BentHeadTX said:
Once programming is written specifically for 64 bit, then you will see the performance jump you are looking for. For now, the 64 bit stuff is just 32 bit made to run on 64 so major performance jumps are not there. My "64 bit" AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Socket 939 processor runs WinXP MCE 2005 and I am very happy with the performance/coolness of the CPU. Dual-core upgrade is in the works towards the end of this year but I won't upgrade to WinXP 64. Maybe sometime in 2007 or 2008 once the conversion will be simplified.
... Solaris SPARC was native 64-bit... and we compiled the apps ourselves, all with their 64-bit compilers and toolkits.
I really hope the Windows experience will work out better. Performance is always nice, hype is most certainly not. The vast majority of 64-bitness right now is hype, pure and simple hype.
carrot said:
I want a SPARC machine... mostly for the novelty of it. How cool would it be to have someone ask you what kind of processor your laptop's got, and respond, 'SPARC'?
Actually, does the SPARC architecture have any advantages over x86?
Well, I would not normally recommend anything like that, but if you are looking for a web surfboard to read CPF by, it'll do. Novelty is right. Nothing that a halfbaked x86 box with welfare UNIX can't do better faster and cheaper. (guess I'm bitter, I've been let down too many times)
Get one with a cool case, at least it will look good.
Reminds me - I recently saw a SGI O2 workstation, the one with the interesting domed case. When I was a geek doing technology for technology's sake, we would have killed to have one. I saw one a few months ago for $50. I didn't take it - just a photo of it. Can't find any concievable use for it. Let not your hobby become a job, it can, uhh,
RADICALLY alter your perspective on what's cool and what's not.