Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

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Blaubold, Re: Having it in hardware does no good without support from the software and OS.

>> You keep saying this, like some kind of self-help mantra. Never mind the 386. Never mind that people buy things all the time because of features they will never use.

Ignoring the obvious personal attack, you are missing that the 386 was Intel's next generation CPU that ran even 16-bit code better than the 286. Not everyone bought one because they wanted upward compatibility with 32-bits. I'd say the vast majority bought it because it was the only thing on the menu, and it did a fine job with their current applications. Few people outside of an enthusiast niche buy a computer for software they intend to buy in several years' time. Most people have a 3-4 year upgrade cycle, so whatever they buy is going out the door in several years' time in the first place. Most people have no idea what is on the horizon, and they will ask the salesman what a CPU's newest features can do for them *now*.