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64-bit & the future

post #1 of 8
4/19/05 at 7:19pm
Thread Starter 
How long will Apple be supporting a 32-bit OS? I know the G5 is 64-bit, but the G4 is 32-bit. Do you think as soon as they get a 64-bit chip in a PB and mini, then it will all be 64-bit? Or will 32-bit be with us for > 4-5 years?
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post #2 of 8
4/19/05 at 7:47pm
Even if all comps start to have 64 bit chips in it, not everyone is going to have it. Some might have older computers. So IMHO I'd say it will be with us for 4-5 years.
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post #3 of 8
4/20/05 at 3:14am
I figure OS X.6 will probably be the first 64 bit only version of OS X, assuming they don't make two versions.
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post #4 of 8
4/20/05 at 7:25am
The 64 bit transition on PowerPC is no big deal like it is in the x86 world. So really, Apple has no reason to release a 64 bit only OS. Internally only a little bit of extra code needs to be in place to deal with more memory on 64 bit systems and to allow programs to run in 64 bit mode. PowerPC architecture from the begining expected 64 bit to come around one day, so the foundation has always been ready.

x86 on the otherhand needed a new instruction set to be added, commonly called x86-64 by AMD or EMT64 by Intel.
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post #5 of 8
4/20/05 at 11:36am
Thread Starter 
I am just afraid that if I buy a PB this year, Apple will switch the PB's to a 64-bit chip next year, and the year after that switch to 64-bit only OS. I know it's not THAT likely, but it is still in the back of my mind.
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post #6 of 8
4/20/05 at 12:40pm
While G5 PowerBooks will happen, they're not going to happen for at least another year, and when they do happen you don't want to buy one anyway because there're bound to be bugs. Which means you want to wait for at least a year after that to get a Revision 2 G5 PowerBook, by which time the bugs will be mostly gone.

Also, considering the current installed base of G4 and G3 Macs, OS X won't be going pure 64 bit for a while.
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post #7 of 8
4/20/05 at 3:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kakaze
While G5 PowerBooks will happen, they're not going to happen for at least another year, and when they do happen you don't want to buy one anyway because there're bound to be bugs. Which means you want to wait for at least a year after that to get a Revision 2 G5 PowerBook, by which time the bugs will be mostly gone.

Also, considering the current installed base of G4 and G3 Macs, OS X won't be going pure 64 bit for a while.
That's the problem; I don't have 2 years. I start my PhD in August, and I need a laptop by then. In 2 years, I won't have enough money to get a laptop. So I want one that will last.
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post #8 of 8
4/20/05 at 3:40pm
A PowerBook bought now will last.
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