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I'm partial to multitasking and have heard that 64-bit systems are good with this. I'll normally have a few hundred browser tabs open across multiple browsers while also running e-mail, word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and graphics applications, and an occasional virtual PC or two...all at the same time. It sounds like I'm a good candidate for a 64-bit system.
However, I've heard a lot of down sides to the 64-bit systems. Memory requirements are larger. Drivers are impossible to find. Are there any other gotchas I need to keep in mind?
The big question I have is whether my 32-bit software will all work on a 64-bit machine. I've invested quite a bit over the years and wouldn't want to see it all go to waste.
Is it safe to move to a 64-bit machine yet?
I've found exactly one application that will not work on it: an esoteric ROM flashing application to upgrade the radio chip on my cell phone.
I have a few recommendations:
1. Make sure you're running a 64-bit OS on your 64-bit machine. While you can run a 32-bit OS on it, you lose any support for RAM over 3GB (my laptop has 4), and you lose some speed benefits.
2. Get your hands on 64-bit applications if you can. Most commercial apps are still 32-bit (and they run fine), but you'll see an increase going to 64-bit with CPU intensive applications. For example, 7zip (an archiver) works much faster with the 64-bit version on 64-bit hardware.
3. Make sure you buy a machine that is certified for Windows Vista 64-bit or XP 64-bit edition. Meaning, make sure it is a supported configuration from the manufacturer. This ensures that the manufacturer provides 64-bit drivers for the hardware. This is a much bigger issue in laptops than desktops at the moment.
4. Get a copy of VMware, and install an instance of WinXP 32-bit. This lets you run that esoteric application that you might find that doesn't work, like upgrading the radio chip in your cell phone ;-)
All-in-all, most problems I've heard of people having with 64-bit operating systems has been from lack of driver support often because they cheap out and buy whitebox parts or unsupported configurations and then try to load Vista 64-bit or XP 64-bit.
If you're buying a new machine, there's no reason not to ensure that a 64-bit OS is a supported configurations. Look to the enterprise hardware providers (HP, IBM) with actual hardware compatibility lists and certification processes and don't cheap out if you're going 64-bit.
Make sure the manufacturer specifically mentions which version of 64-bit Windows is compatible (read: they have drivers for). For example, the Thinkpad T61p uses Vista 64-bit as a supported configuration, but XP 64-bit is an unsupported configuration. It does matter!
Also, at this point, I'd recommend Vista 64-bit over XP 64-bit. The driver support just isn't there for XP 64-bit like it is for Vista.
The big question I have is whether my 32-bit software will all work on a 64-bit machine.
IMHO, yes. I've found just that one app that wouldn't work on Vista 64-bit. But it's not just a 64-bit issue - it doesn't work on Vista 32-bit either.
Drivers may be a problem but not if you have mainstream and modern hardware. You can check driver support before buying normally. It's worth noting that Vista will refuse to load drivers that are unsigned so if you have software that relies on unsigned drivers (to perform hardware bodges for instance) unless an update is available, it won't work under Vista.
Kaled.
