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Windows XP-64 Delayed Into 2005

Posted by simoniker on from the better-late-than-ever dept.

vincecate writes "Although Windows XP on AMD64 was demoed at ComDex in 2002, Microsoft is now delaying the release till the first half of 2005. Given Microsoft's history on this product, it could be even more than a year before it is really released. At least one person at Intel says they did not ask Microsoft to delay the release. In any case, for the near future if you want to run a 64 bit operating system you will either be using one of the free Linux versions or the free download of Windows XP-64 beta. Though Sun started well after Microsoft, they are progressing well on their Solaris port to AMD64 and could well release earlier."

10 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. Better late than buggy by wheany · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's better they release it a little late than with more bugs.

  2. Funny timing... by jarich · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This will give Intel's offering time to get established in the marketplace....

    --
    Agile Artisans
  3. forgot one OS... by bogusbrainbonus · · Score: 4, Insightful
    In any case, for the near future if you want to run a 64 bit operating system you will either be using one of the free Linux versions or the free download of Windows XP-64 beta.

    Or you'll be running Mac OS X...

    1. Re:forgot one OS... by rsmith-mac · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It does have a 64bit math library however, which exposes the most important functions of the 64bitness of the G5. Full 64bit isn't as important on the G5, since unlike x86-64, there's not an inheriant speed benefit due to more registers or anything like that.

  4. 64 bit operating systems by Ronald+Dumsfeld · · Score: 5, Insightful
    In any case, for the near future if you want to run a 64 bit operating system you will either be using one of the free Linux versions or the free download of Windows XP-64 beta.
    My, but does anyone else think the submitter live in a rather sheltered world?

    I've been running a 64-bit operating system for the past five or six years, and it isn't one of those mentioned. It just happens to be OpenVMS running on Alpha.
    --
    Where's the Kaboom?
    There's supposed to be an Earth-shattering Kaboom.
  5. And as usual, Microsoft is late to the party by hcdejong · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes, this looks like flamebait, but I'm actually surprised that it's taking MS this long, considering the resources they can throw at any given problem.

  6. Solaris has been 64-bits since 1995 by peter303 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They've long known all the hidden 32-bit bottlenecks in their OS and dealt with them. So I suspect, Sun's shipping date is mainly a matter of testing and verification.

  7. Lack of drivers by chiph · · Score: 4, Insightful

    My guess is that they're delaying the release in order to get the manufacturers to release more x86-64 drivers. Microsoft has always understood this to be important for their success (unlike OS/2).

    Whenever I shop for new hardware, I look at the drivers first -- having good drivers is more important than the hardware itself.

    Chip H.

  8. Re:Windows is not designed for these things by MtViewGuy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Microsoft has to hunt down every pointer in their windows code, which is vast. Even with Microsoft's resources it's going to take them a while before they have a fully 64bit version of Windows.

    I think Microsoft will delay the release of the x86-64 version of Windows XP so 1) they can get true 64-bit driver support and 2) they can recode all the programs that come with WinXP to true 64-bit versions (Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and so on). It also gives more time for third-party software vendors to complete development of true 64-bit versions of their software, too.

  9. Misleading Title by cynic783 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    64-bit Windows has been available for Itanium 64-bit for quite some time. The fact that it is not available for AMD's 32/64-bit hybrid is another story.

    And lost in this discussion is whether the x86 architecture is actually good for consumers in the long run? It's got tons of exceptions, has an asymmetric instruction set, and is really outdated.

    It's time to break the compatibility chain to allow forward progress. Kind of like depending on BIOS, ISA architecture, etc.

    I'm so tired of M$ portrayed on Slashdot as a comic-book villain, often without substantial discussion of the issues.