> I don't know... in my opinion, 'full advantage' would include as much > backward compatibility as can be provided. > > I have some very old application that I am quite fond of, and it > pleases me when a newer OS will permit me to run them.
I can appreciate backward compatibility and actually, Windows is quite good at it. It's even possible to run some old DOS/WFWG/Win95 applications under XP in compatibility mode. That's not really what I'm talking about though. If the OS cannot utilize the expanded instruction set then you're pretty much in the same boat as if it weren't there in the first place. It's kind of like the old days when Windows had limitations on how much memory it could use; why have a meg of memory when you can only use 640k? (Yeah, I'm dating myself, I know.) Unlike the memory issues, I don't think we'll be seeing a simple patch in the Windows world to allow the 32 bit version of the OS to take advantage of the 64 bit instruction set. :-P For the main part, I don't think 64 bit processors are even close to "their time" yet. Sure, high-end applications could make use of it, but the average home user? Power has long since outstripped need and need isn't coming to close to catching up anytime in the near future. James ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get Bzzzy! (real tools to help you find a job). Welcome to the Sweet Life. http://us.click.yahoo.com/KIlPFB/vlQLAA/TtwFAA/0XFolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this list, please email [EMAIL PROTECTED] & you will be removed. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LINUX_Newbies/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
