(Business 2.0) – Desktop computing is getting a supercharge. With the introduction of Apple's G5 (which runs an IBM PowerPC 970 chip) and AMD's Athlon 64 processor, the era of 64-bit computing has arrived. The new chips can juggle far more data than today's 32-bit systems--as much as 16 billion gigabytes of data at a time. That means dramatically lower IT costs for companies that operate large databases. Upstart airline JetBlue houses its frequent-flier and reservation data on just two 64-bit servers--down from the eight 32-bit machines that once did the same work. Scientific researchers and visual-effects specialists will also appreciate 64-bit computing's ability to handle more memory. But for everyone else, it may take a while to experience the new chips' full potential--Microsoft is readying a 64-bit version of Windows XP for release next year. --MATTHEW MAIER

MARKET SIZE, 2003: $260 million MARKET SIZE, 2008: $6.6 billion (projected) COMPANIES TO WATCH: AMD, Apple, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Sun