Re: [64-bit Delphi] A msg from Hairy (van Tassel)

From: Danny Thorpe (dthorpe_at_bozofilter.borland.com)
Date: 02/01/05 

Date: 1 Feb 2005 13:51:22 -0800

Dave Nottage [TeamB] wrote:

> Will DeWitt Jr. wrote:
>
> > I especially like this quote, which is from Craig McMurtry actually,
> > but priceless nonetheless--
> >
> > "64-bit computing is here today."
>
> I expect no-one is doubting that.
>
> Forget the "Borland knows better" argument, since that seems abhorrent
> to you.. but before they can make one, it needs to be shown that they
> will be able to make money from it. Their own research says "No".

Correction: The issue is not whether a 64 bit dev tool could make
money. The issue is opportunity cost - whether investing Borland
resources into building a 64 bit dev tool platform would generate a
greater return than making a similar or smaller investment in other
technology, such as .NET.

64 bit tools can make money. No doubt about that in my mind. But
enough to make Borland Software Corporation interested? Enough to make
Borland turn away from other business? Not yet.

The simple fact of the matter is that the Borland PLSMs, who are in
constant and direct contact with the people and businesses who buy
Delphi and who gather customer requirements and requests for the R&D
team to incorporate, do not have people pounding on the door demanding
64 bit native code.

At my request, the PLSMs periodically ping customers and business
accounts to inquire about their plans/needs for 64 bit code. (Prompted
queries instead of passive gathering) Answer: The general concensus is
that few businesses see a strong need to begin development of business
applications requiring 64 bit hardware for the immediate future.

64 bit native tools are a popular topic out here in the newsgroups.
However, the newsgroups are not representative of the Delphi customer
base as a whole. Upwards of 90% of the newsgroup readers never post a
message to express their opinions. I estimate that 80 to 90% of the
active Delphi developers in the field do not read the newsgroups, do
not read BDN, and do not attend conferences or buy training. Why do I
suspect this? Because they do buy product -- a lot more product than I
can account for by conference and newsgroup populations.

-Danny
(owner of 3 AMD64 machines, btw) 

-- 
Delphi Compiler Core:  http://blogs.borland.com/dcc

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