CompuServe Messages

> The Pentium problems consist of five missing entries in a floating >point lookup table. Unless the application is doing a huge amount of >floating point calculations, the "problem" is essentially a non-issue in >practical terms for the vast majority of users. True. > Intel, of course, did a horrible job of dealing with the flaw and it's >understandable that every user wants a "perfect" Pentium (which is why >I've already placed a call to Intel's replacement line). Horrible is an understatement, but essentially true, though it brings phrases like "I am not a crook" to mind. 🙂 > But there's no reason to overstate the flaw as if it is some crippling >defect. It isn't. Actually, I don't think anyone is overstating. This is a serious flaw if you EVER plan to do any floating point work. There is just no way to trust the answer now. I or my company will not purchase pentiums untill this bug (and another timing bug) are worked out. Maybe we don't do floating point stuff on them right now, but who's to know what that PC is going to be running later… Warp 3 — Engage! Bob Comer Cheyenne, Wyoming U.S.A.