Comments on: Comments on 2615

Post number 2615

Steven Den Beste — Tue, 25 Jul 2000 22:58:23 -0800

What kind of company sells a dual-CPU machine when the second CPU can't be used? See attached quote.

By: Steven Den Beste

Steven Den Beste — Tue, 25 Jul 2000 23:09:03 -0800

I seem to be doing a bunch of posting all of a sudden; sorry about that. Anyway, just in case it scrolls off, here's the critical quote from MacOSRumors: Not wanting the press -- or users -- to latch on any further to the fact that Apple does not currently have any shipping operating system capable of Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP), it has pulled the OS X Server product and is not currently offering any G4 Server products. Until Mac OS X Public Beta is completed with its built-in SMP support and ships, there is little chance of Apple releasing a SMP-enabled version of OS X Server; the duplication of effort would be excessive. Rather, Apple sources report that a version of Server based on the Public Beta release's codebase will likely be announced at the event where Public Beta is released (presently projected to be Seybold San Francisco in September, although this is not confirmed) and shipped within 8 weeks of the event. Let me get this straight: You can buy a dual-G4 system from Apple now, but you won't be able to get an OS which actually takes advantage of the second CPU until next November -- and THAT will be a beta. Did I miss something? This takes "reality distortion" to an all new high. I think it may also establish a new standard for "unmitigated gall."

By: premiumpolar

premiumpolar — Tue, 25 Jul 2000 23:37:04 -0800

the beta will come out (hopefully) THIS SEPTEMBER, not next November. There's a very big difference. And some graphic arts programs get a hefty speedbump from the second processor. Along with several other programs too, but the design apps are what I'd benefit from...

By: aaron

aaron — Wed, 26 Jul 2000 01:19:31 -0800

Let's see. First you knock Apple for producing machinery with outdated technology, and then a few days later you come back and knock them for making a machine that's ready to take advantage of an OS that's only a few months away. Make up your mind, will ya? :)

(Besides, can't Linux take advantage of SMP?)

By: cheaily

cheaily — Wed, 26 Jul 2000 01:31:37 -0800

yeah. but who wants to spend money on a dual G4 so they can install linux on it? kinda defeats the point of buying a mac.

By: y6y6y6

y6y6y6 — Wed, 26 Jul 2000 05:06:51 -0800

"kinda defeats the point of buying a mac." I forgot, what would the point be?

By: fvw

fvw — Wed, 26 Jul 2000 05:23:36 -0800

"oooh, pretty pictures"?

By: daveadams

daveadams — Wed, 26 Jul 2000 06:33:43 -0800

Well, Photoshop can take advantage of the dual-processors, which probably mean a lot to graphic designers. The OS may not support SMP, but that doesn't mean the apps can't utilize the dual processors.

By: aladfar

aladfar — Wed, 26 Jul 2000 07:21:14 -0800

Far better that Apple release the dual processor (did I read something about quad processors?) now, rather than forcing all of us to upgrade later. Further, multiple processors are invaluable not only to graphics applications, but also to video and audio production programs. Many non-linear production systems use their own processors to handle the rendering of effects, titles, etc. A multi-processor machine eliminates the need for this. In short, it's pretty damn keen.

By: bryanboyer

bryanboyer — Wed, 26 Jul 2000 09:26:03 -0800

I would agree with daveadams here. If the OS uses SMP cool, but that doesn't really matter to me much, I dont browse my file hierarchy for fun and being able to move my windows fast doesn't really do anything for me. I want my apps to be fast, and especially those processor-heavy adobe apps-- exactly the ones that support SMP.

By: icathing

icathing — Wed, 26 Jul 2000 10:38:56 -0800

I'm not sure about this, but doesn't the OS have to support SMP in order for its applications to take advantage? e.g., photoshop on win98 will not be able to take advantage of dual processors, but on winNT it will.

By: cmacleod

cmacleod — Wed, 26 Jul 2000 15:33:43 -0800

No. There has been a library that developers could use to allow their applications to take advantage of multiple processors for some time. I believe Daystar created and distributed it for use with their multi processor Mac clones and Apple has improved upon it since.