There have been several questions about the Ferrari 3200 and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition. I found some information that I though would interest you in that regard.
First an interview with Microsoft senior vice president Bob Muglia (BM) and Windows Server Senior Director Jeff Price (JP) by Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase..._winserver.asp
"BM: One thing we've found is that 32-bit applications run better on the 64-bit OS than they do on 32-bits. Just adding a 64-bit processor and the 64-bit OS changes everything.
Paul: Now what are you comparing there? Are these machines running the same clock speed...
BM: Same everything. Same chips, same everything. We run apps on 32-bit Windows, and then take those same apps and run them on 64-bit Windows, and you'll get about an 8 percent performance improvement on average.
Paul: Are you seeing any difference between AMD's [64-bit] stuff and Intel's stuff?
BM: Yes. [Smiles]
Paul: Would you care to clarify that? [Laughs]
BM: Well, AMD has done a good job ...
[Laughter]
Paul: OK, I realize these companies are both important partners...
BM: I think both have invested very heavily... and I'm sure that customers will be happy with either solution.
Paul: All righty.
[Laughter]
BM: Are there differences? Yes, there are differences.
Paul: OK, so how do these companies differentiate their 64-bit products?
BM: So there are some things that AMD's done that Intel hasn't done, and I'm sure Intel will continue to invest here, and will do a really good job. AMD led the way on this one. There's no doubt they led the way on this one.
Paul: Right, I thought [AMD64] was going to be the orphaned [microprocessor] of the decade, the next Alpha...
BM: Oh I didn't think so. But do you know why I knew? Because of Dave.
Paul: Dave Cutler.
BM: Yeah, Dave's been all over this. Dave worked really closely with to design the chip. He was trying to get something that was really compatible and the problem that we have is that we want to support all of our applications totally. And these chips are just fantastic for that.
Paul: It's almost like applying the Microsoft model to [chip design]. The Itanium, for all its advantages, just couldn't run the installed base very well.
BM: No, not very well.
Paul: And it never will.
BM: No.
Paul: So back to the core OS benefits, again, where do these figures come from?
BM: This is our own internal testing. It's pretty remarkable what we're seeing, actually.
JP: There are a bunch of address space limitations to 32-bit, and for certain functions, you just can't get enough memory. And with a certain amount of memory, all of those limitations go away.
BM: We tested a whole series of workloads. Some workloads just don't benefit that much from 64-bits, but having a 64-bit OS on there gives you certain advantages. Other workloads--even if the app is 32-bit--you get a huge benefit by running on a 64-bit OS."
Then a posting from the product manager for Windows XP 64-Bit, Brian Marr:
http://www.planetamd64.com/portal.ph...c7c5c45edba102
"Hi Everyone -
My name is Brian Marr and I work in the Windows Client Product Management Team - I am the product manager for Windows XP64, which means that I am responsible for making the decisions that will affect how you get your hands on the product (along with a few other things).
I've been reading these threads and wanted to clarify some things about availability. Below is a summary of what we have planned. I hope this will answer your questions.
BETA PROGRAMS
Today we have a customer preview program, which it sounds as though most of you have taken advantage of. I realize that we have a very old build out there and I'm working with our release management team to get an update out asap. I think you are going to be impressed by how much work our development team has put into the OS since Beta 1 and look forward to hearing your feedback on it.
There is also a technical beta program - my understanding is that we'll open this back up again after XP SP2 ships. This is a great way to get builds more often, but there are some requirements around filing bugs etc that you'll be responsible for.
FINAL RELEASE
Now to the big question - what happens when this product releases? Here is what we have planned:
1. The OS will be available on some new OEM PCs. No surprise there. The OEMs are responsible for deciding which systems they want to support it on.
2. The OS will be part of MSDN
3. The OS will be part of Software Assurance
4. The OS will be sold through System Builders and Distributors.
You can either purchase it pre-installed on a system builder PC or just purchase the OS with some piece of hardware. As Darrell mentioned on another thread, this can really be anything (a cable, for example). If your system builder of choice wants to only sell it with high-end components, I'd suggest finding a new place to buy your equipment.
5. There will not be a retail fully-packaged product.
I've read some interesting posts here where some of you sound angry because we're not doing a retail box. This really surprises me - SB/Disti is the easiest and least expensive way to get your new OS, especially if you build your own PCs.
"EXISTING 64-BIT SYSTEMS..."
Finally - I am working on something that would let you trade your 32-bit XP Pro license for 64-bit. Nothing final here... no details... but the point is that we want to take care of the people who go out and buy or build x64 systems before we ship.
At the end of the day my colleagues and I work on this project for a reason - we (you and I) are the people driving the transition into the next phase in computing. Our job isn't to squeeze money from your pockets or make this hard for you - we want to make it *very* easy.
Hopefully consolidating some of this info will help. If you have any other questions about our plans, feel free to ask. If I can answer them, I will. Have fun with the OS... I'm looking forward to organizing a friendly game of 64-bit UT04 pre-release with anyone interested sometime soon .
Brian"
Just though I'd let you know
First an interview with Microsoft senior vice president Bob Muglia (BM) and Windows Server Senior Director Jeff Price (JP) by Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase..._winserver.asp
"BM: One thing we've found is that 32-bit applications run better on the 64-bit OS than they do on 32-bits. Just adding a 64-bit processor and the 64-bit OS changes everything.
Paul: Now what are you comparing there? Are these machines running the same clock speed...
BM: Same everything. Same chips, same everything. We run apps on 32-bit Windows, and then take those same apps and run them on 64-bit Windows, and you'll get about an 8 percent performance improvement on average.
Paul: Are you seeing any difference between AMD's [64-bit] stuff and Intel's stuff?
BM: Yes. [Smiles]
Paul: Would you care to clarify that? [Laughs]
BM: Well, AMD has done a good job ...
[Laughter]
Paul: OK, I realize these companies are both important partners...
BM: I think both have invested very heavily... and I'm sure that customers will be happy with either solution.
Paul: All righty.
[Laughter]
BM: Are there differences? Yes, there are differences.
Paul: OK, so how do these companies differentiate their 64-bit products?
BM: So there are some things that AMD's done that Intel hasn't done, and I'm sure Intel will continue to invest here, and will do a really good job. AMD led the way on this one. There's no doubt they led the way on this one.
Paul: Right, I thought [AMD64] was going to be the orphaned [microprocessor] of the decade, the next Alpha...
BM: Oh I didn't think so. But do you know why I knew? Because of Dave.
Paul: Dave Cutler.
BM: Yeah, Dave's been all over this. Dave worked really closely with to design the chip. He was trying to get something that was really compatible and the problem that we have is that we want to support all of our applications totally. And these chips are just fantastic for that.
Paul: It's almost like applying the Microsoft model to [chip design]. The Itanium, for all its advantages, just couldn't run the installed base very well.
BM: No, not very well.
Paul: And it never will.
BM: No.
Paul: So back to the core OS benefits, again, where do these figures come from?
BM: This is our own internal testing. It's pretty remarkable what we're seeing, actually.
JP: There are a bunch of address space limitations to 32-bit, and for certain functions, you just can't get enough memory. And with a certain amount of memory, all of those limitations go away.
BM: We tested a whole series of workloads. Some workloads just don't benefit that much from 64-bits, but having a 64-bit OS on there gives you certain advantages. Other workloads--even if the app is 32-bit--you get a huge benefit by running on a 64-bit OS."
Then a posting from the product manager for Windows XP 64-Bit, Brian Marr:
http://www.planetamd64.com/portal.ph...c7c5c45edba102
"Hi Everyone -
My name is Brian Marr and I work in the Windows Client Product Management Team - I am the product manager for Windows XP64, which means that I am responsible for making the decisions that will affect how you get your hands on the product (along with a few other things).
I've been reading these threads and wanted to clarify some things about availability. Below is a summary of what we have planned. I hope this will answer your questions.
BETA PROGRAMS
Today we have a customer preview program, which it sounds as though most of you have taken advantage of. I realize that we have a very old build out there and I'm working with our release management team to get an update out asap. I think you are going to be impressed by how much work our development team has put into the OS since Beta 1 and look forward to hearing your feedback on it.
There is also a technical beta program - my understanding is that we'll open this back up again after XP SP2 ships. This is a great way to get builds more often, but there are some requirements around filing bugs etc that you'll be responsible for.
FINAL RELEASE
Now to the big question - what happens when this product releases? Here is what we have planned:
1. The OS will be available on some new OEM PCs. No surprise there. The OEMs are responsible for deciding which systems they want to support it on.
2. The OS will be part of MSDN
3. The OS will be part of Software Assurance
4. The OS will be sold through System Builders and Distributors.
You can either purchase it pre-installed on a system builder PC or just purchase the OS with some piece of hardware. As Darrell mentioned on another thread, this can really be anything (a cable, for example). If your system builder of choice wants to only sell it with high-end components, I'd suggest finding a new place to buy your equipment.
5. There will not be a retail fully-packaged product.
I've read some interesting posts here where some of you sound angry because we're not doing a retail box. This really surprises me - SB/Disti is the easiest and least expensive way to get your new OS, especially if you build your own PCs.
"EXISTING 64-BIT SYSTEMS..."
Finally - I am working on something that would let you trade your 32-bit XP Pro license for 64-bit. Nothing final here... no details... but the point is that we want to take care of the people who go out and buy or build x64 systems before we ship.
At the end of the day my colleagues and I work on this project for a reason - we (you and I) are the people driving the transition into the next phase in computing. Our job isn't to squeeze money from your pockets or make this hard for you - we want to make it *very* easy.
Hopefully consolidating some of this info will help. If you have any other questions about our plans, feel free to ask. If I can answer them, I will. Have fun with the OS... I'm looking forward to organizing a friendly game of 64-bit UT04 pre-release with anyone interested sometime soon .
Brian"
Just though I'd let you know
The Intel chip could still be out before 64-bit Windows for all anyone knows. 
