Pentium M...going to die?

it seems that intel already release core duo and pentium M prices is going down...in a few months, there will be AM2, and then end of this year there is intel merom that's gonna be release. Will pentium M gonna die just like pentium 4 right now?

When Intel Conroe release its gonna be so cheap and super strong desktop. Does that mean if merom is gonna be low cost as well, then pentium will go waayy down....

 

In reality, the hardware in a computer lasts as long as you want it. Its performance will not decrease at all, it will still be able to do all the things you do now in 20 years. The only difference is that there will be better components available.

P4 is still around. True, it will slowly be phased out as manufacturers stop including it in their machines, but they'll still work.

 

then again, after a certain period of time, a certain level of hardware will have trouble with even basic tasks. For example, I had a 6 year old thinkpad 600E until earlier this year, it has trouble even with the internet now, sites are simply designed for a more powerful computer than that.

 

True...so true.

 

Not because of AM2 but simply because of a successor, it happens to all chips from the DX2 to the P4. The same will happen with the A64.

 

within the next 3 years should be ok i think.

just don't run vista or something...windows xp will not just vanish in a puff in the next three years.

 

P-M's aren't that old really. Many notebooks still contain high power non-mobile processors. Not that they are still being made with them, but some are running with that hardware.

I think that you'll be fine for a long time. True, programs will be designed for better hardware. However, internet doesn't make sense to change too much. Why only cater to (right now) the top 5%? It makes more sense to only really be uninclusive once the technology is prominent. Therefore, 5 years down the road MAYBE we'll see problems with P-Ms.

Even Vista will run on a P-M no problem...of course you won't get the 64 bit experience.

 

I agree that hardware components will seem to get slower as you own them because newer software requires more powerful hardware, BUT the level that hardware is at now I'm sure your CPUs will last you a looooooooooong time.

You can't really compare today's hardware to those of the past with Pentium 1's and 2's and even 3's. The pentium M will be plenty powerful for some time now. I wouldn't be worried about it not being able to handle everyday tasks for years to come.

How many years you ask? Who knows. If everything stays similar to what it is now with word processing, surfing, etc, I just don't see how it could not be powerful enough to handle tomorrow's software. As long as they don't go super 3d and graphic crazy on the internet we should be fine.

One thing I do worry about is the upcoming Windows Vista with its 3d desktop. I don't know if current hardware will be able to fully implement that because I read that directx10 will not be supported on older hardware, so we won't even be able to install it.

Cheers,
Mike

 

I belive the GUI is DirectX 9, so those of us with a hardware DirectX 9 video card shouldn't have any problems. The official specifications needed to run Vista haven't been released, naturally, so it's not certain.

As for whether the Pentium M will last - it will, no doubt about that. You'll be fine for several years.

 

SEE, SEE!?!?!? The Chaz has spoken.

That's good to know Chaz, that means that we WILL be able to experience the 3d desktop. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

 

Direct x10 will matter for gamers and they still don't and won't have cards for a while yet and they will be spendy. My pc is fine for what I do for the most part 4yrs from the day I bought it with the exception of gaming. I'm still running p4 and as long as this thing doesn't die it will see some use by me and others for some time.

My aunt is using an Ibm she is the third owner and it is over 6yrs old and she still gets by with it (p3 running win 2000) I don't know how she does but she does. Web, word etc. no gaming and not really alot of multi tasking but she's fine. depends on needs

 

otaku you're absolutely correct on all points.

It all depends on what you need. I know some people that are still using pentium 1's at 166mhz with just simple word processing and things like that, spreadsheets and such.

They don't have to use the latest software or latest word processors or spreadsheets so the software they have is plenty for them.

Only problem they see is browsing the internet which is a bit slow, but come on now it's a pentium 166mhz.

A pentium 2 or 3 with a decent amount of ram and an okay videocard like a banshee, will be fine for browsing if properly configured, so it all depends on your needs.

I think a lot of people these days have hardware that is totally overkill, YES even celeron owners that only word process and browse the internet.

You only need today's powerful processors and hardware for gaming and other hardware demanding tasks like CAD work, web design, programming, etc.

So if you're just surfing, save your money and get yourself older hardware to save money, unless you want to be ready for the upcoming Vista launch, which will require some nice hardware.

Nice being something like a notebook on the Sonoma platform or even the older platform before that.

Cheers,
Mike

 

Just a note, the Solo is practically a P-M with faster FSB, just like the sonoma (i.e. the current P-M) was a year ago.

So P-M is still alive in one way or another.

 

yea its true. I tried upgrading a pent 3 desktop more ram and found out it can still be as good as an old pent 4 desktop when using basic programs!

but still worries me as cpus are like multiplying really applications will surely go much higher requirement and esp games, since conroe and merom i think) will be cheaper