Thursday, September 25, 2008

Megahertz wars. Err... what wars?

It occured to me today, that some six, seven years ago big part of computer marketing was the speed of processor, expressed in MHz. It used to be a really big thing how fast your processor is. Now, this is gone.

I started to wonder why and here are some thoughts:
1. Processor speeds ventured into gigahertz territory, and maybe for some unknown reason, gigahertz doesn't sound so cool as it's mega brethren.
2. "Apple" finally succeeded in convincing general public, that processor speeds aren't that important. That was time when Macs were still running PowerPC processors, which were slower than their "Intel" counterparts. Irony is, that for some time now "Apple" is using "Intel" processors as well.
3. Or, most likely, computers have very much infiltrated the life of mainstream public. Fancy terms like "megahertz" doesn't mean anything to them and are difficult to remember. There are more important things like design, brand or color.

I suspect this should happen with any advanced technology. First it's marketed through technological advancement, but any tech advance "commodizes" over time and in the end it's always down to what color the stuff is.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yep, that was the case.
"For Sale: Brand new computer with Intel Pentium 200MHz! "
Bought it myself back then ;)

Other phases/influences that popped into my mind.

1. Processor (CPU) industry.
In computer hardware component market most of the sales are made via OEM deals. Only computer enthusiasts will go and buy a separate memory or CPU.
Most people buy computers.

CPU could be looked as the central part of personal computer. But it wouldn't work without other components of course.
Over time personal computers have had more and more stuff built into to them - sound, cameras, CD/DVD drives,movie playback capability etc.
Which diminishes the value of CPU as selling point.

Around 1999-2001 AMD managed to gain substantial share in CPU market which was Intel dominated before.
At this point AMD's processors had more computing power than their Intel counterparts, but run at slower clock-speeds due to their internal architecture.

So AMD started using index of a sort to mark their products.
For example "AMD Athlon XP 2500+" which essentially indicated that this processor is equivalent to Intel processor running at 2500 MHz.

Nowadays clock-speeds are even less relevant since integrating multiple processor cores on one chip - they run at slower speeds than single core analog would but overall computing power is greater. So now its about how many cores you have ;)



2. Laptop's become widespread - usually you cant find latest/fastest processors in laptops because they are usually power-hungry and generate a lot of heat- which in end would make bulky laptop with lousy battery life and noisy cooling fans. Which of course aren't things you want on your mobile computer. And you care more about the features that are built in than CPU speed.


3. Apple
There certainly was an influence. Im just not sure how big impact they made. After all even today Apple is a small company in personal computer market compared to the big players like Dell or HP.
But from purely marketing side they sure have mad an impact.

Apple used same logic that AMD later did - empasized that Motorola PowerPC processors had more computing power than Intel counterparts.

And the concept of one device that offers solutions vs. complex hard- and software combinations diminished the role of CPU, too.


4. Mhz vs GHz.
Giga is even more cooler than Mega ;)
Reasons not using it are elsewhere i think.

5. Generally this is a trend with every innovative product.
From product/technology life-cycle point: early adopters value the technical aspects, while mass market usually doesn't care how it works, rather only what it does.

Look at the digital cameras for example - MPixel is THE most important parameter at the moment..
Although essential, its not the only and absolute measure of a decent digital camera.

renefischer said...

Mh yeah, and for most people using digital cameras and their purposes, 4 or 5 Megapixel are way enough. Not much point for example for my dad to go buy an 8 Megapixel cam, but of course he still does it (maybe he wants to make a huge poster some day).

As the the MHz and GHz, I think one simple reason for the issue to lose importance is (aside from the deeper stuff rein says) that once your computer is "fast enough", you just don't really pay much attention to that anymore. At least in my case, this Mhz/Ghz topic was always very important because it gave me a hint on how much waiting (and frustration as well as anger) time I had to expect from a new computer. Since we're running on something around 1,8 Ghz or 2 Ghz processors on mobile computers, I'm reasonably fine, and my waiting time has entered acceptable parameters.

Very interesting stuff, Rein. Must say, didn't know much about the history and background of these little buggers.

Edgars Makens said...

I would just like to add to Reins' 5th point: not only to what it does, but probably how it looks as well.

And you're both right on the money about the megapixel case.

Anonymous said...

How can i remove windows xp from my laptop and reinstall windows Me -the laptops first software?
I procure recently bought a used laptop that is old. The living soul I had bought it from had installed windows xp on it, indeed yet it at came with windows Me. I fall short of to oust the windows xp because it runs slows on the laptop because it takes up more memory than the windows Me would. Also I paucity to remove windows xp because it is an illegal copy. So when I tried to stir one's stumps updates on it, windows would not install updates because the windows xp is not genuine. [URL=http://igeifea.hostific.com]air carriers udaipur to mumbai[/URL]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Answers :

It's haler to relinquish [URL=http://noxynjc.hostific.com/mccormick-seasonings-coupons.html]mccormick seasonings coupons[/URL] Windows XP and even-handed upgrade your laptop. It's much better. [URL=http://gveeauo.hostific.com/juki-serger.html]juki serger[/URL] In addition, Windows XP is way [URL=http://hukkzua.hostific.com/kara-wombacher.html]kara wombacher[/URL] better then Windows Me. Windows Me is d‚mod‚ and many programs that can hustle with XP, can't [URL=http://yiewkie.hostific.com/duct-tape-ball-anchorage.html]duct tape ball anchorage[/URL] vamoose with Me.
------------------------------
all you take to do is insert the windows me disk into the cd drive. then reboot your laptop, when the black [URL=http://qkiyvrn.hostific.com/markham-sheffield-refractories.html]markham sheffield refractories[/URL] shield with all the info comes up and when it asks u to boot from cd [URL=http://onssiyd.hostific.com/imco-marine.html]imco marine[/URL] hit any latchkey when it tells you to then inaugurate from there !!! I RECOMEND SINCE ITS AN ILLEAGLE TEXT TO WIPE [URL=http://qkiyvrn.hostific.com/marriage-settlement-records-ireland.html]marriage settlement records ireland[/URL] OUT OF THE CLOSET THE [URL=http://dfizone.hostific.com/tarantula-hawk.html]tarantula hawk[/URL] CONTINUOUS INSCRUTABLE PUSH WHEN IT ASKS YOU WHICH IMPENETRABLE [URL=http://hukkzua.hostific.com/karin-von-kroft.html]karin von kroft[/URL] PROD TO INSTALL IT ON. THEN SUM UP ALL THE UNENCUMBERED PAUSE ON THE EMPTY [URL=http://zanqmez.hostific.com/mm-in-seventh-heaven-poa.html]mm in seventh heaven poa[/URL] HARD CONSTRAIN ONTO A BRAND-NEW ORDER SITE, IT WILL LOOK LIKE C:/ Raw or something like that

Anonymous said...

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, commonly known as BPH, is an enlargement of the prostate area. It is more rampant in older men. As men are chic more cultivated connected with healthfulness issues, they turn to medical treatment in behalf of BPH. Dutas, a generic form of Avodart([URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/avodart-versus-proscar.html]avodart versus proscar[/URL] [URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/avodart-causing-tingling.html]avodart causing tingling[/URL] [URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/avodart-vascular-side-effects.html]avodart vascular side effects[/URL] [URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/avodart-and-pregnant-women.html]avodart and pregnant women[/URL] [URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/alcohol-effects-on-avodart.html]alcohol effects on avodart[/URL] ), has been proven as an effective treatment of BPH. BPH and its symptoms that adversely upset the grade of lifestyle can be treated successfully by Dutas. The first foretoken evidence of BPH is the frequency of essential to urinate. This occurs usually at continually but then progresses to the miss to urine as often as not in every part of the day. BPH sufferers afterward circulate a reduction in tenaciousness in urine stream. Inconvenience accompanies this reduction. A medical doctor should carry testing to terminate if BPH is the cause of the symptoms. The effectiveness of Dutas is found in the chemical merge Dutasteride. This active ingredient is an alpha-reductase 5 inhibitor which impedes the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is considered a telling technique of testosterone. BPH symptoms vanish if ever the conversion is interrupted. Dutas has been base to be effective in BPH towards sundry sufferers. Prescriptions finasteride and finasteride has been shown to only restrain limerick isoform of alpha redictase 5. It has been established that Dutasteride has been proven to impede two isoforms. Dutas manifestly appears to victual the superlative treatment close by seeking BPH. Dutas make be taken as directed with some precautions. Erectile dysfunction and decreased sexual libido are the most commonly reported side effects during use of Dutas. Gynecomastia or enlargement of manly boob tissue is another practicable side effect. Additionally, women who are productive or women disappointing to appropriate for expectant should not be exposed to Dutas; developing virile fetuses can be adversely niminy-piminy by these inhibitors. Dutas can be occupied via the peel so special care should be exercised concerning pregnant women or women unsatisfying to become pregnant. Another side power of Dutas is a uncontested one. Some men oblige reported curls replenishment while fetching Dutas. BPH can be treated by discussing medications and viable side effects with a medical professional. Dutas can specify competent treatment of BPH. A worry-free, brisk life is justly quality the effort.
[URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/breast-are-tender-with-avodart.html]breast are tender with avodart[/URL]
[URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/avodart-flomax-prostate-viagra.html]avodart flomax prostate viagra[/URL]
[URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/breast-enlargement-due-to-avodart.html]breast enlargement due to avodart[/URL]
[URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/prostate-cancer-avodart.html]prostate cancer avodart[/URL]
[URL=http://jeqpqpv.1freewebspace.com/avodart-price.html]avodart price[/URL]