XP kernel question

[khanza]

I heard from a couple of quite reliable sources that the XP kernel does NOT support true multitasking.

Meaning it cannot do more than one thing at once -- however it can split resources to give the appearance of multitasking....


Is this true?

I've done some searching, but I havn't found much on this topic.

Thanks,
Khan

 

[jimp56]

I invite others to give a more comprehensive explanation, but heres some interesting reading:

http://www.lowendmac.com/tech/macos_v_win.shtml

Yes, the windows xp kernel can do it, but I suppose it comes down to how one defines multitasking.

You also have to give consideration to the cpu's capabilities. Hyperthreading means the cpu itself can handle processing more than one instruction at a time which can further muddy the definition of doing more than one thing at once. And also determining how multiple processors affect this mix comes into play.

http://www.intel.com/technology/hyperthread/

 

[bcastner]

If it is a kernel issue, yes it does.

If the question is whether it does it on your machine, see jmp56's comments above.

 

[micker377]

Does anyone remember the Tandy "Color Computer (Co-Co II)" with OS 9? [Early '80's] The original "Time Slicing".