As hardware continues to advance, it’s often hard for software to take advantage of the latest innovations. This means that the most powerful computers are for the most part not being pushed to their full potential. While they are able to run the newest software with phenomenal clarity and performance, this well within the capability of older models as well.

Automobile technology operates in a similar manner. The newest and most powerful cars typically use technology that is not helpful on typical roadways. There’s use for the type of horsepower that delivers speeds that would guarantee you a trip to the county jail. Although there are a small number of niches where the cutting edge of performance isactually practical, like race cars or trucks used for carrying heavy equipment, but the typical driver will never find a legitimate use for this kind of power. Instead, a number of drivers who have no realistic need for it will buy costly and overly powerful cars as status symbols. (more…)

Technorati Tags: Benchmark, performance, profiling, testing