Lucius - Re: " Also, in the beginning ther is a good chance that Microsoft won't have their software ready"
Knowing Microsoft, that will be an absolute Certainty.
No Problemo.
Intel is developing this chip with HP. The Merced will run HP's PA-Risc software right out of the box as well as Intel's x86 instruction set. For HP, all their software is already in place. They merely replace PA-9000 chips with Merceds and run the same software.
For existing Intel software, ditto - it should run VERY FAST - not OPTIMALLY - but very fast.
Further, HP already has their 64 bit version of UNIX (HP-UX) in release form = HP-UX, V. 11, I think. So, Intel will have one very happy customer, at least.
In addition, HP Intel and the Santa Cruz Operation are working on a standard 64 bit UNIX implementation for System V Unix. If this is available and supports the multiple MERCED configuations - "rumored" to be up to 256 MERCED processors in MP mode - UNIX may become the first OS to ship with these machines.
That is also why software companies (SAP for example) are already on board with the MERCED program - possibly to support UNIX versions of their software on Merced.
Microsoft will feel this "heat" and hopefully accelerate their 64 bit Windows NT.
As for the Desktop - allow me to address this issue. Let's suppose the MERCED sells for $2000 apiece.
Add another $2000 for a motherboard, chip sets, memory and a mouse and you got $4000.
In 1982 I RUSHED OUT to spend $3500 on a decked out IBM PC with a 4.77 MHz 8088 machine, 160K floppy disk drive and 64 KILOBytes of memory. If you don't think that the MERCED won't be a BARGAIN even at $4000 or $5000 you will be mistaken.
Many people - except Mike Taylor And Jozef Halada who are in love with cheapo cheapo productions - will gladly spend this kind of money for this HORSEPOWER! It will be the bargain of the remaining 20'th century.
Paul |
