Apple developing AMD-based notebook

Passive component makers from Taiwan claim Apple is working on new notebooks with AMD processors. They say they've seen a huge increase in orders for high-capacitance multi-layer ceramic capacitors, with most of them having a capacitance of 22µF.

Passive component makers are generally optimistic about the growth catalyst that the new AMD-base Mac notebooks could bring. Already, demand for Intel-based dual-core Apple notebook models that require about 80 22μ MLCCs has caused supply to tighten for the high-capacitance MLCCs, with notebook makers having to adjust their MLCC mixture, the makers noted.

Speculation that AMD and Apple will team up has been fueled by statements made by AMD CEO Hector Ruiz in September, when he noted that the two companies will eventually do business with each other. The merger between AMD and ATI also helped make the speculation more convincing, as ATI delivers graphics solutions that are specialized for Apple G5 PCs.

However, Taiwanese motherboard makers say such a relationship between Apple and AMD isn't likely:

Intel currently enjoys over AMD, especially for the Core 2 Duo processor compared with AMD's present CPU lineup. AMD is also considered to have insufficient capacity, the makers added.

Taiwanese server makers however, claim Apple might use AMD's Opteron processors for new x86 servers.

So what have we learned from this news article? Not much I guess.