All major hardware providers are eyeing changes.. A new era of computing is started. 64bit computing.
Every time the computing platform changed, from 8 to 16 to 32 bit computing that we have today, the change has indirectly had major possibility additions to IT infrastructure.
More bits mean more computing power and more possibilities with new same-size or less-size hardware. And even totally new industry of hardware could be born because there's more power.
When 32 bit happened it invited many capabilities because of higher processing power, and one major industry that spawned out was computer gaming. Because computer gaming by its nature requires lot of support from the hardware of the machine, more processing power lead to invention of new powerful graphic cards, rendering engines like DirectX and so on.
So, 64bit becoming bigger by the day, is inviting more technology and automation.
One thing I am pretty excited about is whether there will be a new world called 'computer robotics'.. given the need some people have generated with robots even entering hospitality industry, those crazy toy dog robots, there could be something bigger. Something like cutting down of costs on home robotics allowing for more people to enter the cravy market of gadget homes.
Storage media:
Also, chaging is the space issue. While some companies are trying to find evaluation markets for currency coin sized 80GB hardDisks, the fighting in the DVD market between blu-ray discs(25gb to 50gb) and HD-DVD(15gb to 30gb) formats, continue.
The 64bit players:
As usual Microsoft is trying to play giant here too... and has tie-ups with AMD and HP on their 64-bit platforms.
And there's the new player Apple which has come out a new ripe apple, with proven new innovations of ever smaller & cleaner computers and devices. Cleaner here means they are miniaturizing technology rather than forcing all existing ones into a small box.
The next computer giant :
...obviously, this will be the better 64bit guy. Whoever it turns out to be. Currently only server hardware is considering serious change to 64bit.
PCs will take time. As of now, 64bit PCs still have to support running 32 bit applications, and in fact current 64bit PCs have only a handfull of 64bit applications running on them other than the operating system. Because, all that software we use till date which are 32bit cannot be thrown away or upgraded to 64bit at the press of a button.
With the new Intel Mac being in the spotlight, and Intel being seen more focussed on Apple, a lot of market watchers are having all the questions that any media would thrive to make a cover story of.
Is AMD gaining on microsoft's OEM provider radar as against Intel?
While Intel seems more closer to Apple... Microsoft looks closer to AMD these days..
Given that AMD is the only other big processor guy who can possibly compete with Intel in the market, every new tie-up, press-releases, product, and every new news from these guys is considerably important to IT itself than just for the companies.
"Do more with less".. the line that steve ballmer launched in campaign of windows server 2003, is now sported by AMD on its products also. Is it just the Microsoft line that is getting into AMD or, the 'preferred provider' status also?
To add up, Steve ballmer speaks in support of AMD 64bit platforms on AMD's website.
As far as 64bit computing seems, a "coalition IT giant" is emerging, rather than one giant company like Microsoft is today. And my guess is the coalition could well be,
'Microsoft -AMD 64bit processors', in the Server market,
while... it would be 'Microsoft -Intel 64bit processors' in the PC market,
'Apple -Intel 64bit processors', in the multiMedia computing market...but Apple is still small, and has diversified vision compared to Microsoft's.
By the way, will Microsoft windows based applications run on Mac since they are powered by Intel?
A few microsoft applications already run on Mac much earlier than the new Intel Mac's.. Examples are Internet explorer for mac, word 2004 for mac. Go to www.microsoft.com and on the search box there try 'mac'.. to find results related to microsoft applications for mac.
What's new though is.. you can run Microsoft windows xp operating system on the new Intel powered MACs through a technology called bootcamp. Windows OS on MAC was not possible earlier.
Related reading:
PCWorld's: Are You Ready for a 64-Bit PC?
