Comments on: Microsoft delays Windows Server update, 64-bit OS

Push-back is blow to AMD, which has been waiting for version of Windows that can take advantage of Athlon's 64-bit capabilities.

Meanwhile in the land of the free...

... Fedora Linux FC2 on Athlon 64 is running nicely. It's a shame that Windows support has slipped.

Ian W.

64 bit computing is alive & well (except in Redmond)

64 bit dual processor IBM G5 chips have been running Mac OS X
Panther since the beginning of this year. Linux runs on AMD 64
bit chip. Seems as if MS has some 'splainin' to do to its' share
holders. Keeping a monopoly alive with flawed software full of
viruses & DOJ / EU / Lindows / etc lawsuits one after the other,
makes it hard to focus a bloated company on a bloatware OS.
MS is a DOS dinosaur in XP clothing. Open source 64 bit
software is here & now, not a distant pipe dream on Citizen
Gates horizon. Redmond, you have a problem...

[Johnny Mnemonic]

Why?!

I am a little confused. If you have a 64 bit compiler, the rest should just fall into place shouldn't it? I believe Linux has been 64 bit for several years now with the Itanium and the AMD64. What's the hold up? I thought Microsoft had was "innovative" as they put it. They can't even keep up with current and old innovations that have been around for a while.

[George Cole]

Itanium and the AMD64

http://www.analogstereo.com/mercedes_cls_class_owners_manual.htm

[Johnny Mnemonic]

Why?!

I am a little confused. If you have a 64 bit compiler, the rest should just fall into place shouldn't it? I believe Linux has been 64 bit for several years now with the Itanium and the AMD64. What's the hold up? I thought Microsoft had was "innovative" as they put it. They can't even keep up with current and old innovations that have been around for a while.

[Johnny Mnemonic]

Where's the innovation?

Supposedly MS has this HUGE R&D department creating innovations! Will someone please tell me what they ever invented? I am curious. The only thing I see that MS has innovated is licensing old technology that others besides MS invented. Yes, they have innovated the new IP licensing regime. Where's the beef?

[Tex Murphy PI]

Software is always the laggard

When it comes to the computing environment, software has ALWAYS lagged behind hardware.

It took years until Windows 3.X could use the 32-bit extensions and in the 386 chips when they first came out - and they only took advantage of the extra memory via kludging.

Real support for 32-bit on the OS level really didn't come about till IBM shipped OS/2, and Microsoft shipped Windows NT 3.5 - that was YEARS after Intel released the 386 chip - and by that time, the 846 was already the mainstream processor.

So, if you look at the delays between the availability of the x86 chip and the OS, MS is actually closing that gap (though not fast enough for AMD to enjoy and build on the 64-bit lead over Intel).

On a final note, I suspect that the delay also has as much to do with Intel's way-delayed entry into the 64-bit X86 market. It makes much more sense for MS to ship 64-bit Windows with BOTH Intel and AMD support, rather than having to release a kludgy interim patch for the Intel processors later.

MBU = MSR&D

MS R&D (oxymoron)? A tiny division of MS called MBU (Macintosh
Business Unit) that creates software from MS to run on Mac OS X
is where ALL the MS "innovations" happen.
Once Apple has a new system in place (64 bit OSX Panther / IBM
G5 / Aqua / Airport / iTunes / iPod / etc.) MS must develop new
software for Mac to "catch up", yet funny thing, a lot of those
"features" become "MS innovations" in their NEXT OS?
(i.e."Longhorn 2006") As long as MS keeps Apple as a "friend"
DOJ / EU are happy & MS R7D is on Apple's nickel in Cuppertino.
Citizen Gates, doesn't it get cold standing in other tech giants'
shadows?