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Windows 7 Logo program: 32-bit only hardware need not apply
Microsoft has unveiled some of the details of the company's Windows 7 Logo program. Basically the program governs those little stickers that are affixed to computers and other hardware that have been tested to play nicely with Windows 7. In the past the Windows logo program has been something of a mess. Some hardware that received the sticker barely worked with Vista, and there were separate stickers for Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, and so on. Now there will be a single sticker for all versions of Windows 7. And in order to qualify, every version of Windows 7 needs to work with the hardware. And that includes the 64-bit version of the operating system.
As Engadget points out, that means that virtually every netbook on the market today won't qualify to wear the sticker, since the Intel Atom N270, N280, Z520, and Z30 processors found in most netbooks are 32-bit only. Interestingly, the Atom 230 and 330 chips found in nettops (small, low power desktop computers) are 64-bit processors which means that these devices will be able to sport the new logo. And the next-generation laptop Atom processors due out in early 2010 will also be 64-bit chips.
You can find a list of companies that ahve already certified their hardware as Windows 7 compatible at readyset7.com.
Comments
5
Subscribe to commentssRcSep 30th 2009 10:19AM
that's good to see, 32-bit Windows really needs to go by the wayside
mrkagSep 30th 2009 10:57AM
Yes, and no. I installed Windows 7 64bit at work, but lack of supported device drivers forced me to install 32bit. This will change, with time.
The Windows 95 launch was remarkable, because a lot of developers launched 32bit upgrades on the same day, and Microsoft made an attempt to educate home users on why 32bit was better (memory management, multimedia, speed, etc.). Perhaps that's what should happen with Windows 64bit.
rells009Sep 30th 2009 11:04AM
All I can say to the driver issue, is that hopefully Microsoft is pushing the manufacturers and developers to start programming for 64-bit. I had a 64-bit driver issue with my scanner (admittedly it's old) - they didn't have one. They have the clout to do it and in the long run it helps everyone.
sRcSep 30th 2009 12:58PM
I haven't had any problems finding 64-bit drivers for my stuff since XP x64. I've been running Vista 64-bit since launch and all my stuff has worked. YMMV of course, but supports pretty good already
LucaSep 30th 2009 1:52PM
I've had great luck with drivers and Windows x64.
The one thing i really wish for is for Adobe Flash to work in 64-bit mode, how hard could it really be?