No 68060?
> With IBM/Apple/Motorola jointly developing the PPC, I wonder if it is
> available to outsiders without some sort of "buy-in".
Moto and IBM have the right to make production deals with anybody they choose.
That's what's in it for them, as Apple could not consume enough chips to keep
them rolling in the dough.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that Apple would welcome anybody
and everybody into using PowerPC. This lends credibility to the
PowerPC chip as an alternative to the 80×86. It also adds inertia to
the overall development. They win in this case.
> I have no information that any roalties or buy-in is required, I'm
> just wondering if there is some sort of requirement, since it was
> supposed to be IBM and Apple's special weapon.
The list of PowerPC 2nd tier players is large. Many companies have commited to
using the system and they are all welcome. Those who are with us are not
against us.
> Then again, with the current sales figures, they may be willing to
> bring anybody onboard who is willing to adopt the architecture.
Sales figures have been excellent for Apple with the PowerPC, having
sold about 100,000 a month since introduction, and well on track to
sell over a million of them in the first year. Apple would welcome
anybody into the PowerPC fold. It does nothing but make them look
good. They want a large community to be able to challenge Intel and
offer another way of doing things.