[OT] End-user uses for x86-64 (was: Why are still not at 64 bits)

[Ben Scott]

  This doesn't really relate directly to FLOSS, but the reality of
these questions might well dictate the course of future events (i.e.,
World Domination), and I know there are a lot of smart, "in touch"
people on this list, so...

On 2/15/07, Ben Scott <dragonhawk at gmail.com> wrote:
> "What practical benefit will the end-user reap from 64-bit
> computing?"  "... There might be more of a
> press to provide good 64-bit capable software if there an actual
> reason to do so, ya know?  ;-)

  I've been asking the question, "How would an end-user significantly
benefit from x86-64?"

  Last night at Martha's, Matt Brodeur pointed out one thing that
could actually count: Full motion video editing.  This is something
that even the hypothetical grandmother might want to do.  Digital
camcorders recording to random access storage are likely going to
replace mag tape and film in the next several years.  People will want
to pull that into their home PC and mess around with it, just like
they do with photos now.  Except that such home videos could easily
grow to 30 gigabytes or more.  Large memories and good 64-bit integer
performance will actually be useful to such users.

  Anyone got any other ideas?

  (Pedantic Note #1: I'm not disputing the benefits of x86-64 for
"heavy duty" computing, such as servers, multimedia production, or
other things perused by organizations.  I'm talking about what *end
users* use their PCs for.  The people browsing MySpace, forwarding
their email chain letters, downloading illegal music with
Kanapsterwire, and looking at pron.)

  (Pedantic Note #2: I'm not interested in "Users use servers so they
should care".  Users use electricity, too, but they don't care about
having a nuclear reactor in their house.)

  (Silly Note to Pedantic Note #2: Consider the "Hey, I have/want a
nuclear reactor in my house" remark already made.)

  (Pedantic Note #3: I'm also aware that it's hard to predict future
applications of technology.  640K should be enough for anybody, or
whatever.  All we can do is work with what we know.)

-- Ben