半导体行业观察·2025-11-15 01:42Core Viewpoint - The article discusses Apple's journey from reliance on external chip manufacturers to developing its own chips, highlighting the significance of the M1 chip and the company's ongoing efforts in vertical integration, including the development of a custom 100MP image sensor [1]. Group 1: Historical Context - In the 1980s, Apple relied heavily on Motorola's MOS 6502 processor, which was pivotal in the success of early Apple products like the Apple I and Apple II [3][4]. - The Macintosh 128K, launched in 1984, utilized the Motorola 68000 processor, marking a significant innovation in personal computing with its graphical user interface [4][6]. Group 2: Early Self-Development Efforts - In 1989, Apple initiated the "Project Aquarius," aiming to develop a multi-core CPU architecture to regain technological strength, but the project was ultimately terminated due to resource constraints [5][6]. - Despite the failure of early self-development efforts, Apple demonstrated a persistent desire to control its hardware future [6]. Group 3: Strategic Partnerships - In 1991, Apple formed a partnership with IBM to develop the PowerPC architecture, which was seen as a significant move against the dominance of Intel and Microsoft [8][13]. - The AIM alliance, consisting of Apple, IBM, and Motorola, aimed to create a unified standard in chips, hardware, and software, but ultimately, Apple only adopted the PowerPC chip without significant progress in other areas [24]. Group 4: Market Challenges - The launch of Windows 95 in 1995 marked a turning point, as it significantly improved usability and performance, leading to a decline in Apple's market share from 16% to 4% [28][29]. - The competitive landscape shifted dramatically, with Intel and Microsoft solidifying their dominance in the PC market, while Apple's reliance on the PowerPC architecture faced increasing scrutiny [30][32]. Group 5: Decline of PowerPC - Despite initial success with the Power Macintosh, the AIM alliance faced numerous challenges, including the failure of joint ventures like Taligent and Kaleida, which did not deliver on their promises [22][24]. - By the late 1990s, Motorola's inability to keep pace with Intel's advancements led to a decline in the PowerPC's relevance in the market [41][42]. Group 6: Transition to Intel - In 2005, Apple announced a transition to Intel processors, marking a significant shift in its hardware strategy as it sought to improve performance and compatibility with the broader PC ecosystem [46].