[cwest91]

Scoured all the information that I could, but I could not find the answer the this question: "Is Panther going to be 64bit?" Does anybody know??

[::maroma::]

99.9% sure that it is.

(the 0.01% doubt because I can't find any documentation)

[jessejlt]

Hello fellow PDX'er.

Anyways, to answer the question, Yes it is 64-bit, and I say this w/ 100% certainty.
jesse ;-)

[Ibson]

From http://www.apple.com/powermac/specs.html:

For PC users, going from 32-bit to 64-bit computing requires migrating to a 64-bit operating system (and purchasing the 64-bit applications that will work on it) or running a 32-bit operating system in slow-as-molasses emulation mode. The PowerPC G5, however, offers a seamless transition to 64-bit performance: Current 32-bit code — such as Mac OS X, the Mac OS 9 Classic environment and existing applications — runs natively at processor speed. With no interruptions to your workflow. And no additional investment in software required, period.

I'm assuming this refers to Panther too. Converting to 64-bit code isn't trivial. Sorry folks.

[Gee4orce]

All the performance figures for the G5 were obtained using 10.2 Jaguar. See the PDFs on Apple's site.

Persumably, a 64bit Panther would improve these figures further ?

[Duffy]

They used a speical version of Jaguar.

[TC]

Apple have released gcc 3.3 on the ADC site, they say it can be used to produce software for the G5 processor.

I guess we will be getting 32 + 64 bit versions of apps from now on.

From my understanding for most apps it is enough to just switch compiler to get a 64 bit version of your software. It isn't going to be like tuning your software to use Altivec.

[neilxu]

IMHO, Panther will be 64-bit OS only if you have G5. If you are still using G4 or G3, Panther is 32-bit.

[iNeusch]

I guess some of the code will be optimized, but the G5 runs both natively... so it's not really a problem...

[mitchell_pgh]

Hmmm, or are they just going to make the applications "fat" where they have both versions in the one application.

The other thing you are going to see is "REQUIRES OS X 10.3" just like every upgrade...

You aren't going to see many 64 bit version, download here... 32 bit version, download here...

People don't like that...

[iNeusch]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
Hmmm, or are they just going to make the applications "fat" where they have both versions in the one application.

The other thing you are going to see is "REQUIRES OS X 10.3" just like every upgrade...

You aren't going to see many 64 bit version, download here... 32 bit version, download here...

People don't like that...

If you read IBM tech data about the G5 it says that it runs natively 32 bit code. So your old apps will work just the same. If you compile with GCC 3.3 then you will be able to make 64 optimized versions.

[:XI:]

Read the G5 Tech overview (it's on one of apple's G5 pages)

10.2.7 updated to address the full 8gigs ram and some other G5 stuff.