Re: It shipped with an OS.
The whole point of X86-64, is that it runs at full speed the millions of Programs, OS's, etc. already in wide use. As a bonus, it can run 64 bit programs as they come out.
Certainly a few will arrive with the chip, but probably not many, and it doesn't matter.
Unlike Itanium, which presently is indicated to be slower than any standard X86 chip selling for more than $50 when running existing applications and OS, Sledgehammer will "run what you brung" at impressive speeds.
If somebody is willing to toss their entire suite of applications and switch to a new OS in order to get 64 bits, they can just move to the proven Alpha platform, or the Sparc platform, or the Power PC platform. Why go for a just as expensive, not better performing, untried and untested Itanium and its untried and untested applications and OSs?
Sledgehammer provides for a gradual transition - which has been the secret to success in this business for the last 20 years.
Regards,
Dan |
