There are several issues in Jared Strong’s July 3 column that need addressing.

First, he complains that Apple compares their 64-bit G5 processor to Intel’s 32 bit processor. The reason for this is simple — Intel has no 64-bit offering for the workstation market. The G5 will run all existing 32-bit applications with no problems. Intel’s 64-bit processor, the Itanium, does not run existing code.

Also, the Itanium is aimed at the server market, not the workstation market. The P4 Xeon is Intel’s workstation chip, and is the closest match to the G5.

I would also ask Jared honestly how much time his personal computer spends at full CPU usage. What I’m using my computer for right now (writing an email, and monitoring a few servers) could be handled just as well by a 486.

I also expect Jared to be the type who purchase a Viper instead of a Mercedes because “It can go faster.” Raw speed does not equate to the entire package. IBM and Apple also plan to have the G5 running at 3ghz within the year. The initial release of the G5 runs even with or faster than a very refined P4 core that hasn’t gotten any faster in the past 6 months.

Second, he claims that anyone needing 8GB of RAM will not buy an Apple. I beg to differ. Several of my friends regularly run scientific simulations that require huge amounts of memory. The G5 handles this without a problem. The G5 is not trying to take on the current P4 offerings — it is attempting to take the scientific workstation market — where SGI’s MIPS processors and IBM’s PowerPC systems currently live.

Finally, Jared claims the only reason people use a Mac is because it’s what they’re used to. Strangely, I started on PCs, and switched to using a Mac (as well as SGIs and the occasional Intel system). As a Unix administrator, OS X works nicely with the systems I administer, is easy to use and so far has no viruses or email exploits written for it.

Jared is certainly entitled to his opinions, but hopefully he never has to run across an evil, inferior Mac in his life as a journalist.

Russell Graves

Senior

Computer Engineering