Apple gets grilled about "first 64bit desktop computer"

[GT98]

Found on hardocp.com

http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/2003/06_jun/features/cw_macg5_interview.htm

DVE: Now, you're saying it's the first 64-bit desktop machine. But isn't there an Opteron dual-processor machine? It shipped on June 4th. BOXX Technologies shipped it. It has an Opteron 244 in it.

Rubinstein: Uh...

Akrout: It's not a desktop.

DVE: That's a desktop unit.

Akrout: It depends on what you call a desktop, now. These… From a full desktop per se, this is the first one. I don't know how you really distinguish the other one as a desktop.

DVE: Well, it's a dual processor desktop machine, just like that one.

Akrout: It's not 64, then.

DVE: Yes, it's a 64-bit machine with two Opteron chips in it. It started shipping June 4th.

Akrout: That we'll double check, but in my mind, it wasn't.

[The PIT]

Ooops. Thats what happens when just listen to your marketing department.
Rest of the interview isn't to bad but he didn't seem to know what has happening to the G4.

[Ribbit]

Well if the Opteron boxes count as desktop machines, then so do the IA64 machines that have been shipping (in small numbers, but still) for well over a year.

Perhaps they should have said "first 64-bit personal computer", but this is all really just picking nits.

[Tjalfe]

Not to mention the Sun Sparc machines.. have been 64 bit for a while.. call them workstations if you will, they are starting in the same price range

http://www.sun.com/desktop/sunblade150/

[Kooldino]

I wouldn't consider a SPARC a desktop machine. It's a workstation.

[Wombat]

I dunno about that man. I've used some slow Ultras in my time. They can really take the "work" out of "workstation."

[Chrono_Wanderer]

At university they still have some very old UltraSPARCs... they are SLOW! (well... they are very old tho)

[bsdgeek]

But they're "Ultra" how could they possibly be slow(laris)?

[az]

Well, almost all the 64 bit machines sold today have been sold as worktations, not personal computers.

That said, there was a 64 bit alpha with 150 MHz being sold here in like 1996 as a desktop machine, togeter with their FX!32 software to make ordinary windows run on it. It costs 10000 DM, if I remember correctly.

AZ