LinuxQuestions.org
Welcome to the most active Linux Forum on the web.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question? If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-12-2009, 09:29 AM   #1
undoIT
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2009
Distribution: Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, Sabayon
Posts: 35

Rep: Reputation: 15
_amd64?


Why do many Linux distros still refer to the 64-bit versions as amd64? It's not as if it isn't already confusing and intimidating enough for first-time Linux users.

Most people know whether they have an AMD or Intel chip in their computer. If somebody has an Intel chip, it is counterintuitive to see "amd64" in the file name of the download.

Why not x86_64?
 
Old 12-12-2009, 09:39 AM   #2
~sHyLoCk~
Senior Member
 
Registered: Jul 2008
Location: /dev/null
Posts: 1,173
Blog Entries: 12

Rep: Reputation: 129Reputation: 129
Historical reasons.
 
Old 12-12-2009, 09:46 AM   #3
solnul
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2003
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 82

Rep: Reputation: 15
AMD developed the architecture and lobbied for that name heavily for marketing reasons.

http://lists.debian.org/debian-amd64.../msg00031.html

Before Intel's use of the architecture became well established, it looked like that lobbying might work. Intel's branding was a mess--they actually had two variations, IA32e and EM64T, and have since come up with even more names. Even Microsoft was using "AMD64":

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...ure.amd64.aspx

The thread where apt/Debian decided on the name contains a lot of data about what names other lower-level tools were using at the time:

http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=254598

Personally, I prefer x86_64 over amd64 or x64, but eh.
 
Old 12-15-2009, 10:40 PM   #4
undoIT
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2009
Distribution: Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, Sabayon
Posts: 35

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by solnul View Post
AMD developed the architecture and lobbied for that name heavily for marketing reasons.

http://lists.debian.org/debian-amd64.../msg00031.html

Before Intel's use of the architecture became well established, it looked like that lobbying might work. Intel's branding was a mess--they actually had two variations, IA32e and EM64T, and have since come up with even more names. Even Microsoft was using "AMD64":

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...ure.amd64.aspx

The thread where apt/Debian decided on the name contains a lot of data about what names other lower-level tools were using at the time:

http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=254598

Personally, I prefer x86_64 over amd64 or x64, but eh.
Yeah. It just seems like a confusion factor that doesn't need to be there for new Linux users.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:13 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration