[ python-Bugs-1616109 ] IA64/AMD64/x64 confusion

[SourceForge.net]

Bugs item #1616109, was opened at 2006-12-14 21:51
Message generated for change (Comment added) made by dreamcatcher
You can respond by visiting: 
https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=105470&aid=1616109&group_id=5470

Please note that this message will contain a full copy of the comment thread,
including the initial issue submission, for this request,
not just the latest update.
Category: Windows
Group: None
Status: Closed
Resolution: Wont Fix
Priority: 5
Private: No
Submitted By: Sidnei da Silva (dreamcatcher)
Assigned to: Nobody/Anonymous (nobody)
Summary: IA64/AMD64/x64 confusion

Initial Comment:
I've recently got a Intel EM64T-enabled machine, which until recently I didn't realise was actually 64-bit.

Now I'm running Windows XP 64 Professional, and thought about downloading the 64-bit installer.

Coming to the Python 2.5 download page, there are two options, 'IA64' and 'AMD64'. 

You would have thought that, since this is an Intel box, the 'IA64' seems like the obvious choice, but that installer does not work. After starting it, a dialog pops up with the message:

  """
  This installation package is not supported by this processor type. Please contact your vendor.
  """

So I went and downloaded the AMD64 installer. And to my surprise, it does work!

To make it worse, Intel seems to have renamed 'EM64T' to 'Intel 64 Architecture'. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EM64T

I believe that an explanation should be added to the download page clarifying that EM64T is actually Intel's implementation of AMD64, and that it's not compatible with the 'IA64' installer.
 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

>Comment By: Sidnei da Silva (dreamcatcher)
Date: 2006-12-16 10:19

Message:
Logged In: YES 
user_id=438768
Originator: YES

Doesn't sound like you read my suggestion:

"""
If you are running XP x64, 2003 x64 (does that exist?) or (insert
equivalent Vista here) then the installer you are looking for is the
'AMD64' one.
"""

There's no mention of Intel there.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Comment By: Martin v. Löwis (loewis)
Date: 2006-12-16 10:09

Message:
Logged In: YES 
user_id=21627
Originator: NO

I would like to avoid adding more text. It is already too much text. Also,
I outright refuse to use any of the official Intel terminology on an
official webpage (and, as you say, EM64T is not the current name that Intel
gives this anymore; the brain washing goes on as they called "Intel 64"
now, just as if they invented it).

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Comment By: Sidnei da Silva (dreamcatcher)
Date: 2006-12-16 09:40

Message:
Logged In: YES 
user_id=438768
Originator: YES

I understand that calling it AMD64 is the 'correct' thing. However the end
user will say 'but I have an Intel processor, not AMD'.

I'm not asking for a rename, just for a note on the download page. You
shouldn't expect the users downloading this to know the difference between
'Itanium' vs 'AMD64' vs 'EM64T'. They probably, though, know the difference
between 'XP Itanium Edition' and 'XP x64 Edition'.

Since the 'AMD64' installer will work on 'XP x64' no matter if the
processor is AMD64 or EM64T, I think the page should at least say something
like:

'If you are running XP x64, 2003 x64 (does that exist?) or (insert
equivalent Vista here) then the installer you are looking for is the
'AMD64' one.'

What do you think?



----------------------------------------------------------------------

Comment By: Martin v. Löwis (loewis)
Date: 2006-12-16 06:52

Message:
Logged In: YES 
user_id=21627
Originator: NO

I don't see a need to change the page. It says clearly that the ia64
binary is for "Itanium". If you thought that you had an Itanium processor,
there is not much we could do for you. I refuse to call the architecture or
the binary "EM64T", "x64", or "x86-64". AMD has invented the architecture,
so they get to name it. They originally called it x86-64, but later
requested that people call it AMD64, so that's what we do.

Notice that Microsoft calls the operating system you are running "XP x64
Edition", not "XP 64". They also offer  "XP 64-bit Itanium Edition". So
Windows users just have to learn that "64-bit Windows" is not a precise
architecture specification.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

You can respond by visiting: 
https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=105470&aid=1616109&group_id=5470