Top Bananas | Monthly Archives: May 2019

The Slow Death of Intel

Posted on May 16, 2019 by admin Posted in Business, Hardware Leave a comment

What it is: Intel processors since 2011 have a security flaw.

Intel sells the most processors for computers and data centers so they should have all the money they need to keep developing products that keep them far ahead of the competition. However, the reality is that Intel is slowly failing despite their massive marketshare and revenue.

First, Intel’s smaller rival, AMD, has been creating processors that are faster and cheaper than Intel’s processors. How a smaller rival with less resources can do that is unthinkable, yet it’s happening and has happened in the past when AMD processors surpassed Intel’s processors.

Second, while AMD and other manufacturers are moving to smaller processors (7mm), Intel is still transitioning from 14mm to 10mm processors. Despite their massive resources, Intel is essentially a generation behind their smaller rivals.

Third, Intel processors since 2011 have a security flaw that allows hackers to potentially access data on a computer. While security flaws can appear in any product, it looks particularly bad for Intel since they’re the leader and their products are used throughout the computing industry.

Fourth, Intel couldn’t create 5G modem chips that could compete against Qualcomm’s 5G modem chips, leading Intel to stop development altogether.

Fifth, Intel totally missed the mobile market when ARM processors took over the smartphone and tablet market. Now that ARM processors are getting faster, they’re exceeding Intel processors. It’s only a matter of time before Intel processors have no speed, energy, or cost advantage over ARM processors. When that happens, the world will shift to ARM processors and leave Intel processors behind.

For any company to experience so many failed opportunities, despite their massive revenue and resources, is unbelievable, yet it’s happening. Intel is slowly shooting themselves in the foot. They won’t go away overnight, but they’re losing in practically every market with a dismal future awaiting them. Intel is dying a slow death and they have no plans to reverse their fate.

The lesson to learn from Intel is that when you’re on top of the world, that’s the time to be the hungriest and most desperate as if you’re a startup. The minute you get complacent, that’s the beginning of the end.

Intel will one day become a quaint trivial answer along with Osborne Computers, CP/M-80, and Commodore 64. It was fun knowing Intel while they thrived. Unless a miracle occurs, Intel is on the slow path to a permanent decline.

Choosing a Browser

Posted on May 8, 2019 by admin Posted in Software Leave a comment

What it is: Microsoft will soon offer its Edge browser for the Macintosh.

Every computer needs a browser. If you have a Macintosh, Apple gives you the Safari browser by default. One reason to use Safari is because it’s optimized for Apple’s own websites. One reason to avoid Safari is that hackers know the flaws of Safari so they can use those flaws to infiltrate into your Macintosh with malware.

For most people, one browser is good enough, but you may want a second browser installed on your Macintosh just in case. Malware commonly targets a computer’s browser so if malware kills Safari, then you won’t be able to access the Internet to get help. That’s one reason to always have a second browser available.

Another reason to have another browser is because some websites won’t load correctly in one browser but work just fine in another browser. By having two browsers installed, you increase your chance of viewing a website correctly and getting help in case one of your browsers crashes or gets destroyed by malware.

Safari is the most obvious browser to use on a Macintosh, but there will soon be several contenders: Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge.

Of these options, Chrome is considered the fastest although browsers regularly improve so Chrome might be the fastest today, but there’s no guarantee it will be the fastest tomorrow.

Firefox is a popular browser that once dominated the browser market until Chrome took over when Firefox lagged behind in updates. Firefox used to promote themselves as the most secure but it’s likely Firefox isn’t markedly better than Chrome.

Opera is an oddball browser that often pioneers features that later show up in other browsers such as tabs. Because Opera isn’t as popular as Chrome or Firefox, that makes it less susceptible to malware. For this reason alone, you might want to consider Opera as a second browser.

Microsoft’s Edge browser is the newcomer. It’s not officially available so it’s hard to judge its features. However, Edge will need to be dramatically faster or more secure to steal away marketshare from Chrome or Firefox.

Given a choice of a second browser, Chrome is the most popular choice, Firefox is second, and Opera is third. Microsoft’s Edge will likely fight it out with Opera to become a viable choice.

As a general rule, don’t rely on the default browser (Safari). Download and install a second browser just in case. For compatibility, choose Chrome. For security, chose Firefox or Opera. If you’re a Windows user, you might want to use Microsoft’s Edge browser just for the familiarity with the Edge browser, if you use it on your Windows PC.

Browsers are all different yet similar, so choose the two you like best and stick with them. You can’t go wrong with any of them.

To learn more about Microsoft’s Edge browser, click here.

The Coming Intel-Free Macintosh

Posted on May 1, 2019 by admin Posted in Business, Hardware Leave a comment

What it is: The Macintosh is getting constrained by Intel’s limitations, which will likely motivate Apple to abandon Intel.

Intel does not have a bright future. At one time, nearly every computer in the world had to rely on Intel processors although a few used cheaper AMD processors. Still, Intel dominated the computer market, but that domination appears coming to an end.

Despite Intel’s market share and dominance, they’re having trouble keeping up with progress. While other processor manufacturers are looking at 7mm processors, Intel is still producing 14mm processors and can’t even make 10mm processors that other companies have been able to do for years.

With Intel unable to keep up with competitors, it’s likely Apple will choose to abandon Intel processors soon. Intel already abandoned their 5G modem development and Intel previously abandoned their low-energy processors called Atom. With Intel unable to develop future processors, it’s likely Apple will simply move on to ARM processors instead.

The huge difference between Intel and ARM processors is that ARM processors are more energy-efficient, which lets them run far longer on battery power for mobile devices. Another growing difference is that ARM processors are nearly equal in power to Intel processors. When ARM processors exceed Intel processors in power, there will be little reason to stick with Intel processors, especially if Intel can’t improve them fast enough.

Apple will likely keep the Macintosh running Intel processors and simply create a new product category to run ARM processors. Apple is already transitioning iOS to handle a mouse and file support, which means it’s far more likely an ARM-based laptop will more closely resemble a souped up iPad than a Macintosh.

By giving this new product a distinctive name, Apple can avoid people confusing an Intel-based Macintosh with an ARM-based Macintosh. Apple is already creating a software framework to make it easy for iOS developers to create macOS apps, so it’s likely Apple will simply merge the iPad into a laptop computer rather than try to merge a desktop operating system (like Windows) into a mobile device (like the Microsoft Surface tablet).

The Macintosh is an aging product in its current form, so it’s likely that Apple will simply let it fade away while newer products take its place. The coming ARM-based laptop should be here soon, but it likely won’t be called a Macintosh even if it acts like a Macintosh. Whatever it’s name, it will be the future of laptop computers.