MICROSOFT'S leak last year that it would develop a 64-bit operating system for AMD's x86-64 initiative was an essential step towards Sunnyvale's goal of winning acceptance for its new 64-bit processor. Without MS support, only people running Linux would've been able to take advantage of the CPU's 64-bit mode, which would've effectively ended AMD's push for 64-bits in the desktop and potentially even crippled server/workstation deployment.
With all the hooplah over Windows XP: 64-bit Edition, you might think the introduction of the operating system was the end of the line for AMD's software hurdles. In fact, it's just the beginning. Anyone who's ever looked at a base OS install knows that even as integrated an OS as WindowsXP doesn't do a whole lot on its own. You can watch some videos, write some basic documents, play a few games, and surf the web—but you aren't going to be doing much else. Unfortunately for AMD, these aren't the sort of tasks that require 64-bit computing, so the Athlon 64 isn't likely to give us any awe-inspiring performance when it comes to surfing the 'Net. (The P4, of course, according to Intel's Bloodsucking Marketing ™ will increase your internet surfing speed 600%, double your girth, and sell you human growth hormone). 64-bit solitaire, it's safe to say, will play just like 32-bit solitaire.
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Sep 2, 2003, 04:50 AM
