Comment Get a "REAL" Computer (Score 2, Informative) 353
Seriously
The SPARC architecture does not use a BIOS with REAL mode drivers for booting. It has protected (or whatever it is in non-x86 parlance) mode drivers built right into the firmware. On x86, the BIOS contains Real mode drivers, THis was fine for operatings systems like DOS and Win 3.1. However, modern OSs (Windows, Linux, etc) need protected mode drivers. BY placing these right in the fimware Sun is able to smoke x86 performancewise ALWAYS. I thin its time to ditch our legacy DOS hardware and start getting x86 machines with protected mode BIOS drivers. Anyone with more technical information, please comment.