Time For A 64bit OS?
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Despite reservations early on, there is something to be said about rolling with a 64bit operating system. Sure, there have been issues with both Windows XP 64bit and Linux 64bit. But now that software is becoming available for both platforms along with the benefit of extra RAM capacity, things are looking much brighter.
One of the biggest complaints from the past, is compatibility with Flash on 64 bit systems. But some of you might be surprised to find that own Windows XP 64 bit and Ubuntu (Linux) 64 bit, the solution is an easy one. Because I run a with a notebook that benefits from the 64 bit option (dual core here), my Ubuntu install handles Flash for me when I first browse to a Flash enabled Website. For XP 64 bit users, it is nearly as simple - just install Firefox for 32 bit systems on your Windows box, then as with Ubuntu, browse to a Flash enabled page - simple.
I am also interested in seeing where Windows gaming is going to end up as a number of people have pointed out that future games may indeed require more than a mere four gigs of RAM.
Is 64 bit Linux ready for your home? To best answer that would require a close examination of what you use your PC for I suppose. For Windows users, I would say here soon gaming and video editing will yield favorable conditions. For Linux users, I would say anyone looking to get more out of their Intel dual-core or AMD 64 bit systems would benefit. Am I nuts? Hit the comments and set me straight.
7 Comments
Aryeh Goretsky
August 5th, 2008
at 1:06am
Hello,
I was under the impression that 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows XP and Vista shipped with both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions of Internet Explorer. Couldn’t you just install Adobe Flash in the 32-bit version of the web browser and use it there?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
Ace
August 5th, 2008
at 5:07am
@Aryeh
I’ve got a box running Vista x64 and it ships with IE7 in 64-bit mode only.
Matt Hartley
August 5th, 2008
at 11:03am
Aryeh: I was under the impression it only came with the 64 bit version, but if one would rather use IE, more power to them.
Bruce
August 5th, 2008
at 3:02pm
I have been running 64XP for a couple of years now and did find most of this info available at planet64, so have been enjoying the benifits of 4gig of ram for gaming and making 3D models.
Aryeh Goretsky
August 6th, 2008
at 12:07am
Hello,
This is very strange. I just checked a computer which runs Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition x64, and it as both C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe and C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe files. Running each one gives me a 32-bit or 64-bit instance of iexplore.exe, respectively. As far as I know, the computer has a standard installation of Internet Explorer 7.
Do either of you have multiple copies of Internet Explorer 7 on your computers?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
orbiker
August 6th, 2008
at 9:14am
I have Vista Ultimate X64 on a computer I use for watching/recording TV. I am using a free DVB program along with some video editing and DVD burning software. I also have email using Outlook along with the other MS Office programs. Even with the open source, retail and who knows where is came from software (32 and 64 bit) it runs solid. The computer goes to sleep at night and stays off till I decide to watch TV. When it comes alive it’s a the log in screen almost instantly. I’m not there right now but I’m pretty sure it is using the 64 bit version of IE and have had no problems with flash on any site so far. It is nice to be able to get to the web on the same 50″ screen I’m watching TV on when the commercials are running. I am pleasantly amazed and satisfied with this setup.
bc
August 10th, 2008
at 4:24pm
I have a new computer with Vista 64 and it did come with two browsers (64 and 32). My biggest problem has been finding a VPN client that runs on Vista 64, so that I can work remotely from home. Other than that, almost everything else I’ve been able to work around.
Here’s a dumb question: what’s the benefit of 64-bit?