Re: [Linux-ia64] Itanium gets supercomputing software

[Duraid Madina <duraid@octopus.com.au>]

David Mosberger wrote:
> Remember that Intel is targeting Itanium 2 against Power4 and SPARC.
> In that space, the price of Itanium 2 is very competitive.

OK, I want to be clear on this. I asked why Itanium hardware is still so 
expensive. Your answer seems to be marketing speak for "The prices are 
still high because we are _happy_ selling small quantities of this 
equipment to people used to paying through the nose for good quality 
hardware." Is this correct?

Can I then conclude that Intel has not yet had any interest whatsoever 
in driving IA64 into the realm of reasonble prices? It's sad to see so 
much work being put into this Linux port when, if things remain as they 
are, it will hardly be used.

>   Duraid> Seriously, IA64 must be the first architecture in history
>   Duraid> where a software simulator is still being developed 4 years
>   Duraid> after commercial availability of silicon (indeed, entire
>   Duraid> systems).
> 
> What's a software simulator got to do with anything?  Certain things
> are easier to develop on a simulator, others are easier to develop on
> hardware.  Nothing unique to IA64.

I put it to you that software is easier to develop on hardware. Nothing 
unique to IA64, indeed.

	Duraid