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Despite Aging Design, x86 Still in Charge
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 Critics say x86 is saddled with the burden of supporting outdated features and software, and that improvements in energy efficiency and software development have been sacrificed to its legacy.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.'"
In terms of volume shipments ARM and even Z80 sell _BILLIONS_. However margins are lower and the devices are either embedded or software compatibility is simply not an issue e.g. mobile phones where one uses the JVM or data is provided to an app and apps are recompiled per platform.
In terms of the PC - well, x86 is in charge and always will be. Without x86 a PC wouldn't really be a PC. Can one emulate/simulate x86? Yup, been done - especially well with FX!32. Is it more cost effective than just using x86? Not really.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Give this Vista basing a rest you guys are sounding like a stuck record. Dell offer a OS refund so go get it and buy XP. Stop moaning for the sake of it. Did you moan when XP came out? Complaining that Windows 98 was perfectly fine, a little sluggish and it crashed a few times but was okay for me.
So he'll take that PC home, fire it up, and be pretty much instantly pissed. Not only is it slow and sluggish as hell, but this time he has to contend with a lot of new features that he has no clue or experience about. Depending on his patience, he'll plug away for a day or a few, but eventually he'll call me, or someone like me.
This is an often repeated lie on slashdot. While certain FPS games may experienc lower framerates on Vista, almost all normal end user experiences are faster, in many case significantly faster. Every computer I've upgraded to Vista sees a significant performance boost, although every one of those computers has at least 1 gig of ram. No one will call you because Vista is a huge improvement for the average user. The average user LIKES Vista. And you, unfortunately, are just a loser.
Oh, and before I get modded into oblivion by the MS fanboys, look into your hearts. You know I'm right.
Umm, this is slashdot. There are no MS fanboys. MS doesn't inspire irrational enthusiasm. Vista may not be as revolutionary as MS would like people to believe, but it is a huge step in the right direction and will assuredly be with us for at least the next 5 years.
I don't read or respond to AC posts