Re: [MacPerl] [OT] Yellow Dog Linux, anyone?

["Jay Bedsole" <rwdd30@email.sps.mot.com>]

Chris writes:

> They are all PPCs.

It really depends on the context. 601s, 603s, 604s, and 750s
are all PPCs... The term "PowerPC" refers to a family of
microprocessors with similar architectures. In general, they
are upward compatible, but not necessarily downward compatible.
In other words, code written for a 601 should always work on a
750, but you **CAN** write code for a 750 that won't work (or at
least may not be effective) on a 601. Most of this is transparent
to users and even applications programmers. However the savvy OS
designer will know that he can eke out that extra bit of
performance by optimizing for a specific CPU.

The story is actually even more complex than this, but really
the point is, there **IS** a difference.


> To say that someone supports G3s and PPCs is not a big faux
> pas, everyone knows what you mean, but it is cause for concern
> when someone who is putting together an OS makes that mistake,
> IMO.

I don't know anything about Yellow Dog, but is entirely possible
that they are trying to say or imply that their version of
Linux is **OPTIMIZED** for G3 (i.e. PPC 750).


Since I am an employee of Motorola, I guess I should throw in
the obligatory disclaimer that I do not speak as an authority
or spokesperson for my company in this matter. The opinions
and statements made here are my own.

jay

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