You aren't seriously suggesting that Microsoft should drop the far more robust NT platform for a dated Unix foundation, are you?
Dear god... if we Windows developers had to deal with the nonsense that is threading on Linux/BSD - I'd cry myself to sleep at night.
I know this is Unix fanboy central, but come on... Any problems with Windows are certainly not the result of its NT core. If anything, that's one of the best things Windows has going for it.
That seems strange. You may be correct, but during the beta there most certainly was a 64-bit version of WMP.
However, it would not work with 32-bit plug-ins, which may be the reason they decided not to ship it with an x64 build (and WMP doesn't really *need* to be 64-bit anyway).
Well, technically Windows x64 Edition will be out a few days before OS X "Tiger" - which is the first version of OS X to have any real 64-bit support.
It's also worth noting that adding 64-bit support to a PowerPC-based OS is much easier than adding it to an x86-based OS. PowerPC was designed with 64-bit operation in mind, x86 was not.
Prior to "Tiger," the best OS X could do was to support 4GB of memory per processor, with a maximum of 4GB of memory given to one application (because of the 32-bit address map).
Windows XP has been able to do that in PAE mode ("Physical Address Extension") for years now. That's why two years ago you could buy 32-bit Xeon systems with 12GB of memory from Dell (and you still can).
Given the nature of the move to 64-bit architectures, I think the industry as a whole is doing quite well.
If you want to bicker about Windows x64 vs. Tiger, then Windows clearly wins. In Tiger, GUI apps can't be 64-bit (you have to write 2 executables to support 32-bit graphical output from a 64-bit backend service). Windows x64 has no such limitation.
What are you talking about?
They haven't blocked Wine users from updating Office or any other programs.
In fact, the only things you can't download from Microsoft without WGA are Photostory 3 and AntiSpyware Beta 1.
And both of those are available at softpedia.
If you use an iPod with any unsupported software (it does say "Requires iTunes" on the box), such as XPlay or ephPod, Apple does a *deliberate* check if you EVER plug that iPod into a computer with iTunes open. iTunes immediately erases the database of that iPod, regardless of whether you even tried to access it or put music on it.
Heck, Microsoft isn't even making the patches unavailable... they're just not letting you use the automated web-based installer program. Big deal.
I'm staring in amazement at the ridiculousness of what you just said.
Jee, I just bought KeyNote for the Mac, and it won't install on my Windows PC! How dare they?
You don't go out and buy a BMW and then complain to them that it doesn't work in ten feet of water, do you?
If your system doesn't meet the requirements for running the app, DON'T BUY IT. For pete's sake, they even make a version for the Mac!
Actually, last time I checked, the box for Microsoft Office listed system requirements, including "Microsoft Windows 98 or later," or something to that effect.
ALL Microsoft Windows and Office updates are available WITHOUT using their automatic update services (Windows Update, Office Update, and the upcoming consolidated Microsoft Update program). Each of which clearly list Microsoft Windows 2000 or later as a requirement.
Let me start by saying that I love my Treo 600. It's the best "mobile device" I've ever had.
But I didn't buy it for the Palm OS. In fact, that's my least favorite thing about it.
I bought it because it was the first convergence device to "get it right." No one, at the time, had done the integration so well. No one had hardware that "just worked."
And no one had a Smartphone/PDA option that worked so very well as a PHONE, in addition to having superb internet capabilities.
With Blazer (a very nice browser, included) and VeriChat (MSN/AIM/etc.), and Newsgator Online Mobile Edition, I've got pretty much all the functionality I really want.
BUT.
My next device is probably not going to be the Treo 650. It's probably going to be the PPC-6601 (sold under the Audiovox brand in the US).
Why?
Partly because it offers superior hardware features that I want. But most of those I can get with the Treo 650 (better screen, bluetooth). Now, the 6601 still has a much higher resolution (640x480), better CPU & memory, better SDIO support, and an even better form factor (slide-out keyboard). But more importantly to me, it runs Windows Mobile.
Before my Treo, I had an Ericcson T610 and an iPaq 2215, both with bluetooth.
Having compared both OSes, the Windows Mobile platform is entirely superior for my needs. From an OS-level standpoint, it's quicker and more refined. It's also more reliable, in my experience.
The interface is cleaner, and more functional. Despite the above commentor's opinion that Windows Mobile tries to use the "desktop methaphor" on a PDA is completely ludicrous. In fact, to use his example, when looking up an address, I would do it pretty much the same way on either device. I would hit the "contacts" button from the main screen, and begin typing the contact's name on the keyboard until the name I want is in view. Then I'd tap it, and have all of their information in front of me. That's true on the Treo 600, and it's true on the Windows Mobile phones I've seen.
"To suggest that PocketPCs are intrinsically superior to equivalent Palm models is hilarious."
I don't see why that would be hilarious, though I don't think anyone has done that, either.
What I suggest is that assuming an equilivant form factor, battery life, and phone functionality (the first considerations for most people like me)... Windows Mobile wins.
It does everything the Palm OS does and so much more. That includes better hardware add-on support, better networking support, better screen capabilities (Landscape mode, higher resolutions), Macromedia Flash support,.NET Framework support (only will matter to some), and better integration with business systems.
They have vastly superior multimedia capabilities, better internet software, better upgradeability (for instance, PalmOne has announced no plans to give Treo 600 users the software on the Treo 650, which includes Exchange support).
If you're interested, you can check out more on the PPC-6601 here:
http://www.sprint.com/business/products/phones/ppc 6601_allPcsPhones.jsp
That version does not include built-in WiFi, which that model does in most other markets. Some of us are holding out hope that Sprint will add it back in for the consumer version sold in stores (to be announced very soon). But sadly, it's something we may have to live without.
Slashdot Mirror
Grow up.
Err, Intel has their own version of AltiVec...
They call it SSE/SSE2/SSE3.
Actually you've been able to buy Windows XP x64 for weeks now from several OEM vendors. I was speaking of official announcements, however.
You aren't seriously suggesting that Microsoft should drop the far more robust NT platform for a dated Unix foundation, are you? Dear god... if we Windows developers had to deal with the nonsense that is threading on Linux/BSD - I'd cry myself to sleep at night. I know this is Unix fanboy central, but come on... Any problems with Windows are certainly not the result of its NT core. If anything, that's one of the best things Windows has going for it.
That seems strange. You may be correct, but during the beta there most certainly was a 64-bit version of WMP. However, it would not work with 32-bit plug-ins, which may be the reason they decided not to ship it with an x64 build (and WMP doesn't really *need* to be 64-bit anyway).
Well, technically Windows x64 Edition will be out a few days before OS X "Tiger" - which is the first version of OS X to have any real 64-bit support.
It's also worth noting that adding 64-bit support to a PowerPC-based OS is much easier than adding it to an x86-based OS. PowerPC was designed with 64-bit operation in mind, x86 was not.
Prior to "Tiger," the best OS X could do was to support 4GB of memory per processor, with a maximum of 4GB of memory given to one application (because of the 32-bit address map).
Windows XP has been able to do that in PAE mode ("Physical Address Extension") for years now. That's why two years ago you could buy 32-bit Xeon systems with 12GB of memory from Dell (and you still can).
Given the nature of the move to 64-bit architectures, I think the industry as a whole is doing quite well.
If you want to bicker about Windows x64 vs. Tiger, then Windows clearly wins. In Tiger, GUI apps can't be 64-bit (you have to write 2 executables to support 32-bit graphical output from a 64-bit backend service). Windows x64 has no such limitation.
What are you talking about? They haven't blocked Wine users from updating Office or any other programs. In fact, the only things you can't download from Microsoft without WGA are Photostory 3 and AntiSpyware Beta 1. And both of those are available at softpedia.
Actually Apple does do just that.
If you use an iPod with any unsupported software (it does say "Requires iTunes" on the box), such as XPlay or ephPod, Apple does a *deliberate* check if you EVER plug that iPod into a computer with iTunes open. iTunes immediately erases the database of that iPod, regardless of whether you even tried to access it or put music on it.
Heck, Microsoft isn't even making the patches unavailable... they're just not letting you use the automated web-based installer program. Big deal.
Um, but the program doesn't check to see if it's running on WINE. The automatic updater does. The downloadable updates still work perfectly...
I'm staring in amazement at the ridiculousness of what you just said. Jee, I just bought KeyNote for the Mac, and it won't install on my Windows PC! How dare they? You don't go out and buy a BMW and then complain to them that it doesn't work in ten feet of water, do you? If your system doesn't meet the requirements for running the app, DON'T BUY IT. For pete's sake, they even make a version for the Mac!
Actually, last time I checked, the box for Microsoft Office listed system requirements, including "Microsoft Windows 98 or later," or something to that effect.
ALL Microsoft Windows and Office updates are available WITHOUT using their automatic update services (Windows Update, Office Update, and the upcoming consolidated Microsoft Update program). Each of which clearly list Microsoft Windows 2000 or later as a requirement.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/embedded/usewinemb/ce/su pproc/default.aspx
.NET (including 4.2 and newly 5.0) supports countless processors, including ARMS, MIPS, PowerPC, and x86.
Windows CE
What the...
where did all my formatting go?
Let me start by saying that I love my Treo 600. It's the best "mobile device" I've ever had. But I didn't buy it for the Palm OS. In fact, that's my least favorite thing about it. I bought it because it was the first convergence device to "get it right." No one, at the time, had done the integration so well. No one had hardware that "just worked." And no one had a Smartphone/PDA option that worked so very well as a PHONE, in addition to having superb internet capabilities. With Blazer (a very nice browser, included) and VeriChat (MSN/AIM/etc.), and Newsgator Online Mobile Edition, I've got pretty much all the functionality I really want. BUT. My next device is probably not going to be the Treo 650. It's probably going to be the PPC-6601 (sold under the Audiovox brand in the US). Why? Partly because it offers superior hardware features that I want. But most of those I can get with the Treo 650 (better screen, bluetooth). Now, the 6601 still has a much higher resolution (640x480), better CPU & memory, better SDIO support, and an even better form factor (slide-out keyboard). But more importantly to me, it runs Windows Mobile. Before my Treo, I had an Ericcson T610 and an iPaq 2215, both with bluetooth. Having compared both OSes, the Windows Mobile platform is entirely superior for my needs. From an OS-level standpoint, it's quicker and more refined. It's also more reliable, in my experience. The interface is cleaner, and more functional. Despite the above commentor's opinion that Windows Mobile tries to use the "desktop methaphor" on a PDA is completely ludicrous. In fact, to use his example, when looking up an address, I would do it pretty much the same way on either device. I would hit the "contacts" button from the main screen, and begin typing the contact's name on the keyboard until the name I want is in view. Then I'd tap it, and have all of their information in front of me. That's true on the Treo 600, and it's true on the Windows Mobile phones I've seen. "To suggest that PocketPCs are intrinsically superior to equivalent Palm models is hilarious." I don't see why that would be hilarious, though I don't think anyone has done that, either. What I suggest is that assuming an equilivant form factor, battery life, and phone functionality (the first considerations for most people like me)... Windows Mobile wins. It does everything the Palm OS does and so much more. That includes better hardware add-on support, better networking support, better screen capabilities (Landscape mode, higher resolutions), Macromedia Flash support, .NET Framework support (only will matter to some), and better integration with business systems.
They have vastly superior multimedia capabilities, better internet software, better upgradeability (for instance, PalmOne has announced no plans to give Treo 600 users the software on the Treo 650, which includes Exchange support).
If you're interested, you can check out more on the PPC-6601 here:
http://www.sprint.com/business/products/phones/ppc 6601_allPcsPhones.jsp
That version does not include built-in WiFi, which that model does in most other markets. Some of us are holding out hope that Sprint will add it back in for the consumer version sold in stores (to be announced very soon). But sadly, it's something we may have to live without.