Russell Coker wrote in a message to Jeff Glatt:

 RC> As long as the device driver doesn't spin too
 RC> much when blocking threads

The device driver NEVER spins while blocking a thread.

JG>code from OS/2 1.0. Why? Because IBM doesn't want to spend the
JG>development money (nor time) on the Intel version of OS/2 that
JG>would be necessary to retool all of that 16-bit assembly code that

 RC>    If IBM are purposely holding back on development of the
 RC> Intel OS/2 then this should indicate that OS/2 for PPC is
 RC> going to be released soon.  Sounds good to me!

Insofar as IBM is "purposely holding back," it is for the obvious
and sensible engineering reason that they don't want to break things.

JG>    I guess that I'm just tired of hearing people apologize
JG>for IBM's unwillingness to spend development resources on getting
JG>rid of the last 16-bit vestiges of OS/2 dating back to 1.0. IBM
JG>is supposedly the largest computer company in the world. They should
JG>be able to afford this. If MS made a fully 32-bit OS (ie, NT), then
JG>IBM should be able to afford to do likewise.

 RC>     I used to think the same as you until I learnt more
 RC> about these things.  If the system bus is 16bit (ISA) and
 RC> the devices are 8 or 16 bit then there is generaly no great
 RC> benefit to 32bit device drivers.  Most OS/2 device drivers
 RC> fall into this category.

Don't forget that, where performance improvement would result, especially
with the video drivers, IBM bit the bullet and changed to 32-bit code.
 
-- Mike


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