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Despite Aging Design, x86 Still in Charge

Posted by Zonk on from the king-of-the-hill dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The x86 chip architecture is still kicking, almost 30 years after it was first introduced. A News.com article looks into the reasons why we're not likely to see it phased out any time soon, and the history of a well-known instruction set architecture. 'Every time [there is a dramatic new requirement or change in the marketplace], whether it's the invention of the browser or low-cost network computers that were supposed to make PCs go away, the engineers behind x86 find a way to make it adapt to the situation. Is that a problem? Critics say x86 is saddled with the burden of supporting outdated features and software, and that improvements in energy efficiency and software development have been sacrificed to its legacy. And a comedian would say it all depends on what you think about disco.'"

13 of 475 comments (clear)

  1. English is 700 years old by athloi · · Score: 4, Funny

    It should be replaced with Esperanto when we all upgrade to Vista.

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    technical writing / development
    1. Re:English is 700 years old by bWareiWare.co.uk · · Score: 4, Funny

      If 8086 was a horse, then x86_64 would have sixteen legs and be capable of mach 3.

    2. Re:English is 700 years old by Unicorn+Giggles · · Score: 4, Funny

      Modded down for vista bashing??? You haven't been here long have you, all we have around here are apple and linux fanboys.

    3. Re:English is 700 years old by Unicorn+Giggles · · Score: 3, Funny

      you want to see downmods, watch this: Steve Jobs has sex with donkeys! Bill Gates is AWESOME! Linux wouldn't be so bad if it actually worked, and when it did, could run anything. prepare to see downmods.

  2. Re:Let me guess... by Half+a+dent · · Score: 5, Funny

    4. ???
    5. Profit

  3. Re:Let me guess... by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did I miss anything?


    I think you forgot to mention installed base.
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    My blog
  4. Re:Let me guess... by precize · · Score: 5, Funny

    The one time "All your base are belong to us" is actually an on-topic comment

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    www.code-fix.com
  5. Re:60% of transistors used for legacy modes? by TodMinuit · · Score: 4, Funny

    He only used 60% of his brain when writing the article. Sadly, he collected 100% of his pay check.

    (Obl: 43% of people know that all statistics are made up.)

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    I wonder if I use bold in my signature, people will notice my posts.
  6. I think I know... by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where does he get the 60% from?
    His ass looks suspiciously spacious...
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    You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
  7. Oh, the irony.. by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 4, Funny

    The irony of being a grammar Nazi by pointing out that the statement "People like you make Nazi's look good." is incorrect. It should be "People like you make Nazis look good." - unless there is some unseen object that the Nazis posses, the apostrophe before the "s" is unnecessary and incorrect. Simply adding a "s" to the end is sufficient to make it plural.

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    "But this one goes to 11!"
  8. In short:x86 is the result of natural selection... by dpbsmith · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...rather than intelligent design.

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    "How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!

  9. I tried.. by Vr6dub · · Score: 5, Funny

    I tried looking into my heart but it asked me to "allow" or "deny". When I hit "allow" I got a BSOD. I'll have to get back to you on that one.

  10. Re:Simple! by Nimey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Slashdot needs a mod tag (-1, Car analogy).

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