Why Virtual PC won't run on the G5 Processor: "Virtual PC ...

[MacBytes]

Category: 3rd Party Software
Link: Why Virtual PC won't run on the G5 Processor: "Virtual PC relies on a feature of the G3/G4 processors..."

Posted on MacBytes.com

Approved by arn

 

[adamfilip]

oh well no biggie.. they will release a patch.. or whatever..

keep your disk on

 

[robbieduncan]

Originally posted by adamfilip
oh well no biggie.. they will release a patch.. or whatever..

keep your disk on

Massive biggie. This means that whenever VPC executes an instruction which was originally in x86 it switched the processor mode. This will now have to be done in software. Not all that easy to get absolutly right and will impact performance.

 

[adamfilip]

okay but still there is no reason they cant release either a new version that supports the g5 or some patch.

 

[wizard]

Yep this is a huge biggy. I suspect that if this is the case your not likely to every see acceptable performance from a 970 based Mac.

IF MS is ever able to actually work around this issue it will not be in days or a few months it could take well over a year to deliever the update.

Thanks
Dave

Originally posted by robbieduncan
Massive biggie. This means that whenever VPC executes an instruction which was originally in x86 it switched the processor mode. This will now have to be done in software. Not all that easy to get absolutly right and will impact performance.

 

[MrMacMan]

DAMN them!

Even with a feature it relied on it SUCKED.

:arg:

So pissed, Microsoft, create a patch, a fix, an upgrade, something.

Geez, you know the product is coming, Apple would Gladly give you a Test G5, like they did with Adobe and other Big Names... but noooooo, you have to SUCK!

 

[Powerbook G5]

Do you remember the last time Apple gave Microsoft a test system to work on making their software work on the Mac? The PC market was created...heh.

Anyway, I'm sure Microsoft can make a patch, afterall, patches are what Microsoft is good at producing!

 

[fjs08]

One has to really wonder if Microsoft actually bought VPC from Connectix to let it die on the vine and "re"attract the switchers who do have some need for Windows based software.
If I'm correct, they aren't doing anything with Explorer. We do have Safari, but I have found a few things I can't do with Safari, that I need Explorer for.
Time will tell. But the fact that there isn't a VPC for the G5 based Apples is a Biggie!!! I think the writing is on the wall-er Window!!
Frank

 

[ftaok]

Originally posted by fjs08
One has to really wonder if Microsoft actually bought VPC from Connectix to let it die on the vine and "re"attract the switchers who do have some need for Windows based software.
If I'm correct, they aren't doing anything with Explorer. We do have Safari, but I have found a few things I can't do with Safari, that I need Explorer for.
Time will tell. But the fact that there isn't a VPC for the G5 based Apples is a Biggie!!! I think the writing is on the wall-er Window!!
Frank

I don't buy this argument. I bet Microsoft would love to have every G5 user out there buy a copy of VPC. They would make more money that way.

I would think that Microsoft makes more money buy selling a copy of VPC than they would make in license fee for a Wintel machine. It's not like Microsoft makes the hardware as well.

 

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by ftaok
I don't buy this argument. I bet Microsoft would love to have every G5 user out there buy a copy of VPC. They would make more money that way.

I would think that Microsoft makes more money buy selling a copy of VPC than they would make in license fee for a Wintel machine. It's not like Microsoft makes the hardware as well.

Well, in VPC, they do make the hardware as a whole PC must be implemented in software.

I believe in the conspiracy theory more than a little bit.

I find it difficult to believe that a feature that's been in the PowerPC line since the beginning, switchable endian modes, is suddenly gone. However, except for this one piece of software, who has used it? The only software I can imagine is Windows NT 3.51 for PPC or OS/2 for PPC and those are somewhat dead now.

 

[fjs08]

>>I bet Microsoft would love to have every G5 user out there buy a copy of VPC<<

We are peanuts to really anyone in the computer market. Apple's share is down to around 2%. Why would they want to "waste" (and I say that for discussion purpose only-don't forget I own a Mac too) their time on VPC, Entourage, Windows Media Player, etc when they could either drop those folks completely out of the payroll, or put them on another PC project.

I hope you are right though. I'd hate to see VPC die. I personally need it, or another PC<g>.

Frank