Altivec is useful only for code that uses it. AltiVec is the same thing that IBM calls SMID. Its a 128bit vector processing unit, it performs equivalent actions as an ALU would for integers. In essence if you have a command that requires an integer operation say 1 + 2 that will be handled by the ALU. If you have a vector command say the dot product 4 and 5 then that will be processed by the SMID stack or AltiVec. Therefore Altivec only helps if you have programs that utilize AltiVec. Programs that do use it significantly include Final Cut Pro, Shake, Pro Logic, iMovie, DVD Studio Pro, iDVD, Photoshop, iTunes. As you can see namely audio, video and photo editing software. The OS itself doesn't really use AltiVec - there is no need to, nor do most of the "normal" applications like browsers, word processors, internet chat tools, or most of the BSD subsystem. Their code doesn't easily lend itself to batch vector processes. So unless your using a multimedia intensive application that was specifically designed with vectorized code, AltiVec will not speed anything up in and of itself alone.

Miky, you do realize that if djbmister makes a bootable MOL -> OSX CD that has OSX on it, he can't legally distribute it nor can you legally use it? As in PERFECTLY not allowed by the OS License Agreement.