Faster Boots - Instant On Hardware
Why can't we have systems that don't need to boot. Instead of being powered off when not used they would actually be in a sleep mode. I can put my PB to sleep and by the time I awaken it by opening the lid it's ready to go. Instant on. Seem's to me that this can be extended so when any system (laptop or desktop) leaves the factory it is already booted but sleeping. When a user gets their new system all they are really doing is awakening it.
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I'm spacing on the name of the tech, but there's a form of memory that can preserve its contents without requiring power (besides SRAM...). When that becomes inexpensive enough in quantity, you'll start seeing many more instant-on devices. Until then, while we have SDRAM and while hard drives are significantly cheaper than any other kind of persistent mass storage, things will have to boot.
Originally posted by Amorph
... there's a form of memory that can preserve its contents without requiring power (besides SRAM...). When that becomes inexpensive enough in quantity, you'll start seeing many more instant-on devices...
Amorph, that would be MRAM being developed by IBM.
IBM is teaming with Infineon Corporation to develop Magnetic RAM chips, which have the potential to replace all computer memory RAM technologies in use today and can lead to instant-on computers and longer battery life for pervasive devices. Magnetic RAM chips use magnetic rather than electrical structures to store information, so they do not need to be constantly powered to retain data, like current RAM technologies. They are also much faster and less expensive to make than today's nonvolatile Flash memory.
This web site HowStuffWorks has a good description of MRAM, and how it will revolutionize the computer industry.
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Originally posted by Amorph
With current technologies, that sucks battery power, which would be bad from an inventory POV.
I'm spacing on the name of the tech, but there's a form of memory that can preserve its contents without requiring power (besides SRAM...). When that becomes inexpensive enough in quantity, you'll start seeing many more instant-on devices. Until then, while we have SDRAM and while hard drives are significantly cheaper than any other kind of persistent mass storage, things will have to boot.
You are thinking of flash (ala the card in your digital camers)
manny geeks use it to install a base OS (lets say windows 98 ) and a front end, then attach a hdd for the programs and media and put these things in their cars, essentialy having a home brew dvd-nav system.
many "slowness" issues, if there is such a thing with the G5, could be lessened or overted by useing faster HDDs, if you want a speed boost, start by upping your system to a gig of ram, this is true for linux, mac, or windows, also consider a faster HDD, like a 10k rpm raptor, or a 15000 rpm barracuda, this will also boost proformance regardless of platform.
Originally posted by ThinkingDifferent
Why can't we have systems that don't need to boot. Instead of being powered off when not used they would actually be in a sleep mode. I can put my PB to sleep and by the time I awaken it by opening the lid it's ready to go. Instant on. Seem's to me that this can be extended so when any system (laptop or desktop) leaves the factory it is already booted but sleeping. When a user gets their new system all they are really doing is awakening it.
I never shutdown my tower, I leave it in deep sleep (i.e. OFF). It is ready to go a couple of seconds after I hit a key. By the time I've typed my password enough memory has been reloaded from disk that I don't have to wait. What more do you want?
I haven't shutdown my powermac in over 4 years other than for installing a new DVD burner and a new graphics card.
By the time my analog LCD syncs to a signal, the system is ready to use. For me, there is little room for improvement.
Originally posted by dfiler
Shutdown? What's shutdown?
I haven't shutdown my powermac in over 4 years other than for installing a new DVD burner and a new graphics card.
By the time my analog LCD syncs to a signal, the system is ready to use. For me, there is little room for improvement.
4 years with no lightning storms, no black/brown outs, no squirls in the powerline? that is increadible!
Originally posted by a_greer
You are thinking of flash (ala the card in your digital camers)
I was actually thinking of MRAM. Flash is expensive and s l o w.
many "slowness" issues, if there is such a thing with the G5, could be lessened or overted by useing faster HDDs, if you want a speed boost, start by upping your system to a gig of ram, this is true for linux, mac, or windows, also consider a faster HDD, like a 10k rpm raptor, or a 15000 rpm barracuda, this will also boost proformance regardless of platform.
Very-high-speed HDDs like the Raptor and the Barracuda are actually pretty dubious as desktop drives. Besides their high prices, they let out a loud whine, they have a fairly high failure rate, and they're only fast if they don't have to spin up (if you sleep them, or sleep your system, you lose their major advantage). The original poster was concerned with faster boot times, and you're not going to get a faster boot time waiting for a 15K drive to spin up. You put those drives in rack-mounted RAIDs, out of the way, and let them run nonstop until they fail.
I also envy dfiler's uptime. There's no way the weather here would allow 4 years of uptime. Although a local electrician does sell a natural gas-powered generator that kicks in when your power fails. Hmmm...
Rather, it's been 4 years since I've shutdown my mac for anything other than an upgrade.
Originally posted by Aphelion
Amorph, that would be MRAM being developed by IBM.
Hmmm, is this the rebirth of core memory at a nanoscale that I recently heard of? Very cool.
Originally posted by Kickaha
Hmmm, is this the rebirth of core memory at a nanoscale that I recently heard of? Very cool.
Nanoscale core memory? Heh, I'd be happy to be able to buy a 5 or 10 GB MRAM PCard to boot and run my Powerbook from.
Even a 2 or 4 GB MRAM CF card for my Nikon. (I'd still use my PCard CF adapter to boot OSX).
How about a Mini Pod with MRAM and 48 hrs play time?
MRAM: The Holy Grail of Memory
Two promises of MRAM are instant-start computers (no "booting up") and greater battery life in cell phones and portable computers.