Moore’s Law, Why Doesn’t It Apply To Operating Systems?

So there I was, browsing my favorite tech parts site looking for some possible system parts for my brother. In doing so I noticed something that really should bother me after all these years working with and building computer systems for various needs. I built my new computer system 3 years ago and at the time had a top of the line computer, with all the bells and whistles added on as I spent quite a good deal getting the latest and greatest components. The core of the system cost me about 850, being the motherboard processor and memory. Today, I found that I can build the whole system, minus a high end video card, for $302 shipped. I am talking everything minus a monitor, with case hard drive, cd-rom, case with power supply, everything you need to get a fully functional computer.

Now I know Moore’s law says that about every two years the processing capability available to the general market should double, and it’s been fairly consistent throughout the time of the personal computer. What strikes me as odd now is the operating systems that use this capability are not keeping up to this pace. For the first time since I started really diving into the hobby and trade of system building, I am finding the upgrades in hard hardware to not carry over into real performance in the software. A dual core processor will run XP almost identical to a quad core in terms of normal use. Copying files doesn’t noticeably decrease in time, and general times of opening multiple programs at once doesn’t seem to be extremely faster on the new processors you can buy today.

Now I know that Vista is out and that it is the “latest and greatest” from M$, but when I run a new operating system that is supposed to be better than the last, and have it full of holes and bugs (ex. Windows Millenium), it makes me not want to consider it until the bugs are worked out, if they ever are. So far in my usage tests of vista, it runs slower on dual core systems than xp, and runs that same amount slower with quad core systems. The file copying is slower, the overall interface is slower, and many programs and drivers either are very buggy or just flat out don’t work.

It’s been speculated that the next O.S. from M$ will be out in the next 2 years, which would harken back to the millennium days of a declared failure. My question is, if XP has peaked out in terms of performance, and vista is having so many problems, at what point does Moore’s law become ineffective. In other words, at what point does the increase of processor speeds become irrelevant. At this time, I can have 10 programs open at the same time, while I copy files and surf the web, and go through all my menus and suffer little if any slow down. Why should I upgrade to either an operating system that is SLOWER than the previous one, giving me no real necessary extra features, or a processor that won’t show a difference in capability because the O.S. is maxed out? If it were up to me, XP would just go all 64 bit native and have DX 10 capability, with the option to have a 3d graphical interface. Wait a minute, that sounds strangely familiar…Isn’t that exactly what Vista is now? Don’t fix what’s not broke, although then M$ wouldn’t make as much money now would they.

Sennheiser e604 Drum Microphones

When looking for drum microphones, specifically well matched tom mics, my partner and I looked far and wide, listened to many opinions, and listened to as many as we could to ensure the best quality we could afford. We heard offerings from AKG, Shure, Nady, and a few others that I just can’t remember off the top of my head. When we took our annual trek to the local Guitar Center, we were determined that day to get the best we could afford, and had the idea to just get 4 SM 57’s, one for the snare and three for the toms.

While sitting at the checkout counter, we noticed in their sales case a set of Sennheiser e604 tom mics. Now I will be the first to admit to everyone that I have never been a huge Sennheiser fan. I don’t know exactly what it is about them, but Shure has always had my heart. I have tried the comparable Sennheiser products to the SM58 and the Beta 58 as well as their higher end wireless systems, and while I don’t see anything wrong with them really, they just don’t give my ears the same rich sound that the Beta58 and the Beta87 produce (just my personal opinion, I know many people that feel the complete opposite). So while I hesitated to pick up the 3 pack of e604 tom mics, I decided with advice from the salesman to give them a shot. After all I can return them if I don’t like them, so why not?

What I was expecting was a generic microphone sound, something that would amplify the toms, but not necessarily create a high quality sound worth anything more than a generic instrument mic. What I heard was an engineering masterpiece. The sound of the toms was crystal clear, with tons of headroom before peaking. The clips are perfect for the toms (or snare if you get a fourth mic). The small size is great and I have never had a drummer complain about them being in the way yet. All that and I have the added benefit of not using up mic stands.

Now when we bought these mics, our only intended use for these little marvels were for the toms of sets we had mic’ed. During a bluegrass groups performance, the bass player was using a standup bass with no pickup available. I looked at the size of the e604 and figured it was worth a try to see what sound I could get. I was amazed at the quality of the standup sound through the little mic, and began experimenting with other instruments.

I now consider the e604 one of, if not the best instrument mic for the money in my gig bag. It has a crisper sound than an sm57, and the size to be used on just about anything, amped or not. Clip one on to a saxophone and enjoy a very rich and natural sound. Guitar amps? As Gallagher would say, no problem! Hand drums are perfect candidates as well. I have yet to try them as vocal mic’s but I am sure that gig will come when I run out of all other available mic’s.

If you are looking for some drum kit microphones, I highly recommend checking these e604’s out. They won’t break the bank at roughly $139 a piece, or $339 for 3, and can take the abuse of an occasional drumstick smashing into the microphone while the local slamming drum heads soloist goes to town. The versatility of these things rates as the highest in my gig bag, and you would be hard pressed to find a better sounding instrument mic at this price range. You can also buy these inside of a Sennheiser Drum mic kit with a kick drum mic, but I have not yet used the Sennhesier kick drum mics, so I don’t have a good opinion on those…..yet…..