On Monday, May 6, 2002, at 05:23 , Gregg Eshelman wrote: > The x86 CPUs seem to have added more features with > each generation than did the 68k CPUs, like going > from an 8bit memory bus to 16bit then 32bit. They > added relatively large internal caches and FPUs. > To add features to Windows _and_ continue support > (with a limited feature set) for older CPUs would've > made Windows code more complex. > > The 68k CPUs started life at mostly 32bit then went > full 32bit and didn't change much except for > integrating the MMU then finally the FPU and a small > internal cache in the 040.
That's a pretty good explanation of why I took 68k assembler in college and have forever avoided x86 assembler -- won't even touch it with a 10-foot-pole. 68k assembler just made sense to me. x86 -- "not so much." > After the 040 and 486 they split off in different > directions. Motorola made a few further advances > with the 68k but Apple chose to dive into the pool > with IBM and Motorola on the PowerPC and an aborted > attempt to build a computer that would run Mac OS > and other operating systems. (The CHRP system.) > The x86 world decided to pile on more and more Mhz > and features like MMX, 3D-Now! and a whole host of > others. Apple/IBM/Motorola has brought us a steady > progression in basic performance from the 601 through > the G3 and one major added feature with AltiVec on > the G4. (Which still isn't fully exploited.) One wonders when the x86 MHz pile-on will dead end. > Just because you CAN run some versions of the Mac > System or Mac OS on a computer 8 or so years older > than the OS version doesn't mean that it's going to > be tolerable to use. :) Windows avoided that by > dropping support for older CPUs with fewer features > and less capabilities. Call it "fostering consumer > loyalty" if you want, but it sure didn't help drive > sales of new Macs to not "fix" each new major > System version to drop the previous CPU generation. I always called it "controlled obsolescence." Eagle -- Vintage Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Vintage Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/vintagemacs.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/vintage.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
