PACMan3000
Most Apple Apps in Snow Leopard are 64-bit
So the other big controversy involving Snow Leopard, besides the ones with App compatibility, CS3 support and missing features from Quicktime X, is the fact that Snow Leopard defaults to a 32-bit kernel.
I've heard many a Microsoft Fanboy declare that this "proves" that OS X isn't more advanced than Windows (even though you can boot the 64-bit kernel by holding down the 6 and 4 key when starting your Mac), but the simple reality of the situation is that many software developers don't even have Snow Leopard compatible versions of their software yet. What makes these Fanboys think that they would have 64-bit apps too?
So Apple did the only reasonable thing they could do in a situation like this. They updated most of their apps to 64-bit, while forcing Snow Leopard to load the 32-bit kernel by default. The 64-bit enabled apps still run on top without a hitch. Very likely Apple will "turn on" the 64-bit kernel within the next 12 months by default with a dot update, once drivers are prolific. Until then, they will give customers the option. So I don't see the problem here.
Conversely, Windows had no option. You either installed 64-bit or 32-bit Windows, and that was that. Having a simple toggle is more elegant.
An examination of my processes in the Activity Monitor reveals the fact that most of the core Mac Apps have been ported to 64-bit, with the exception of iTunes, which I find very revealing. Is Apple waiting to announce the new version at the special event that has been confirmed for September 9th, 2009?
Probably.
Related Links:
64-bit in OS X
www.apple.com/macosx/technology/
Most Apple Apps in Snow Leopard are 64-bit
So the other big controversy involving Snow Leopard, besides the ones with App compatibility, CS3 support and missing features from Quicktime X, is the fact that Snow Leopard defaults to a 32-bit kernel.
I've heard many a Microsoft Fanboy declare that this "proves" that OS X isn't more advanced than Windows (even though you can boot the 64-bit kernel by holding down the 6 and 4 key when starting your Mac), but the simple reality of the situation is that many software developers don't even have Snow Leopard compatible versions of their software yet. What makes these Fanboys think that they would have 64-bit apps too?
So Apple did the only reasonable thing they could do in a situation like this. They updated most of their apps to 64-bit, while forcing Snow Leopard to load the 32-bit kernel by default. The 64-bit enabled apps still run on top without a hitch. Very likely Apple will "turn on" the 64-bit kernel within the next 12 months by default with a dot update, once drivers are prolific. Until then, they will give customers the option. So I don't see the problem here.
Conversely, Windows had no option. You either installed 64-bit or 32-bit Windows, and that was that. Having a simple toggle is more elegant.
An examination of my processes in the Activity Monitor reveals the fact that most of the core Mac Apps have been ported to 64-bit, with the exception of iTunes, which I find very revealing. Is Apple waiting to announce the new version at the special event that has been confirmed for September 9th, 2009?
Probably.
Related Links:
64-bit in OS X
www.apple.com/macosx/technology/