16 Aug 07
2 edits
Originally posted by eatmybishopYou don't need to even be a programmer to learn a bit about the internal architecture of CPU's. Obviously it helps but you certainly don't get to know much about a CPU architecture just from developing in high level languages such as java and definitely not from interpreted scripting languages such a php and *sql (not that I dismiss those languages (except java of course), they're great at the things they do).
but as a mcp, mcse, a+, network+, server+ technican and a java, php&mysql programmer i would like to think i know a little about their architecture;
final note: just for the record neither of us can comment of a processors interal make up; only a true assembly programmer could make such a judgement
You don't need to know anything about CPU architecture to programme in C either but it certainly helps if you know about the endianness, integer size, register count etc of your target CPU because with C, at least, you can make use of them if you want to. You don't need to know CPU architecture to write with an assembler either. You only need to know it's instruction set plus pretty much the same stuff it's useful to know in C.
Stability is not something generally attributed to a CPU and I'd bet my cat that Apple chose Intel purely because of their commodity status. If they were going for quality they'd be going for SPARC or ARM or hell, even a PA-RISC CPU.
I presume you weren't around to remember the Intel Pentium FPU calculation errors that still have to be worked around by OS designers? Here are some jokes that used to do the rounds to help you realize that Intel are not gods but are "good enough". See if you can find some for other CPU's
Q: How many Pentium designers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: 1.99904274017, but that's close enough for non-technical people.
Q: What do you call a series of FDIV instructions on a Pentium?
A: Successive approximations.
visit this page for more, these were funny at the time http://www.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/~cmc/mirror/chngai/p5/
To be fair though, it was some time ago 🙂
EDIT: Started to feel sorry for java. Great language cr@ppy concept.
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16 Aug 07
1 edit
I think it is fair to say Mac users stick with what they've got. Hardly (I don't have statistics to support) a Mac owner leaves the Mac (same goes for my (Mac) clan,, by the way; I still havened lost a member in almost three years...) and regrets that decision the ever switched to the Mac OS.
The best part of the Mac is not the hardware, it is the operating system which is in my opinion (and I work on Windows at work, for years already) superior compared to Windows on categories I regard important. Windows tends to confirm-box one to death...
16 Aug 07
1 edit
Originally posted by AikoMany graphic designers and video people swear by it - horses for courses.
I think it is fair to say Mac users stick with what they've got. Hardly (I don't have statistics to support) a Mac owner leaves the Mac (same goes for my (Mac) clan,, by the way; I still havened lost a member in almost three years...) and regrets that decision the ever switched to the Mac OS.
The best part of the Mac is not the hardware, it is the operating ...[text shortened]... ared to Windows on categories I regard important. Windows tends to confirm-box one to death...
I've not seen too much of it, but lived with a guy who used it for a year and I was not impressed. It crashed more than my trusty PC with XP.
You still can't beat a windows XP PC for general ease of use and all-round versatility.
I think the Mac days are numbered when Linux really hits 'the big time'.
Fedora, Ubuntu etc. are being installed on new PC's lately, meaning the man on the street is getting much more exposure to it and Microsoft will never lose the 'out of the box ease of use' appeal. Plus, they've built up such a large user base, it will take decades for them to lose all their users.
I'm talking about moms who use the PC to type out recipes and send emails to their son overseas.
Between those 2 heavyweights I don't think Mac stands a chance.
Sure, the die hards will stand by it, but it's going to be reduced to an almost insignificant percentage user base if they don't do something drastic... Soon.
17 Aug 07
Originally posted by CrowleyUntil Linux can find a way to work without the CLI and work more often than not so that you don't have to go digging for obscure fixes, it won't make a dent. I used to use Linux exclusively, but I've moved back to XP as I got tired of gaining tidbits of the knowledge necessary to proficiently use Linux as I tried to fix little things here and there.
Many graphic designers and video people swear by it - horses for courses.
I've not seen too much of it, but lived with a guy who used it for a year and I was not impressed. It crashed more than my trusty PC with XP.
You still can't beat a windows XP PC for general ease of use and all-round versatility.
I think the Mac days are numbered when Linux reall ...[text shortened]... lmost insignificant percentage user base if they don't do something drastic... Soon.
It's getting harder and harder to find computers being sold with XP. Vista is pretty awful. It hogs tons of resources and doesn't do anything I would consider impressive, and I refuse to pay for an XP cd, it's ok, but not near good enough to warrant the price.
17 Aug 07
Originally posted by slickhareObscure fixes are only obscure when you don't know them.
Until Linux can find a way to work without the CLI and work more often than not so that you don't have to go digging for obscure fixes,
Windows is full of obscure fixes to me.
The CLI is what gives Linux a flexibility far in advance of your average OS.
17 Aug 07
1 edit
Originally posted by WheelyI"m no proposing that you remove the CLI, I'm saying it shouldn't be so reliant on it if more people are going to start using it. Sure you may not have to use it as much when using a distro like Ubuntu, but if you want everything to work, you're inevitably going to have to get your hands dirty, and most people aren't going to want to go through the hassle.
Obscure fixes are only obscure when you don't know them.
Windows is full of obscure fixes to me.
The CLI is what gives Linux a flexibility far in advance of your average OS.
OSX is a great example of what I mean. (I know it's not Linux). You can use the CLI to fix problems and work, however if you don't want to, you can completely ignore it and still reap the benefits of the OS.
17 Aug 07
Originally posted by slickhareI take your point. For me, the CLI is a far simpler and quicker way to administer the system than using the GUI, even in Windows I'll use a CLI where possible.
I"m no proposing that you remove the CLI, I'm saying it shouldn't be so reliant on it if more people are going to start using it. Sure you may not have to use it as much when using a distro like Ubuntu, but if you want everything to work, you're inevitably going to have to get your hands dirty, and most people aren't going to want to go through the hassle. ...[text shortened]... if you don't want to, you can completely ignore it and still reap the benefits of the OS.
The Linux GUI's are becoming much more comprehensive than they used to be though so for those that want it, complete administration by GUI is not far off.
For me though, I don't understand why people would want that. If that kind of lack of control yet "easy" operation is what a person wants, why use Linux at all. Use Windows, it's much better at it.
17 Aug 07
Originally posted by slickhareWell, that's what I said. Once Linux sorts out it's usability problems - I don't know Linux very well, but much of it's problems I believe is actually that people think it's difficult to use - then they will start really hurting both MS and Mac.
Until Linux can find a way to work without the CLI and work more often than not so that you don't have to go digging for obscure fixes, it won't make a dent. I used to use Linux exclusively, but I've moved back to XP as I got tired of gaining tidbits of the knowledge necessary to proficiently use Linux as I tried to fix little things here and there.
It ...[text shortened]... and I refuse to pay for an XP cd, it's ok, but not near good enough to warrant the price.
I'm trying to learn more about Linux in my spare (haha, yeah right) time. I've installed Fedora Core 6 and Ubuntu 7.04 on an old PC, so hopefully one of these days I'll be proficient enough in it...
I do lots of Windows based development, so XP works great for me. I've not had one serious crash in probably about 4-5 years, so I'm really happy with it. I've also got PHP/MySQL/Apache set up on it and it works well enough to test my web work.
I will pay for XP professional before installing any free Linux distro.
What I've seen of Vista didn't impress me either.
17 Aug 07
Originally posted by CrowleyThe thing about Linux though is that it's not out to "hurt" Windows or Mac. Ok there are often jokes and some people would love to see Linux take over the world but generally, Linux and it's apps are being developed for the kind of people that like it.
Well, that's what I said. Once Linux sorts out it's usability problems - I don't know Linux very well, but much of it's problems I believe is actually that people think it's difficult to use - then they will start really hurting both MS and Mac.
I'm trying to learn more about Linux in my spare (haha, yeah right) time. I've installed Fedora Core 6 a ...[text shortened]... alling any free Linux distro.
What I've seen of Vista didn't impress me either.
The fact that lots of people are looking to Linux to save them from Windows is kind of flattery but not especially interesting really.
17 Aug 07
Originally posted by WheelySure, I understand that.
The thing about Linux though is that it's not out to "hurt" Windows or Mac. Ok there are often jokes and some people would love to see Linux take over the world but generally, Linux and it's apps are being developed for the kind of people that like it.
The fact that lots of people are looking to Linux to save them from Windows is kind of flattery but not especially interesting really.
The point I was originally trying to make was that Linux looks set to kill off the Mac - whether 'The Community' wants it to happen or not.
17 Aug 07
Originally posted by CrowleyYou may be right but I have noticed a number of Linux gear heads getting themselves a Mac recently.
Sure, I understand that.
The point I was originally trying to make was that Linux looks set to kill off the Mac - whether 'The Community' wants it to happen or not.
Maybe the whole Linux thing has been about people looking for a good cheap Unix system and maybe OS/X is just that. Probably not though.
17 Aug 07
Originally posted by Wheelywell i would have to agree with you on java, it isn't as in depth as c, though in no way is it the a language that can be picked up within a few weeks, though php&sql you could quite easily;
You don't need to even be a programmer to learn a bit about the internal architecture of CPU's. Obviously it helps but you certainly don't get to know much about a CPU architecture just from developing in high level languages such as java and definitely not from interpreted scripting languages such a php and *sql (not that I dismiss those languages (except j ...[text shortened]... e ago 🙂
EDIT: Started to feel sorry for java. Great language cr@ppy concept.
if you read my previous points you would have noticed i havent attacked the os at all; i have attacked apple users and the impression they give off they are in some way superior to the rest of us pc users; i have also given the reasons why i think you should not own an apple; you attacked me for this though i still stand by what i said, there is no proof they are more stable, there is no proof they do not crash less than windows; my original point was i have never met an apple user who can give me a vaild reason for owning a mac; usually they say it's because mac's dont get viruses... i think we can both agree what a ridiculous statement that is, i have even heard a few say it is not possible to write a virus for the mac!!! yes, the word navie comes to mind.
as for the os itself, i think it's a wonderful os, extremely intutitive, great look, though i think with vista pc users finally have an os that looks good;
the truth is if eveyone had a mac the minority would be going on about how superior xp is....
in all honesty the best os i've ever been on is linux, i've also heard reports that businesses across europe are starting to install linux instead of windows, it'll be interesting to see how well users adapt to it