SystemC usage - compilation for Hard- and Software?

Hi fellows,
I am quite familiar with writing embedded Software using C and I experienced in describing Hardware using VHDL but I have never used SystemC, this is why I ask what it is good for. (serious - no flamewar intended)

AFAIK SystemC is intended for high level simulation of complex systems with hard- and software where the hardware is discribed in an abstract form (maybe notsynthesizable). How it actually works I don't know - Do I need a SystemC model of the processor my software will run on?

I heard a guy who claimed he described/programmed a module of the system and then can compile it to a netlist for FPGA or just as regular binary code for the CPU. This way the design space can be explored and decided later if a component will be run on CPU or is implemented as hardware. - Is this possible????

I doubt it really works that way - modeling hardware (in an efficient way) is really different from programming software. If this all becomes the same and systemC compilers are that good - what do we still use HDL.

yours truly
thomas

hi.
the above said things are right.the guy whatever he claims is right.this is the beauty of systemc that from one systemc code u can generate h/w as well as s/w. that was why some one mentioned long before that
"VHDL is the worst possible thing that can possibly happens to Electronics."