On Mon, 14 Jul 2003, john gilmore wrote: > > Thus, while the economic case for converting existing 31-bit applications to > 64-bit ones may or may not be persuasive (Often it is not), the case for > developing new ones in anything bit a 64-bit environment is a dubious one.
I'm sure we can all think of potential applications where the word-size is next to irrelevant. There _will_ be 32-bit CPUs in use for years to come. Heck, I just discovered the ppc 604e, used in that aged powermac just beyond my desk, is used in current pSeries machines. I don't know whether there are i386 machines still in use, but I see the occasional i486, and there are lots of Pentiums being put to fresh tasks. Those are pointers to how long boxes being sold new today are likely to be in use, and sales of 32-bit CPUs will continue to outnumber sales of 64-bit processors for some time. Did you know that the z80 is still a current product? -- Cheers John. Join the "Linux Support by Small Businesses" list at http://mail.computerdatasafe.com.au/mailman/listinfo/lssb Copyright John Summerfield. Reproduction prohibited.
