going to make its slow push to a fully 64-bit operating system.

fleurya said:

That's insane! How could they not support a processor that is used in their current lineup of computers?? (Mac Mini and MBA)

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This is what my first thoughts were as well.

The most recent "dropping of hardware support" was with the PPC based computers when we went from OS 10.5 to 10.6. But we're talking a much different situation there...since we were dealing with totally different processors (PPC vs. Intel)...and the OS "overhead" to continue support of PPC computers was just too much.

10.6 "slimmed-down" the OS for Intel only computers. As far as I know...the Core 2 Duo cpu's & the "i" series cpu's (i3, i5, and i7) are closely related (certainly more closely related than the PPC vs. Intel cpu's)...so there doesn't seem to be as much need to drop OS support for Core 2 Duo hardware.

But like "Schweb" mentioned...Apple has done this sort of thing before...and I've personally experienced all three of them...much to my disappointment!

- Nick

There would be no reason to restrict Lion to CPUs newer than the C2D. The C2D and the i series processors are of the same architecture, all multi-core and are 64-bit capable. There are likely some substantial technical differences but none that would preclude Lion from running on the i series and not on the C2D (that I know of). Therefore, if Apple limited Lion to the i series, it would be an artificial limitation and the reason for doing so would escape me.

One other thought to consider. Intel Macs were first released in January, 2006...and support for PPC hardware didn't end until the August, 2009 with the release of 10.6...which adds up to 3.5 years of PPC support after Intel Mac's appeared.

If we use the same logic...then we wouldn't expect to see the dropping of support for Core 2 Duo hardware for at least 3.5 years after the first release of the "i series" of cpu's. Since the "i series" of cpu's were first released for Mac's April, 2010...3.5 years would mean...October, 2013.

Of course Apple doesn't always do "logical things"...and the PPC vs. Intel was a MUCH bigger deal. Since Core 2 Duo & the "i series" of cpu's are MUCH more closely related...support for Core 2 Duo could be well beyond 2013.

Just my humble opinions of course!

- Nick

schweb said:

I doubt it would be suicide, Apple has a very long history of quickly end-of-life statusing products and removing support for old hardware.

I mean look at the way they treat the iPhone with OS upgrades and people keep buying new iPhones.

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With the iPhone, support was dropped for hardware reasons. As others have pointed out, there's no hardware reason to drop the C2D. I can totally understand dropping support for the CD though, since that's not a 64-bit processor.

However, upgrades are not as simple with computers as they are with phones. With the iPhone, you shell out only $200 every year or every other year. With a laptop or desktop, it's going to cost well over $1000 and not everyone can afford such a pricey upgrade every other year just to be able to continue using the latest OS. Most consumers expect their Apple hardware to last at least 4-5 years with continued support.

I was hoping my MacBook would still be supported (it appears it still is, as is my 2GHz C2D Mac mini). So it looks like Lion may be the last OS for my MB and Mm. That's fine, I plan on replacing the MB first.

All this started with Snow Leopard requiring Intel only, and will no doubt continue on into the future as developers only use the latest 'must have' models.