How to Run Applications in Translation for PowerPC & Intel Dual Core Macs

Newer Macintoshes can still run Power PC applications using Apple's Rosetta software.

There have been three major architectures for Macintosh computers since their introduction in 1984, beginning with the 680x0 chipset. These were replaced with the PowerPC architecture, which includes Macintoshes using the G3, G4, and G5. PowerPC Macintoshes were then replaced by Intel-based Macintoshes, but newer Macintoshes can still run PowerPC applications using Apple's Rosetta software.

Instructions

1. Double-click on any PowerPC application installed on your Intel Macintosh to launch it. By default, Rosetta is installed alongside Mac OS X, and runs invisibly in the background after the first PowerPC application is launched.

2. Connect your Macintosh to the Internet if your Mac gives you an error message, asking to download Rosetta. Rosetta will be installed over the Internet whenever it is missing; this only needs to be done once, after which Rosetta will be available whenever it is needed.

3. Highlight any application in the Finder and choose "Get Info" from the File menu if you are curious whether it is a PowerPC or Intel application. This will appear after the "Kind": label in the info window.

Tips & Warnings

• Intel applications cannot be run on PowerPC hardware. Many applications are "Universal", meaning that they contain both Intel and PowerPC instructions; these applications can be run on either kind of Macintosh.

References

• Apple: Rosetta