Hard times for consumers!

ocp · Post by **ocp** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 1:44 pm

I just read this:

"Intel's Next Generation Processor Dual Core 64-bit Merom Set for September Release?

So as the excitement from the announcement of the Yonah dual core processors from Intel starts to settle down, we start hearing rumblings of a September 2006 release for the next big update to Intel's mobile processor line, that being the dual core 64-bit Merom (Napa64) processor. This would mean Intel has a 64-bit mobile processor offering ready for the Windows Vista release that will offer a 64-bit version of the OS. Right now the latest Intel processor release features dual-core 32-bit processors. AMD of course already, and has for a long time, offered 64-bit mobile processors in the form of the Turion 64. AMD has been quiet of late about any dual core releases, if they could beat Intel to the punch on a dual core Turion 64 it would be pretty big for them -- but obviously Intel is going to try and cut off such a coup by AMD by getting Merom dual core 64-bit chips out as soon as possible -- and September is certainly a bit sooner than we thought.

The question for notebook buyers excited about the dual core 32-bit notebooks now, do you go for the current Intel offerings or wait 9-months for the 64-bit dual core offerings? And as always, the answer is buy something when you need it and can use it, technology will always march forward."

I know it is a bit long but... it is a big investment (to me)

gaspode · Post by **gaspode** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 2:12 pm

If you are forward looking...

I think a lot of music software will continue to move to 64 bit... and having 64 bit vista will be nice. Personally I'd wait... I would expect that you'll see memory bus increasing as well. So unless you absolutely need something now... I would expect that apple will take the 64 bit processor line, and you'll probably see a lot of news about it around july/august being released anyways.

I know those new Macbooks look sweet, but I figure that by the time you actually see one, it will be end of february/may... boy would dual core be sexy though

.

err_fatale · Post by **err_fatale** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:20 pm

This is not news, they announced all of this stuff in 2004. The merom is dual 64 bit processors w/ 4 mb L2 cahe instead of 2mb, and they offer faster speeds.......I for one am so happy that finally there are going to be machines that are fast enough to actually do everything you want them to do.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:09 pm

I for one am so happy that finally there are going to be machines that are fast enough to actually do everything you want them to do.

Hasn't this statement come up a million times since the beginning of computing? We'll be oh-so-happy, until Live8 comes out and does this crazy thing that no-one has the cpu to do properly, and then we start g.a.s.ing for new pcs again?

polyslax · Post by **polyslax** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 9:54 am

Machinate wrote:
I for one am so happy that finally there are going to be machines that are fast enough to actually do everything you want them to do.
Hasn't this statement come up a million times since the beginning of computing? We'll be oh-so-happy, until Live8 comes out and does this crazy thing that no-one has the cpu to do properly, and then we start g.a.s.ing for new pcs again?

Exactly, we'll never actually reach that destination.

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:10 am

"Hard time for consumers?" We've never had it so good! Computers and electronics get cheaper and faster all the time. That's progression.

If we all wasted less geek time and energy worrying, crystal-ball gazing, and lusting about when the 256-bit 64GHz quad-core processor machines would be here, and how quickly our own machines are going to be redundant, we'd probably get a lot more music done.

It's a crutch for lack of talent and creativity (myself included!) IMO, if you can't be creative with Live now, all the processing power in the world ain't gonna help.

True talent lies in wringing the most out of what you've got, not perpetually blaming "but with more power, I could do this..." If you can't run 16 softsynths with a 32 oscillators, maybe you don't need to. It reinforces in me the "less is more" mantra, which I tend to forget sometimes... no... a lot!

The speed will come. It's computing natural progression. But don't waste your time worrying about it. Make music... video... lighting patterns.... have fun!

ocp · Post by **ocp** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:26 pm

hambone1 wrote:"Hard time for consumers?" We've never had it so good! Computers and electronics get cheaper and faster all the time. That's progression.

If we all wasted less geek time and energy worrying, crystal-ball gazing, and lusting about when the 256-bit 64GHz quad-core processor machines would be here, and how quickly our own machines are going to be redundant, we'd probably get a lot more music done.

It's a crutch for lack of talent and creativity (myself included!) IMO, if you can't be creative with Live now, all the processing power in the world ain't gonna help.

True talent lies in wringing the most out of what you've got, not perpetually blaming "but with more power, I could do this..." If you can't run 16 softsynths with a 32 oscillators, maybe you don't need to. It reinforces in me the "less is more" mantra, which I tend to forget sometimes... no... a lot!

The speed will come. It's computing natural progression. But don't waste your time worrying about it. Make music... video... lighting patterns.... have fun!

Wanna swap your Dual G5 for my TiBook G4 550?
What I meant was that being such a big investment (I don't swim in money ya' know!) it's kind of hard making a decision.
My next machine will have to hold for 3/4 years and I don't want to get caught in the middle of a transition period...

jms5881 · Post by **jms5881** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:32 pm

Machinate wrote:
I for one am so happy that finally there are going to be machines that are fast enough to actually do everything you want them to do.
Hasn't this statement come up a million times since the beginning of computing? We'll be oh-so-happy, until Live8 comes out and does this crazy thing that no-one has the cpu to do properly, and then we start g.a.s.ing for new pcs again?

LOL, well said. And that my friend [err_fatale] is nothing new.

err_fatale · Post by **err_fatale** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:43 pm

yeah it's been said but the fact is that mobile technology really is just finally becoming powerful/fast enough to write music on a single notebook. The past few years have been good, but we have still been limited.now the notebooks can truly give a desktop a run for it's money...the cool thing is that the prices are affordable for the average joe too....