Posts by Lennart Sorensen

Intel demos 'Nehalem' chips clocked to 3.2GHz

HT might actually work this time.

Actually while HT on the P4 (at least earlier ones) wasn't exactly impressive, SMT (symetrical multi threading, which is what HT is) has been quite successful on properly designed CPUs, like the powerpc and was looking very promising on the Alpha 21464 (which was never produced but is where intel got the idea from after they took over the Alpha technology). Sun seems to have quite goot performance on their multithread capable CPUs.

The main reason HT doesn't work well on the P4 is that it doesn't really have many spare execution units most of the time, and even if it does the dispatcher seems to be too small so it can't actually start executing new instructions even if it has room to execute them. The tiny L1 cache probably doesn't help either if you have to start sharing it between two threads.

Perhaps intel ought to come up with a new name since they botched HT first time around.

Load of Microsoft software falls off back of lorry

So what is the point of those holograms?

If Microsoft thinks having perfect box copies of software out there that are made by Microsoft and hence completely perfect in every way and will look valid if people follow Microsoft's instructions on how to verify they are buying genuine Microsoft software, then the only way to know the software is stolen and can't be activated anymore, is by checking with Microsoft if the activation key is valid, which of course you can't do because it is inside the box and the box is sealed, and besides you aren't going to go to the store and write down the key, go home and check with Microsoft and then go back and buy that box.

So yes this has just become worthless to the unknowing end user, but it's still worth full value to the thieves since no customer could ever tell it was stolen by looking at it.

The Electric Car Conspiracy ... that never was

We already have better choices.

So far the GM Volt sounds unimpressive. My current car (a 2002 Jetta TDI) already gets between 50 and 60 MPG, has a range of about 600 miles (1000km is not difficult on 55L), takes maybe 11s to get to 60 (or 100km/h) although newer models with more power do it better. This is not even using current technology for diesels but rather 15 to 20 year old stuff.

As for the idea a dodge caravan is an efficient choice, try a dodge sprinter instead. I am sure it gets much better mileage and can seat more than 7 if desired, with better handling and comfort and much higher reliability. Looks a lot better too.