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"Macintel" Q&A
Update Published July 11, 2006
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Is FileMaker Pro available as a "Universal Binary"? How fast is it on the Intel-based Macs?
For readers who are not familiar already with the term "Universal Binary", it refers to an application that is "native" for both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. Applications written for PowerPC-based Macs only can run on Intel-based Macs via the "Rosetta" translator. For more on "Rosetta", please refer to the answer to "What is Rosetta? What does it support?" also in the "Macintel" Q&A.
On July 10, 2006, FileMaker announced FileMaker Pro 8.5, FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced, FileMaker Server 8.0v4, and FileMaker Server 8.0v4 Advanced as Universal applications.
The speed boost on dual core Intel-based Macs is substantial compared to single core PowerPC-based Macs. FileMaker reported FileMaker Pro 8.5 is "up to 91% faster" on Intel-based Macs (specifically when adding records), in an internal test. FileMaker reports that:
Our test compared FileMaker Pro 8.5 on an iMac G5 2.1 GHz with 1 GB memory and Mac OS X 10.4.6 and FileMaker Pro 8.5 on an iMac Intel "Core Duo" 2.0 GHz with 1 GB memory and Mac OS X 10.4.6. The test database contained between 5,000 and 20,000 records.
Other than support for Intel-based Macs, the number of new features is small, but included an interesting "Web Viewer" feature "that puts a live Web browser window in your database", a "Learning Center" that "offers step-by-step video tutorials" and "Object Functions and Scripts" to improve database navigation.
Regarding the performance of the earlier non-Universal FileMaker 8 running under "Rosetta" a Macintouch [no longer online] "Reader Report" provided a variety of feedback. One reader says that FileMaker Pro 8 runs "without any issues", another that he has noticed only "a very slight and barely noticeable delay when switching from the Finder to a FileMaker window", and still another that it is "pretty painful" and "crashes about every hour". Readers provide feedback on older versions of FileMaker Pro as well.
However, now that FileMaker Pro 8.5 is available as a Universal Binary, users of Intel-based Macs likely will want to upgrade as soon as possible to take advantage of the performance improvements. The upgrade price is US$99.
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