Just bought new Mac Pro, will I be able to install my PPC apps?

Question

Hello,
Just ordered a new Mac Pro Dual 2.0 online today. After reading a lot of posts on here, I'm wondering if I made the right decision and should have bought a Dual G5 Quad instead. Will my PPC apps install at all on the new Mac and will they run? I do a lot of audio work and I'm already noticing that there is a pretty long wait with the UB updates. Not really looking forward toward the hassle of updating everything all over again...Do you think the MP was a better investment than a refurbished G5 Quad? I assume I'll be able to install Logic Pro from my 7.0 DVD's and then upgrade to 7.2 or does it not work this way? I'm hoping that the upgrade to Logic 7.2 is not a paid upgrade. Since I just bought online yesterday, do you think they'd let me cancel before shipping?
Shane

Answer 1

PPC applications will run on Intel Macs through the Rosetta emulator. You will see a speed hit, however. Rosetta runs about 30 percent slower than native apps due to the emulation hit. The exception will be Java applications. Java applications that use the JNI libraries need to be converted to universal binaries in order to run on an Intel Mac. The other exception will be applications that require plug-ins and/or startupitems or install special frameworks. These will need to be universal binaries or they simply won't work on an Intel Mac.
If possible you will want to upgrade your PPC apps to their universal binary versions if such versions are available.
A Basic Guide for Migrating to Intel-Macs
If you are migrating a PowerPC system (G3, G4, or G5) to an Intel-Mac be careful what you migrate. Keep in mind that some items that may get transferred will not work on Intel machines and may end up causing your computer's operating system to malfunction.
Rosetta supports "software that runs on the PowerPC G3 or G4 processor that are built for Mac OS X". This excludes the items that are not universal binaries or simply will not work in Rosetta:
Classic Environment, and subsequently any Mac OS 9 or earlier applications
Screensavers written for the PowerPC
System Preference add-ons
All Unsanity Haxies
Browser and other plug-ins
Contextual Menu Items
Applications which specifically require the PowerPC G5
Kernel extensions
Java applications with JNI (PowerPC) libraries
See also What Can Be Translated by Rosetta.
In addition to the above you could also have problems with migrated cache files and/or cache files containing code that is incompatible.
If you migrate a user folder that contains any of these items, you may find that your Intel-Mac is malfunctioning. It would be wise to take care when migrating your systems from a PowerPC platform to an Intel-Mac platform to assure that you do not migrate these incompatible items.
If you have problems with applications not working, then completely uninstall said application and reinstall it from scratch. Take great care with Java applications and Java-based Peer-to-Peer applications. Many Java apps will not work on Intel-Macs as they are currently compiled. As of this time Limewire, Cabos, and Acquisition are available as universal binaries. Do not install browser plug-ins such as Flash or Shockwave from downloaded installers unless they are universal binaries. The version of OS X installed on your Intel-Mac comes with special compatible versions of Flash and Shockwave plug-ins for use with your browser.
The same problem will exist for any hardware drivers such as mouse software unless the drivers have been compiled as universal binaries. For third-party mice the current choices are USB Overdrive or SteerMouse. Contact the developer or manufacturer of your third-party mouse software to find out when a universal binary version will be available.
Also be careful with some backup utilities and third-party disk repair utilities. Disk Warrior (does not work), TechTool Pro (pre-4.5.1 versions do not work), SuperDuper (newest release works), and Drive Genius (untested) may not work properly on Intel-Macs. The same caution may apply to the many "maintenance" utilities that have not yet been converted to universal binaries.
Before migrating or installing software on your Intel-Mac check MacFixit's Rosetta Compatibility Index.
Additional links that will be helpful to new Intel-Mac users:
Intel In Macs
Apple Guide to Universal Applications
MacInTouch List of Compatible Universal Binaries
MacInTouch List of Rosetta Compatible Applications
MacUpdate List of Intel-Compatible Software
Written by Kappy with additional contributions from a brody.