Back in 1994, Apple made its first chip transition. It was the switch from the Motorola 68000 series architecture to the then-new PowerPC platform from the AIM alliance (Apple, IBM, and Motorola). To ease the transition, Apple added an emulator to Mac OS that let old software run on the new PowerPC Macs. It wasn’t quite as elegant as todays Rosetta 2 technology, but it suited its purpose at the time. In fact, a decent amount of Mac OS itself was run in emulation at the time of its launch. The PowerPC processors were so powerful that emulation didn’t cause much of a noticeable slowdown (similar to what we see today). Customers were able to continue using their favorite apps, while at the same time developers worked hard to update them for Apple’s new PowerPC chips.
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Check out this episode of The Computer Chronicles from 1994 if you want to take a trip back in time. It’s fully worth it.
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Published to Apple Scoop on 21st November, 2020.
Flynn Lo Faro
Team Leader / Editor-in-Chief
Flynn has been covering technology for over a decade, with a deep focus on all things Apple. As the Editor-in-Chief of Apple Scoop, Flynn ensures the team delivers the most accurate and up-to-date information on Apple news, rumors, and product releases. His passion for tech journalism and editorial expertise guide the site’s vision and maintain its high standards.
