Slashdot Mirror
Intel Looks Beyond the Microchip
Dr Occult writes "BBC reports about upcoming major changes in Intel in 2006. The current Intel core, the Pentium, is on its way out and is to be replaced by a new chip called 'Core'. These new Core chips come in two flavours. Solo Core is a single core processor, and Duo Core is a dual core processor. Intel has also announced the Viiv standard. Viiv is less technology and more a shopping list of technologies. Aimed at the home entertainment market, it defines the latest generation of media centres that are capable of playing anything from MP3 songs to high-definition films."
"The current Intel core, the Pentium, is on its way out and is to be replaced by a new chip called 'Core'. These new Core chips come in two flavours. Solo Core is a single core processor, and Duo Core is a dual core processor."
How the hell did this make the front page? "Core Solo|Duo" is just what Intel calls their single, dual core processors now (remember, generic names are not worth anything to them, they must have a brand name). But is it news for nerds? Hardly.
"All microprocessor chips have a core. The current Intel core, the Pentium, is on its way out, to be replaced by a new core, called "Core".
It all sounds a bit like Intel's hijacking a technical term and trying to turn it into a brand name."
I've never really thought about this, but could it lead to confusion and/or lawsuits with regards to the AMD multi-core chips? I certainly wouldn't put such a hope past Intel.
Although the moon is smaller than the earth, it is farther away.
Therefore sure it should be impossible to have a valid trademark? Remember the reasoning behind "Pentium" rather than "586"?
So what is the "TM" doing on it?
And what will they do with all of this new found processor goodness without: A compiler, an OS, and applications that actually will these features?
Is there a completely 64 bit Linux? I *know* OS X isn't completely 64bit.
Is there a commonly available compiler that can *really* automatically compile C/C++ code such that it is optimized to use the vector extensions?
Is there a Java virtual machine that uses any advanced processor feature?
That's my point... with the exception of Games and Video applications what applications do regular users use and what will they use that demands 64 bitness? It's not web browsing, or E-mail, or IM, or VOIP, or even that "Web 2.0" crap. I'll tell you now that the existence of the VLC media player and Handbrake don't really justify the expense of 64bit machines. And I'll also bet you that the vast majority of users seldom use any of these processor features.
The hardware is here and it's been here for ages... I've been using various 64bit processors for at least 10 years. What isn't here and I don't seeing coming, except for games and scientific applications, is a real need for the average person. What the point of having a general purpose computer with that kind of performance if the *only* application is gaming, when you can go out and buy a special purpose console for considerably less money?
Given that reality a fast 32bit processor will be just as good to the average user for a long time to come.
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.