PowerMac? Is this really the name they are using? Seems very unlikely since POWER is an IBM acronym for their RISC chip, and was used to differentiate MacIntoshes based on it from those based on Motorola's 68K line. Calling an x86 based machine a PowerMac seems very odd.

test

Actually, you are wrong, but not completely.

Yes the Power prefix has been used to differenciate between the 68k and PowerPC Macs.

BUT the PowerBooks existed before, and until the PowerPC Macs, all PowerBooks were 68k based.

Here is a great segue to get back on topic:

The PowerBook 100's motherboard was designed by Sony, based on specifications by Apple, so its not the first time it happens.

As for intel its not surprising at all that they will help Apple for the motherboards.

The current Macs required Apple to design expensive Input/Output and memory controller chips. These chips are not compatible at all with the intel architecture.

Apple would be foolish not to use intel's I/O and memory controller chips that are designed to work with their own CPUs. And while they are at it, why not have intel design the bulk of the motherboards?

New Macs will only need a few little custom chips, like for the clock and power management. You can bet that Macs will drop in price in 2006.