Windows 7 To Be 256-Core Aware

unassimilatible writes "As new features of Windows 7 continue to trickle out, ZDNet is now reporting that it will scale to 256 processors. While one has to wonder, like with Vista, how many of the teased features will actually make it into the final OS, I think we can all agree, 256 cores is enough for anybody." This Mark Russinovich interview has some technical details (Silverlight required).

Comments

Re: I think we can all agree, 256 cores is enough

[t-maxx cowboy]

Someone once said there would never be a need for more than 640K in a personal computer. I wouldn't be so bold as to say 256 processor cores would be enough in a personal computer.

Re:So..

[chasisaac]

because they want to run Microsoft Office and another program. BLOATWARE FOREVER!

256 core awareness

[adcm]

It's aware of 256 cores, nothing about utilizing the 256. I'm guessing it probably has more to do with licensing, it needs to detect the cores properly so it can bill you for them individually.

Re:Blocking up the fail whales blowhole

[hairyfeet]

Actually if you look at interviews with Ballmer at the time(Sorry I can't find a link,but as others have noted my Google Fu is starting to seriously suck) but Xbox was his plan for "getting into the living room" and "connecting with the Windows PC for a total media experience" because at the time there was big press buzz about how Apple owned the music space and how easy it would be for Apple to own the living room. I forget what was the buzzword of the day-"upward convergence" or "upward integration" or something. Basically it was this theory-Apple gets a foot in the door with iPod,they then come out with a set top box that integrates with the iPod for a seemless experience,followed by support in Mac that makes for a total multimedia domination.

But the point still stands. Anyone who has been watching the moves at MSFT since Ballmer got the power can tell you that Ballmer wants to be Steve Jobs so bad it hurts. The problem with that is twofold. One,MSFT doesn't do cool. When they try to do cool,like with Zune and Vista,it comes out as lame and sucky. Apple can do cool because the Unix underpinnings have great memory and process management which means the bells and whistles don't slow it to a crawl. And second,by focusing their resources on trying to beat Apple at their own game,it not only comes off as "Me too!" ripping off,but it ignores the CORE of their business,which of course IS business.

Fortune 500 companies don't give a flying crap about cool. They want resource light(to cut down on hardware cost) they want easy to manage with little need for retraining(to cut down on IT support cost) and they want easy to lock down with Group Policy. Is there ANYONE who can look me in the eye and tell me with a straight face that Vista was designed for business? Is their anyone here who hasn't looked at the shots of Win7 and thought "damn they are even ripping off the Apple dock.". The point is MSFT better learn REAL quick where their bread is being buttered from,because even here in mudsuck AR I have had more and more SMB owners wanting to take a good hard look at Linux. Just a few years ago these folks wouldn't have given Linux a second thought. But MSFT focusing on the home users and loading their OS with bells and whistles are really starting to turn off the businesses. And with EA and others trying to make PCs unusable for gaming with DRM that acts worse than any virus,the LAST thing MSFT needs right now is for businesses to move to Linux/Apple.