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Vista sales, Windows 7 should be good news for 64-bit computing
Several OEMs quietly shipped laptop and desktop models during the holiday season running Vista x64, much to the surprise of many retailers (and technicians like yours truly). Driver availability still remains a hurdle, but if Windows 7 can improve on Vista's good 64-bit base we should see a big move to 64-bit installs.
Windows 7 is expected to be Microsoft's last native 32-bit version - Server 2008 R2 has already moved to 64-bit only. Here's hoping hardware manufacturers and software publishers respond and start releasing native 64-bit versions of their applications.
I've seen a very good performance increase in Photoshop CS4 since making the switch and would love to be running more native apps.
Trouble is, they're not available yet for the most part. Here's hoping a little more time and a new OS can help change that.
[ via Daily Tech ]
Comments
13
Subscribe to commentsBrent SchmidtJan 22nd 2009 6:16PM
Uhm, can I have your PC? 4GB... yeah that'd be a nice bump from the 2 I have now. And the two cores...
Is my tax return here yet. Oh man....
BufsabreJan 22nd 2009 6:56PM
4gb isnt that much anymore, alot of sub 1000$ and even some sub750$ computers come with 6gb, my desktop has 8gb, and i know a few different people running 16gb
but about the article, i havent seen a piece of hardware in over a year that doesnt have 64bit drivers unless its some POS or knock off brand, currently out there hardware might not but you cant expect a tv tuner from a windows 98box to work forever (atleast not with windows).
intellerJan 22nd 2009 7:24PM
4Gb is nothing anymore. bargain basement HPs come with 6Gb.
El TacoJan 22nd 2009 8:48PM
The only thing I don't like about 64-bit is software compatability. There is some software that just won't work with 64-bit, such as antiviruses and other things. I'll move to 64-bit in the next OS, when everyone is forced to go 64-bit and everything will be compatible with it.
Lee MathewsJan 22nd 2009 8:49PM
Actually, antivirus developers are probably the best in terms of 64-bit support right now. There are several with native versions, including the IT guy's favorite: ESET.
Lee MathewsJan 22nd 2009 6:57PM
A lot of laptops that are more than a year old have trouble with drivers for integrated webcams and flash drives - just what I've seen from the machines I've worked ont
NathanielJan 22nd 2009 7:43PM
My laptop (ThinkPad X61s) is over a year old. Then again, it doesn't suck. I hear that helps?
I've been running x64 on all of my machines for at least a couple years now.. I wouldn't be able to stand going back. 32bit-Windows should have died years ago.. it's ridiculous how many still use it (even XP/W2K3 has an x64 version).
4GB+ RAM isn't the only reason. Apps are limited to max 2GB per in 32bit world. And I mean c'mon guys, we've had consumer-level amd64 for five years, and just now people are starting to use it efficiently? Silly, silly...
ThunderbuckJan 22nd 2009 8:51PM
Installed x64 Vista on a couple of machines at home a little while ago, and I'm very pleased with the results.
I've found no issues with driver OR software compatibility, and Vista seems to perform much better, with fewer hangups and faster response.
Does any manufacturer actually make hardware that ISN'T x64 compatible now? I'm really hoping that MS does not release an OEM 32-bit version of Win7.
Phour ZwanZigJan 22nd 2009 10:26PM
I just bought a new Gateway MD2416u a week ago that came w/ x64 vista on it.. After 1 day, Im glad to say that x64 Win7 is runny smooooooth... This thing is runnin much better than the Vista that was on it, and better than my x32 Vista running on x64AMD on my desktop pc..
Both boxes have 3gig ram...
Both are x64 AMDs.. (2.0 Athlon X2 desktop, 2.1 Turion X2 Lappy)
Really, I like where Windows 7 is headed..
JohnJan 23rd 2009 12:57AM
I'm looking at you, Firefox.
rendezvous65Jan 23rd 2009 1:11AM
Firefox is 64 bit compatible. 64 bit linux distros come with a 64 bit version of firefox. It just has to be compiled for 64 bit. Some people have compiled their own 64 bit Firefoxes for Windows. Sun has made a 64 bit version of Java for Linux and Windows. Flash is available for 64 bit but it's an alpha and only for Linux for now. Flash 11 should have 64 bit Windows and OSX compatibility.
GeirJan 23rd 2009 4:00AM
I have been using 64-bit Linux and Solaris operating systems for years, and it has been sad to see the slow adoption of 64-bit Windows (could argue that any adoption of Windows is sad, but that is another can of worms...). Good to see that manufacturers start shipping software that takes better advantage of the hardware.
jfjbJan 23rd 2009 5:56PM
I do not understand why MS and so many other companies still bother to waste time on 32-bit software anyway.
This is the 21st century, isn't it?