> -----Original Message----- > From: tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org > [mailto:tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org]On Behalf Of Brian Hurt > Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 7:16 PM > > > In my opinion, we should have switched to 64-bit circa 1997. That's both profoundly naive of how important having different CPU type really is for differing applications The "excess bits" in data flows and control flows are points of potential failure, and consume power, and waste time, and cost more. In spacecraft, extra pounds cost millions, extra watts do also. Cheaper in fighter aircraft, etc, but still a great concern and expense. Such a view is also very narrowly focussed on an equivalent of a "desktop gaming machine" as the only environment that matters, as if software development targets the same exact (trivial, and inconsequential) environment. In a bigger world, errors and needs to reboot can cost lives, and possibly hundreds of lives at a time. Uh, I disagree that the decision is so simple or so singular an issue outside the game room. :-) Chuck