Windows Vista H.Prem 64bit or Business 32bit?

Hi: I am trying to decide between getting my soon to be Vaio Z with 64bit windows vista home premium or 32 bit windows vista business. I like how with home premium, I have windows media center, and as for business, I don't think I really need any of the special business features. If I had the option to choose windows vista home premium 32bit, I would but my only options and 64bit for home prem. I know that the computer world is moving closer and closer to 64bit, but I hear so many people say things such as "its so incompatible" and "its the biggest mistake" that it makes me skeptical. I am nervous that I will not be able to run all games and programs on a 64bit home premium. For example, if I wanted to take some pictures out from and older-digital camera, would the computer recognize it? Also, I common use programs such as Nero for burning. In the nero 9 system req, it says it can be run on a 64bit os using 32bit emulation. I do not know much about 32bit emulation, but are their any drawbacks to it, such as slower performance, lag, errors, etc? Also, if I was to play online games/offline such as Call of Duty2, Maplestory, LaTale,or foreign online MMORPG's would those work. From my understanding, any programs that only work for 32bit computers go into emulation? Please give me your opinions on whether I should choose 64bit home prem or 32bit business.

Thanks

 

Especially since you do not need the Business features, I would go for Vista Home Premium 64-bit. Most applications should run fine in 64-bit (all the programs I have run fine), without performance degradation. In fact, many people say Vista 64-bit feels "snappier" than 32-bit. The games you listed should all run fine in Vista 64-bit, and Nero will work as well. Your digital camera should work as well, but that's dependant on drivers. Also, keep in mind that Vista 64-bit will allow you to use more than 3GB of RAM, while 32-bit can only utilize around 3-3.5GB.

 

there is really no reason to use 32bit anymore, especially when sony provides you with the drivers

i guess there's a chance that you have a ridiculously old printer that won't work

 

how would it work out if I did this: Since the transition is still being made to 64bit become the norm, if I go with vista business 32bit, and perhaps a year+ down the road when 64bit is extremely common, then format the partition/reinstall vista 64bit (ill have all my programs, files,etc backed up) would that work? Also, since vista business has many added security features, does it give pop up "are you sure you want to open this" or "this program is unsafe to open" kind of messages. I know that windows vista has the "are you sure you want to open this" pop up (which can be disabled) but are there more then that on business, or in other words,any more then there would be on home premium?

 

When running things such as Nero9 which says you have to use 32bit emulation, does the program have any problems doing so, or is there any lag etc? And is installing it and everything the same as how you would normally do or is there a special step involved in 32bit emulation. Also, now adays, how many programs that are released support 64bit. I am just concerned that programs wont support 64bit. Also, when a program says in system requirements, Windows Vista, does that apply to 64bit aswell or only 32bit? And when I come across a program that only works for 32bit, will it work in 32bit emulation. I do not know much about emulation.

 

There are only a handful of programs that will not run under x64 vista in x86 compatibility mode, and most of them are pretty obscure. If you don't use any true dos mode type programs, or specialized software for a particular application you shouldn't have any issues. I've seen some people mention an older piece of Cisco(?) software that wouldn't run and I know my dos based cad interface program I use doesn't, but I have yet to find a standard 32 bit windows app that wouldn't run. Backwards compatibility in Vista x64 was greatly improved over XP x64.