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Panther Will Not be a 64-bit OS
rouge86 writes "The Register has an article on what Mac OS X 10.3 will be like. Mac OS X 10.3, aka Panther, will not be a 64-bit operating system, despite running on a 64-bit processor. Instead, the next major release of the Mac operating system will be a hybrid, much like version 10.2.7." You mean they didn't rewrite the entire operating system from the ground up? And that it will run on older, 32-bit, Macs? I am shocked!
At this moment I am awaiting Apple to ship the G5's, and when it does I'll be interested to see how this new architecture works, as compared to my current G4. What I'm awaiting is who will be the first to release the first 64-bit system for it. Does this remind anyone when Apple first released the first PowerPC, and only like 10% of the code was optimized for it.
All of the BSDs and Linux support 64-bit, and as far as I know, they weren't rewritten "from the ground up." They are all also compatible with both 32- and 64-bit machines, so I don't see legacy hardware compatability being a huge problem.
None of those can hold a candle to the mighty Ocelot. I'm sure Apple's saving that one for OS 11.
Tigger was already used; I believe it was the codename for Xserve.
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
I'd say Cougar. :)
According to El Reg, Panther is not a true 64-bit operating system. However, Panther can do 64-bit tricks. So many 64-bit tricks that it works and behaves as a 64-bit OS would, accessing more than 8 GB of RAM, and so forth, if asked... but its not 64-bit.
I think I'll file under 'makes no difference to me'.
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
Yeah, it only happened 10 years ago..
First 64-bit CPU: DEC Alpha, 1993
First 64-bit OS: DEC OSF/1, 1993
Smeagol is a 32-bit operating system, though certain libraries and other elements have been recoded to allow applications - and the OS itself - to make use of the 64-bit addressing and datapaths, sources close to Apple said. For example, that's how the Power Mac G5 is able to support at least 8GB of memory, double the 32-bit limit of 4GB. Panther will adopt the same approach, said the source.
:).
Don't Pentiums with PAE have this ability. 64 bit doesn't mean "double" the addressability. A fully 64bit address is 2^32 * 2*32 or roughly 4 billion SQUARED. Somone needs to learn binary
The Opteron doens't have full 64bit addressing either... I think its like 42 or 48bits.
uh? what about Amiga OS 3.0? that was about 1992 or so. Much earlier than Windows 95 anyway.
"lack of quality control is one of the pillars of slashdot"
Wrong.
;-)
AmigaOS is a full 32-bit OS that was running on a 16/32-bit-CPU in the beginning (meaning a CPU with internal 32 bit for registers and so on, but only a 16 bit address and data bus).
And now, let the flame war begin.
PS: Ah, yes, and OS/2, Linux, BSD or Xenix are 32 bit OSes for the Intel-architecture before 1995.
DEC OSF/1 don't run on PowerPC nor it run on x86
Following your criteria, you could say DOS was a 32 bit OS.
This is really no different than using hacks like emm386
I'm not looking to start a flame war, i'm just wondering exactly what you're referring to.
Ah, I see I should have included the winky smiley face after my No! Seriously! comment. The ill fated attempt at humor would have been much more apparent.
The roots of OSX, namely Rhapsody, OpenStep, and NeXTSTEP all had x86 versions. In fact, they also had Sparc, Moto 68K and HP Gecko versions as well.
We are not talking about making an x86 port, a port existed with the codebase Apple obtained when it purchased NeXT. If Apple would not continue to maintain the x86 port as a hedge bet against Motorola's lack of ability to ramp up the speeds of their PowerPC chip, then they took a very big risk.
Continuing to keep the x86 codebase in line with the recent versions of OS X would be a very nice alternative just in case IBM and their PPC 970 crapped out and failed to deliver. After all, they would just have to maintain the code and keep it up with the current PPC release. As long as it compiles and runs (to some degree), they are mostly there.
That way, they could switch themselves over to the best offerings from Intel and/or AMD at a moment's notice rather than get caught with sub 2 GHz G4's for the next 2-3 years until a rushed port is available. Or worse yet, Motorola decides to sell off or get out of the CPU business.
I tried every decent and legal way I could think of to resolve the issue w/the business before I rented the chicken suit
The currently known architectures are:
ppc
i386
m68k
hppa
i860
m88k
sparc
ppc601
ppc603
ppc604
ppc604e
ppc750
ppc7400
ppc7450
ppc970
i486
i486SX
pentium
i586
pentpro
i686
pentIIm3
pentIIm5
m68030
m68040
hppa7100LC