[alxian]

Can an OS be built that can run on both IBM Power PC based processors and an Intel (or more specifically x86 processor) at once?

where it could run on the AMD(+ATI graphics.. a tailored version of Xenos) processor and send processes to the IBM Xenon processor that couldn't be handled by the AMD?

context:

If MS was to build a Unifying hardware platform for Vista and MCE, such that the hardware could run Games for Windows (with full D3D10 support) and 360 platform games in one unit, nestled between the full Vista PC niche and the cheaper end 360 hardware niche.

noting also that the middle hardware platform would be essentially a super xbox 360 (two very different processors where one simply isn't possible at this point) coupled with a gaming centric version of Windows VIsta (much like MCE was media centric to WinXp.

I wonder because with PS3 actually running Linux the possibility of the casual gamer upgrading to Full Vista Ultimate machines AND owning a 360 for its games don't seem to likely.

not to mention OSX possibly running on PS3.. possibly without any comprimises..

[Southtown]

Sure it's possible. There would just have to be a hardware abstraction layer that translates between the os and the machine. The problem is that it will add more work, slowing the os down. And it will be large, taking up more room than other os'es. Picture a person running with a stack of coffee cups.

Ready, set, go!

[Boerseun]

Install Linux, and run a shell for each OS. You will battle with hardware, though... see the coffee cup example above.

[alxian]

so even if you're running only games, and a much watered down OS that unlike for a true VIsta PC isn't going to be the workhorse, expected to have all that functionality.. it would still be too inefficient to bother with?

also would it at least theoretically be slower if all of it was Proprietary? because MS already has Xenon in its pocket, the OS, and most of the programs, could they not be tuned to the nth degree for maximum performance?

again knowing that gaming performance would be the first priority?

and when gaming the OS would virtually shut down to only its barebones essentials to run like a console?

[alexander]

If MS was to build a Unifying hardware platform for Vista and MCE, such that the hardware could run Games for Windows (with full D3D10 support) and 360 platform games in one unit, nestled between the full Vista PC niche and the cheaper end 360 hardware niche.

here are questions about that whole thing
a) would you buy hardware made by m$
b) do you think that M$ made hardware woud be as bad as Dells, or worse?
c) would you trust hardware that is made by a company that makes spyware (Windows for example, or Media Player to name a few)?
d) PS3 is already a multimedia center that runs linux, why get a 360?

There would just have to be a hardware abstraction layer that translates between the os and the machine.

eeewy solution, look at vmware, can you game well in it? right you can do no such thing. And to get M$ to rewrite their OS almost from the ground up to support a different architecture... i dunno if that will ever happen... you will be better off with Linux and Cedega then hardware abstraction and Vista memory hogg on top...

could they not be tuned to the nth degree for maximum performance?

lol, that sounds like an oxymoron

[alxian]

a) 2 xbox consoles (one repaired a few times), and a 360.. buying an MS made toaster wouldn't be a huge stretch, if it meant D3D10 support and VIsta even if it was watered down (dealing with VIsta daily i'm hardly going to be able to part with it once the betas expire, and i'm more comfortable buying hardware with VIsta preinstalled than paying 499$ to continue enjoying WVU)
b) The truth about MS hardware is that they were inept. Xbox has tought them more than any prior hardware initiatives. Xbox was virtually perfect (except for the piracy thing). it demonstrates that MS can cobble together a competent piece of somewhat proprietary tech.. but also that security just isn't something MS is good at.
c) I personally don't care, i have nothing to hide.
d) PS3 is a white elephant. ridiculously expensive and incompatible with x86 at least in terms of directly running wintel software on the machine. Linux may be fun for enthusiats but its no alternative to winxp (which of course is just my opinion, the truth remains to be seen).


and yes. i realise that the idea in itself is unfeasible, but only because MS while sniffing at Sony's tail (to ensure the continuation of crossplatform software between the xbox platform and playstation platform) had to choose IBM. but had they stuck with Intel or gone with AMD (apparently the CPU of choice for gaming), then a proper hybrid console running VIsta could have been a possibility.

from the replies here it seems that it just isn't possible and may not be until the next cycle.. as long as MS understands that that bottom rung of the market would benefit greatly from Unifying Games for Windows and the Xbox platform on one hardware platform.

[alexander]

it is possible, everything is if you try hard enough, so would be software that runs on 2 different architectures, and it is already working in linux environment, if you consider the Nvidia GPU kernel running as a module... It will be something along those lines for the x86/Cell/Mips/Alpha/PPC / anything else you want to come up with, it is possible, perhaps you can do a proof of concept and present it at this year's defcon, heh?...

[Southtown]

Don't get your hopes up, alxian. M$ isn't interested in cooperating at all. Their strategy is to use their size against their competition, not their software.

Originally Posted by alexander

eeewy solution, look at vmware, can you game well in it? right you can do no such thing. And to get M$ to rewrite their OS almost from the ground up to support a different architecture... i dunno if that will ever happen... you will be better off with Linux and Cedega then hardware abstraction and Vista memory hogg on top...

I thought alxian was asking if an os could possibly be built from scratch to support multiple architectures. I couldn't make heads or tails of the context. Coffee anyone?