Mac OS X "Older" Graphics Chip Furor

Apple started a tempest when it updated this KB article late Thursday. The addition states "Further Mac OS X support for the graphic accelerator chip sets listed above is not planned." Basically, Apple will not release/improve Mac OS X drivers for graphics accelerator chips earlier than the ATI Rage 128 and Rage 128 Mobility. This leaves out Power Macs earlier than the B&W G3, PowerBooks earlier than the 2000 model (Pismo), original iBooks and iMacs through the 333 MHz model. While 3D acceleration for these earlier chips is marginal, 2D is not. Mac OS X 2D acceleration is still poor for all graphics chips as noted in our article above but the earlier "supported" Macs will apparently never improve. Apple has stated many times that all iMacs, iBooks, G3 Power Macs and later and G3 PowerBooks and later (except the original) would be supported under Mac OS X. We believe that Apple should live up to this commitment. Yes, Mac OS X runs on the earlier Macs but we think the commitment should extend to supporting all hardware that shipped in them. You may send your comments to Apple from the Mac OS X Feedback Page.