> > 64 bits is neither here nor there in a vaccuum. you want 64 bits if > > a) you need more than 4GB of memory, or > > a) those extra registers and direct vlong really matter for performance. > > otherwise it's just a lot of extra zeros. > > Let's not commit a false alternatives fallacy here.... For example, the > very large virtual address space of 64bit is useful, even without 4 GB > of RAM. It allows all sorts of madnesses, such as memory mapping > petabyte sized devices, or other programmatic conveniences such as large > sparse vectors.
there is no fallacy here. remember Plan 9 is Not Multics. plan 9 doesn't memory map drives. in fact, there is no mmap function at all. plan 9 doesn't use dsm either. i'm not sure what you mean by "programming conveniences such as large, sparse vectors". - erik
