Windows 64 to Beat Tiger to the Punch?


Microsoft is likely to bring its Windows XP 64-bit operating system to market just weeks before Apple is expected to release the 64-bit OS X 10.4 Tiger upgrade, MacBidouille reports.

Microsoft will release XP 64 on 25 April, upstaging Apple, which is expected to deliver Tiger late in the first half of the year.

XP 64 will support processors such as the AMD Athlon 64, while Apple's Power Mac and iMac G5s will be able to take advantage of the 64-bit Tiger. One main advantage of 64-bit computing is access to enormous amounts of main memory.

In Apple's case, the G5 is particularly sophisticated, with their ability to run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications natively and seamlessly. Developers can also rewrite their applications to take advantage of the 64-bit OS and processor.

Analysis: Probably only of PR importance, but we bet MS advertising will trumpet the fact that it virtually invented 64-bit desktop computing.