At this point is it foolish to get a 32 bit O.S.?

[JeffreyLebowski]

Once you go 64-bit you never go back.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: boomerang
FWIW, I have two pieces of software that have no 64-bit driver support. DLS-2002 is used to interface with alarm panels made by DSC. No 64-bit support.

In addition, ProntoProEdit NG I use for layout, programming, etc., of my universal remote made by Philips. Again, no 64-bit support.

So, yes there are reasons to get a 32-bit OS.

Those are reasons to run a 32bit VM under that 64bit OS 😉

I've been meaning to ask about this as I see it posted about regularly here. Is there a free solution available you would recommend?

I'm covered right now because my notebook is running 32-bit and to interface with alarm panels, I need a portable solution. I would however, like to run the Pronto software on my 64-bit desktop.

Edit: Duh! Looks like a free download from Microsoft will do the trick.

 

[heymrdj]

That or use VMWare Server. It's free, and I love it's expandability. I can run complete virtual datacenters with it on my laptop just to see how things work together in Server 2k3/2k8.

 

[brxndxn]

Originally posted by: techmanc
Well it depends on what OS your planning to run as Windows XP 64bit is imo too buggy for normal uses. It gotten much better with Windows Vista 64bit and should be best with the Windows 7 version as more good 64bit drivers will be available. That said I have run a dual boot 32bit system Vista/XP (see my sig for info) with 2gb of ram for 2 yrs and never had problem running newest games, VMWare with every OS from Window 95 and above and I multitask a lot no problem. I ran my system with 4gb of the same ram for a long time too and couldn't notice a measurable difference except want to run more than 1 VM OS like Vista with Server 2008. So in general more ram hepls but vastly overstated on it help IMO for normal desktop users and newest OS will be the best to use for 64bit OS but there maybe more compatibility with older software.

Windows XP 64bit is too buggy? Maybe you have incompatible hardware...

XP 64bit, imo, is the most stable of any of the Windows 'workstation' OS's.. It is fast, unencumbered by Windows Genuine Activation.. The only problem with XP 64bit is the lack of driver support.. However, if you make sure you have supported hardware, XP 64bit rocks.

XP64 makes an awesome gaming OS..

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Hrm..

I'm running "64 bit flash" - been running it for a while - runs great!

Unfortunately (for you guys) Adobe is using 'us' for Guinea Pigs... 😀

I don't understand it - don't ask...

The reason there is 64 bit flash for Linux is because most software in the nix world is already compiled (including codecs) into 64 bit so the 64 bit support is much better in the nix world. From what I understand, some key codecs under Windows still do not support 64 bit which renders some of Flash's functionality useless.

Give it about a year and just about everything will have a 64 bit counterpart in Windows now that the trend in moving to 4 gigs plus RAM and 64 bit Windows is being installed on mainstream systems. (Including PC's that cost under $500.)

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: boomerang
Edit: Duh! Looks like a free download from Microsoft will do the trick.

There is also Virtualbox and VMWare Server which are also free to download and use. (VMWare player is too neutered so I just recommend VMWS)

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
Windows XP 64bit is too buggy? Maybe you have incompatible hardware...

XP 64bit, imo, is the most stable of any of the Windows 'workstation' OS's.. It is fast, unencumbered by Windows Genuine Activation.. The only problem with XP 64bit is the lack of driver support.. However, if you make sure you have supported hardware, XP 64bit rocks.

XP64 makes an awesome gaming OS..

That is a Enterprise copy if it does not have GA. If you buy XP 64 bit at a retailer, there is still activation and GA.

 

[bsobel]

XP 64bit, imo, is the most stable of any of the Windows 'workstation' OS's.. It is fast, unencumbered by Windows Genuine Activation.. The only problem with XP 64bit is the lack of driver support.. However, if you make sure you have supported hardware, XP 64bit rocks.

I run 8 cores and 32gig of memory, Vista and W7 use this box much more effectively than XP64 can due to the scheduler, memory priority, and lots of other changes. Its a dead platform, let it go.

 

[MadRat]

As long as none of the programs you use have legacy 16-bit code in them then its safe to pretty much move to 64-bit windows. But the 16-bit stuff is still in work critical environments for a lot of companies and/or industries. Its a y2k kind of issue for some of them, where they'd rather run MS-DOS 6.2 or Windows 95 rather than upgrade the original tools they use. Your heavy transportation companies are riddled with 16-bit programs due to the archaic rules imposed on them by such brilliant think tanks like the DOT, FAA, and FRA.