Future of CPUs

[Clay Dreslough]

http://www.gotw.ca/publications/concurrency-ddj.htm

Interesting stuff. Since I don’t write compilers for a living, I may never have to worry about it. Just design games that do what I want them to do, and let someone worry about multi-threading code.

(Although we do spend a lot of time on optimization, especially Ian, and “speed” is one of the main reasons Mogul is preferred to it’s competitors).

I actually think the computing world might IMPROVE if we actually hit a CPU wall. For example, Microsoft has already announced that their next OS will have start-from-scratch UI in which everything on the screen is a 3D object.

This means:

1) If you don’t have a good 3D card, you won’t be able to run Windows.

2) UI Programmers (like me) will have to re-do a lot of our work just to keep our applications running.

3) Users will have to throw away years of experience and learn a new UI.

This strategy is good for Microsoft, because they make the VAST majority of their money on new computer sales. So if they force you to buy a new computer, they also force you to buy a new version of Windows. But it’s bad for consumers.

[brainkandy87]

Originally posted by Clay Dreslough

So if they force you to buy a new computer, they also force you to buy a new version of Windows. But it’s bad for consumers. [/B]

And because America has progressed to the point where they cannot function fully without computers, the change is inevitable.

[liveandletdie]

I've also heard some about Microsoft using this as an excuse to get rid of all the hackers, and the people using illegal software(including pirated music). If they have complete control and no one can figure out how to do anything about it, then we're all in trouble.

[Marc Vaughan]

2) UI Programmers (like me) will have to re-do a lot of our work just to keep our applications running.
If you're not doing so already I'd suggest encapsulating things in your games to minimise the potential impact of this and any future changes.

For our games we have three levels:

OS Stuff (ie. hardware interaction)
|
GUI Stuff (ie. stuff which draws on the screen or handles user input)
|
Game stuff (ie. the actual code involved in making the game)

This simplifies moving things to new platforms (as only the OS stuff has be rewritten unless the input devices/display resolutions have changed).

It also allows you to develop upon multiple platforms simulataneously using the same code base (which is why FM/EHM etc. are Mac/PC based using the same codebase etc.).

Hope this helps,

Marc

[midwestjw]

That stinks. But they better beta test the **** out of a new OS before putting it out because I remeber whenb XP came out it was full of junk. That is why I've waited until now to buy it. [and cuz 98 SE is no longer supported, I can't even use my WMP]

This also means that most of the old computers say pre-2002 will be useless because nothing smaller than say 1.8 GihZ won't be able to run it. It seems as though were going back to when computers filled rooms and rooms, but pc's are getting bigger and more elaborate. I think this whole thing will blow up in Microsoft's face cuz all those people with olders computers won't be able to use them. That'll mean they'll have to bu 3000 dollar new systems or go without. But these days you can get music, games internet, ect. on cell phone, tv, cable, satalite, ipods, pda's. I think there era of home pc's as we know it is coming to an end.

[boomboom]

i doubt it is the end of home computers...instead, the PC will be with your entertainment system...like a dvd player (actually it will be your DVD, cd player...the best part, it will be able to transmitt to your tv wirelessly. no cables needed :) and the best part....it has already been developed, and you could buy your system.....

As long as the economy is strong. Microsoft can control as they wish, because everybody should have money to spend...but once it crashes, which it may/will in the near future, Microsoft wont beable to sell anything new, and will have to resort to legacy code instead of new code in all new computers...

[robinhoodnik]

As well as consumer backlash. People will not be happy if they have to re-up their P.C.'s in order for Microsoft to grab a few billion more dollars. As for music piracy, I'm so sick of the industry whining and bitching, that I rarely buy any new music any more (no, I don't steal it either). The whole fight for "the right" to control everything in sight has become nauseating and infuriating. :mad: If they'd charge a more reasonable price for their product, they'd sell a lot more of it. 99 cents per song is about what you paid per song on CD, Now you provide the CD, the production (your burner and software), the shipping (your internet connection), and you STILL get to pay the jacked up price for music. The real pirates are members of the RIAA who're blaming their customers for their "losses" to piracy, and then "asking" (forcing) you to pay the difference in what they assume they lost in sales. Maybe the answer is a rethinking of marketing, lower prices to consumers, better artists, and a general overhaul of the image they project.

[themcnoisy]

Microsoft are quite sneaky, I was learning what I thought was Visual Basic when all I was learning was VB for Applications.

I dint realise the project I was writing couldnt come out into an EXE file, therefore rendering it useless to anyone other than me. I obviously realised this a bit to late (about a week later) and have jibbed microsoft ever since.


The way they sucked me in and spat me out was quite disgusting. They give you half the tools you need, when you have just spent an arm and a leg on their latest OS and applications, only for them to want more for the more advanced pack (not the WHOLE pack though).....

Just so you can give your (less computer literate) friends a helping hand with a mini program you have slaved away at.


Hopefully though the new idealism on the web will be for packages to come out in their 100% proper form, not 45% with patches taking it to 80%. I believe this is what we should be pushing for. We want all encompassing software and hardware - similiar to 1988 and my Amstrad CPC 6128, that baby never crashed.

[sreeja]

Nice concept.Is it building?If you don’t have a good 3D card, you won’t be able to run Windows. UI Programmers (like me) will have to re-do a lot of our work just to keep our applications running.These two features are more appreciable

[SanDiegoCA]

Bahh... enough of this stuff! Wait until we get to quantum computing... now that will be something to really see!

[SF_Giants]

one good thing is if Microsoft try to pull this ****, there is always linux and apple.

see how things go if more and more people start going over to linux instead of using Windows.

[high_pitch]

Yes this is true the new operating system of windows has a 3d interface thus buying a new 3d card to make it work good. This is bad for the consumers because they are always changing and that makes it more tiring for consumers like me.