The case for smaller, simpler, faster operating systems
BetaNews | at | by Mike
Call me a shameless optimist, but I can't shake the feeling that the operating system arms race may finally be over. After countless generations of new-and-improved OSs that consumed every iota of additional performance built into ever-faster hardware, I think we're finally seeing a tiny light at end of a tunnel many of us thought would continue forever.
We've all had this experience: We replace a three-year-old computer running an older version of an operating system with something supposedly light years ahead of the old machine. By the specs, the processor is twice as fast and has twice as many cores. Memory is an order of magnitude larger and faster. Storage, video, network, wireless and other components are similarly rocket-powered compared to the old stuff. If we believe the numbers, our new machine should blow our suddenly obsolete one of the water.