WHAT IS A HASWELL PROCESSOR and why should I care?

The lines are clearly drawn, as are the preferences.

The cheapest: Microsoft 

The BEST: APPLE

I saw the writing on the wall years ago and became an Applista.  So when I saw this headline today, I became curious:

Haswell: What Intel’s new processor promises for Mac users

http://www.macworld.com/article/2041397/haswell-what-intel-s-new-processor-promises-for-mac-users.html