>Have read that Mac OS 10 is "optimized" for the G3 leading to the
>"assumption" it works on other PowerPCs - no certainty yet though.
I do not know any details about the PowerPC architecture (but I know PA-RISC), I would think the statement that a new OS can run more optimal on a newer version of a RISC CPU makes sense.
Newer RISC processors have introduced features like branch prediction, and other features (like variable page sizes and doing virtual to physical addressing in blocks rather than page by page) that help to get better hit rates on the cache(s) or avoid extra cache loads or flushes.
I assume that even applications only interfacing with the Carbon API (read the 'legacy' code) will still get a better performance on Mac OS X, since the Mach kernel will bring a much better virtual memory system to the whole system, regardless of the actual PowerPC CPU being run on.
It is another guess of mine that the Mach kernel is done with a compiler that will generate code that runs faster (not the MHz) using some of the above features, while that same code could still run on 'older' PowerPCs.
And finally they might have a very few selected assembly routines in the kernel, that not only know which CPU the OS runs on, but also use the enhanced features if they are available.
I think this OS X strategy makes a lot of sense, it is not only intellectual and manpower investment protection for the developers, it will also save the user community a lot of dollars. If the work to 'tune' an existing OS 8 application to get ready for OS X is small, the update fees should also be small.
BTW: starting to look into options, can someone advise about the difference between VAAAG and LAAAG ? I reckon the latter are leaps, which imply longer 'lifecycle' ?
Forgive my German ignorance, but there appears to be big differences in what options get traded in Frankfurt (the ones for Apple have names of Goldman Sachs KOS97/1.10.98 [GRPA] or Citibank(CNIY], instead of the ones I can lookup at CBOE.
Can you trade options through online brokers like Etrade ?
My German online broker does not offer that (yet), but I
think since the trading volume is much higher for options in
the U.S. it might be a good idea not to even start this in
Germany (other than for German stocks).
Send private message if you think it's too off-topic,
thanks,
Goetz 'feeling somewhat behind' |
