Apple’s new computers based on the G5 chip (IBMs 64-bit PowerPC 970, though be aware OSX is still a 32-bit OS - that includes OSX 10.3 aka Panther) are now shipping, or at least the 1.6ghz and 1.8ghz models. The 2.0ghz which accounted for about half of the preorders won’t ship until the end of the month, or sometime in early september.
Probably most interesting about this announcement is the box! It’s currently featured on apples website here
Its a pretty slick black box with a cutout allowing to see the front of the casing (the cheese grater) which is laying on its side.
yeah, well AMD is about to comeout with a processor that goes faster then that and can handle 32bit and 64bit processing. Better. PC for life (untill someone makes linux/unix more universal)
…and for those who only read headlines (or only the first few lines)::
from the end of the article…
It’s a smart move that allows the platform to take advantage of the key aspects of 64-bit computing without forcing a migration from the 32-bit world. It also gives developers breathing room to get their applications 64-bit clean in time for when Apple decides that it does want to go fully 64-bit, presumably when all new Macs are based on 64-bit CPUs and there’s a large enough user base of legacy 64-bit systems.
Most buyers of AMD’s upcoming Athlon 64, by contrast, will have to wait until Microsoft ships a fully 64-bit version of Windows XP before they can take advantage of 64-bit computing. There is no Panther-like hybrid option available - 32-bit code that can cope with 64-bit addressing.
Initially, Windows users will be stuck with the 32-bit version of the OS, which the Athlon 64 also supports but which doesn’t deliver any of the new chip’s 64-bit benefits. More technically adept Athlon 64 users will presumably be able to run 64-bit Linux in the run up to the Microsoft release. However, many developers are waiting for 64-bit Windows XP to arrive before shipping 64-bit apps of their own - that isn’t expected until early 2004, according to internal AMD roadmaps. ®
ergo: a deliberate and wise move … not a failed claim to false advances