[Ti] To be 64 or not to be 64

[Chris Olson]

On Jun 7, 2005, at 6:20 PM, Carlos Fernando Hernandez wrote:

> If Apple is going to change to Intel, wich 64bit processor will they 
> use?

That's the $64,000 question (pun intended) IMHO.  Some Pentiums support 
64-bit extensions, some don't.  No indication from Apple or Intel what 
needs to be done.  If it's like 64-bit linux, once you boot a 64-bit OS 
on one of those cpu's everything must be 64-bit - drivers, apps, the 
whole nine yards.  The only way to run legacy 32-bit code with 64-bit 
pointers enabled is to run the 32-bit code in emulation using libraries 
either supplied by the operating system or the application.

This is *waaay* different than the way 64-bit is handled on the G5 with 
Tiger.  The PowerPC is a 64-bit processor with a 32-bit subset where 
you can boot a 32-bit OS and address 64-bit memory.

Let's just say the water is really muddy right now.
--
Chris