Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] News Alert from NYTimes.com: Hewlett-Packard to Buy Compaq (fwd)

["Dev Null" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> In large part because HP at some point apparently became *embarassed* by
> the fact that they mad nice, sturdy, high-end Unix boxes), and decided to
> help Intel design the chip (the itanium) that never arrived

At risk of being branded a heretic and burned at the stake at my first MLUG
meeting, I'd like to point out that Intel/HP have made more progress on the
Itanium than AMD's have on the Sledgehammer.  Last I checked, AMD are still
running emulators instead of using prototype chips.

Granted, BOTH of these chips are going to be really good when they're out --
just for different things/markets.

The Itanium is an entirely new chip -- not a lot in common with x86 -- and
will be competing for the BIG server market (you know, giant stuff that runs
mostly native code) and has a lot of future potential because of its native
64-bit architecture.  Yeah, it'll run 32-bit apps, but it has to do some
extra math.

The Sledgehammer will shine more with home/small business stuff, and will
likely compete more with the Pentium 4, et al. instead of the Itanium.
When/if it manifests, it will handle great for 32-bit apps, and will be able
to work with 64-bit apps.  Architecturally, the Sledgehammer hasn't got
long-term potential the way the Itanium does. . .  There's a chip leap
coming (similar to the 286 to 386 jump), and that means growing pains for us
techies.

My first message, and it's flamebait.  Heh.  8)

T3/Dev
"There's nothing wrong with capitalism."
  -- Oingo Boingo
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