From: gah@ugcs.caltech.edu   
      
   Jon Forrest wrote:   
   (snip)   
      
   > "One thing I've noticed about 64-bit computing in general is that it's   
   > being oversold. The **only** reason for running in 64-bit mode is if   
   > you need the additional address space.   
   (snip)   
      
   There is probably some demand for 64 bit integer arithmetic,   
   though likely much smaller than for large address space.   
   Addition and subtraction are not hard to do on 32 bit machines,   
   but multiply and divide are significantly harder.   
      
   If intel had done things rights so that one could use the 36   
   bit physical address of its processors, it would be a few more   
   years before 64 bit was needed.   
      
   But the prices are low enough that it is hard to argue against.   
   I bought an Athlon 64 processor and motherboard about two years   
   ago for less than $200.  I am sure it would be even less today.   
      
   -- glen   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)