> But it will also depend on where the software is at the
> time. Even if Intel could release a 16 core processor,
> what kind of market would benefit? I think there is a
> software evolution that will limit the multi-core race.
I made a guess that Firefox and Thunderbird would be out around
the Fall to late 2005 but Makoto came out with a working Firefox
in the Spring and I have beta Firefox and Thunderbird right now.
But a 64-bit Java Plugin is not available yet and as of June,
Sun didn't even have it in their plans. Ditto on Linux though
on Linux, there is a 3rd-party plugin available. Don't even know
if it is available for Solaris.
HP is supposed to come out with a 64-bit driver pack within 1.5
months which will make me happy (there's one small bug in my
SoundMax driver).
I posted on this earlier this week and I think that the multicores are great for server machines but getting the
average desktop software vendor to port to multithread is
a tough sell as it increases a variety of software engineering
and maintenance costs. Those area that will truly benefit
from the change and that can afford the software expenses
will port over. I think that multimedia applications fall
into this category if there's money or help to do the
porting.
Intel could do something like grants to large software vendors
in terms of money, training or loaner engineers to help with
porting, maintenance and support. Once a major company has this
in their code base, their competitors have to follow suit to
be competitive.
Open Source is a great place to do this in.
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