Why so much dislike for XP64?

[Nothinman]

What I really wonder about is MS's commintment to the program. When they won't even provide 64bit software for their own hardware (like their keyboards and mice), you begin to ask yourself what's going on.

It's not a matter of committment, it's simply a matter of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing or perhaps whatever division writes the software for their rebranded hardware was told to wait for Longhorn. It's not like their keyboards and mice don't work at all in XP64, right?

 

[WebDude]

Yeah the mice and keyboards do work in 64bit. But a big feature and/or reason to buy these products is the intellipoint and intellitype software. These enable the extra keys and buttons, allow you to change function assignments, alert to to low battery status in wireless versions, and supposedly really help productivity, etc., etc. Now MS was asked long ago, and consistently since, to produce versions of these products that would run under 64bit. So it's not like they don't know that consumers want these. But they have basically done nothing to accomodate these requests, not project a date when such products might be available nor even commit to produce them. That's what causes me to question MS's commitment to the program.

 

[Doh!]

Again, the commitment to the "program" is meaningless unless it's directly related to sales. Would the sales of mice and keyboards increase if the related 64-bit software/drivers are released? Maybe so.
But would the increase in sales be significant enough to warrant the extra costs involved in developing the 64-bit software/drivers and also providing the necessary support?
Probably not at this point since the majority of Windows users doesn't even know a 64-bit OS exists. In addition, most of the corporate users will never see the x64 Windows for another several years (except those few with specific need for 64-bit processing).
MS or any other hardware/software companies' commitment to 64-bit OS and their drivers support will begin to appear only if Vista is released.

 

[Nothinman]

Irrelevant, if the drivers are done properly they should work fine in a 32-bit or 64-bit environment and the costs should be equal to however much it takes to recompile and QA the new build.

 

[Doh!]

But the reality is that the drivers are not properly done. Otherwise, there should be no drivers issues with x64 Windows.

The costs to recompile and QA the new build (properly built for both 32-bit and 64-bit) are additional costs to the companies since they have already incurred expenses, improperly compiling the drivers that only work in x32 Windows.

Are the technical issues holding back hardware/software companies from releasing x64 builds? I don't think so. From a business stand point, it's just not worth it.

 

[IamDavid]

Originally posted by: Doh!
But the reality is that the drivers are not properly done. Otherwise, there should be no drivers issues with x64 Windows.

The costs to recompile and QA the new build (properly built for both 32-bit and 64-bit) are additional costs to the companies since they have already incurred expenses, improperly compiling the drivers that only work in x32 Windows.

Are the technical issues holding back hardware/software companies from releasing x64 builds? I don't think so. From a business stand point, it's just not worth it.

I think it is worth it, at least in some instances.. The first offered TV Tuner drivers will be good for whatever company does it.. I for one will be buying it... My Haugpang(sp?) isn't supported yet.. No biggie cause it's getting old anyway..

 

[Nothinman]

I don't think so. From a business stand point, it's just not worth it.

Sure it is, MS obviously feels that from a business standpoint an AMD64 port of XP was worth it so why not the software for their own hardware? They could have completely blown off the AMD64 port and just said "wait for Longhorn" but they didn't and it just seems stupid of them not to make sure their hardware works properly with it.