[blagie]

I don't think so. I think the core problem are network effects and momentum.

If someone could wave a magic wand, and there were OS, app, compiler, video game, etc. support for both MIMD and current architectures, I think MIMD would take over overnight.

Most of what computers do is ridiculously parallel. From each browser tab getting an isolated CPU, to having a spreadsheet spread out among cores, to rendering fonts in a document.

However, given a universe with trillions of dollars invested in the status quo, a disruption would need some sort of rather complex pathway, with some niche markets, some growth strategy, etc. As someone pointed out, Intel tried with Phi and failed.

[jacquesm]

I think the big driver could be security.