PowerPC

A RISC-based computer architecture developed jointly by IBM, Apple Computer, and Motorola Corporation. The name is derived from IBM’s name for the architecture, Performance Optimization With Enhanced RISC.The first computers based on the PowerPC architecture were the Power Macs, which appeared in 1994. Since then, other manufacturers, including IBM, have built PCs based on the PowerPC. Although the initial reviews have been good, it remains to be seen whether this new architecture can eventually supplant, or even coexist, with the huge number of Intel -based computers in use and on the market. There are already a number of different operating systems that run on PowerPC-based computers, including the Macintosh operating system (System 7.5 and higher), Windows NT, and OS/2.