Dual Core CPU = No Vista!!!

Well I was reading lowlymarine's Notebook FAQ , and I found the bit about the Yonah Dual Core CPU's being only 32 bit processors, which means they won't be Vista compatible. My question is this: Should I wait for the Merom CPUs to release before buying my notebook?

I know that I don't need Vista, but I'm looking to get a Notebook that will last me at least 3 or so years, so I think I should get something that will be compatible two years down the line...

 

Thats not true... Every notebook that i've seen with a Core Duo CPU has had the sticker that says "Windows Vista Capable".

 

Vista will come out in both 32 bit and 64 bit versions Never trust your source again

Anyway, 64 bit software won't be mainstream for a few years yet

Edit: Merom is coming out end this month/September in laptops so it's not like you have to wait much

 

LFC is right

 

If you want a stable version of vista, get a mac with os x

don't worry about it - core duo will run vista, if you'd ever want to

 

Vista is really nothing but a whole bunch of special effects and a component intesive OS. XP is really perfect for a whole bunch of people and should be good for some time.

 

Depends, if you can wait for Merom to come out, wait for Merom to come out.

If you need a notebook now, get whatever suits... Oh, and Vista WILL work on 32 bit platforms just fine, Micro$oft aren't stupid enough to abandon most of the PC's in the world with there latest OS.

 

oh thanks for that... still how much of a difference would 64 bit vs 32 bit make (especially in say 2 years)

 

Impossible to say.
In 2 years, I don't think it'll be a problem. You might start seeing programs that run better or are updated more often on 64-bit platforms, but no more than that. I doubt there'll be any 64-bit only apps.

 

I'll drink to that! Definitely not going to spend more money to get Vista.

 

It took Apple about 2 years to get all the old Motorola software to the "new" native Power PC IBM processor.

I had hoped that when I bought my AMD64 laptop, 2 years ago, that this was incentive enough. I guess it's up to Uncle Bill to get out there rattle the sabers

 

I'd be worried if I bought Vista straight after its release - knowing MS, it'll have a lot of bugs in it. I'm betting it'll take at least a year before MS works out all the major bugs/problems with the OS. I'd be more comfortable with XP, knowing its already a proven and pretty stable OS and doesn't have a bunch of bugs in it.

 

Any non-Apple notebook purchased new on the market starting about since June I can pretty much gurantee that Vista will work on. Don't worry about the technical details of it.

 

Yeah, but what about the new version of DirectX, which is supposed to be the first entirely new rebuild ever. Read in PC Mag that this new version of DX is worth the upgrade to Vista alone, for some gamers. Truth or BS?

 

When it comes to programs new is not always better. Along with new enhancements comes new bugs! I would wait about a year after Vista is released to give MS time to work out the kinks. It took them about 4 years to get XP to be pretty solid.

As for the 64-bit era, don't hold your breath. 64-bit only really speeds up programs that need large calculations. In other words, Firefox 64 is not going to run any faster than 32-bit Firefox on the same code. Mathmatica, AutoCAD, etc, those will benefit greatly from 64-bit, not MS Word.

 

DirectX will be a great step up in terms of gaming, but to be honest, you shouldn't be gaming on a notebook if you really really wanted to utlizie the DX10. DX10 should be used with an SLI setup on a 20 in+ screen

 

True. DX10 is looking mighty tempting.
It should offer some major performance improvements, along with many new features.

 

Though MS will not understand what real problems Vista has until they release it to the public, NO OS is completely bug free at any point. There are always hackers out there discovering new flaws and exploiting the tightest systems. Hackers especially love screwing the evil empire.

OSX may be a great OS, but all the same it is not bug free. Plus, the fact that Apple's OS is "so much more secure" has no effect on the other 85% (or more) of us, who need software that doesn't start with "i".

(not trying to start a flame fest, but I get sick of the whole "if you want Vista, get a Mac" argument)

 

Don't rush in and buy a laptop. Do remember that there are still lots of security flaws in vista that need to be looked at. Therefore, I'm guessing that the first Windows Vista service pack will be released around May next year.

Further more, the new Santa Rosa platform which is the new version of Centrino won't be released around the 1Q 2006. So it is worth waiting in my opinion. Also, I'm guessing Intel will reduce prices of their new components to boost sales. Intel will be keen to ship out new components and Windows Vista is a great marketing opportunity for them and will give them an utterly huge advantage over AMD.

I'd wait till the new platform, and the first service pack of Windows before buying anything, especially if you plan to plan to play games and use full Advantage of DirectX 10 in Vista. But the choice is yours. You need to decide what you need, what you are going to use the laptop for. If you just use 2D applications like MS Office, Music, Video, Web Designing, then wait a little whiel and get the old Core Duo which is 32Bit. As microsoft rolls out Vista and Intel add the Santa Rosa platform to their mobile computing solutions list, the processors will come down in price rapidly. Bearing in mind the Christmas sales as well, you could expect to grab a very decent laptop at a very decent price. If you choose the Centrino Duo (Old) brand, then you can get everything you could want in a laptop for a superb price.

 

Even with DX10 coming out, many game devlopers are going to take awhile to convert over. And also because of DX10 coming out, there wont be any backwards capability(was in a thread, now cant find it )