New Laptop: 32 bit or 64 bit os?

I am buying a new laptop and would like input on 32 bit or 64 bit os.

I am looking at buying the HP Pavilion dv4t, and can specify 32 bit or 64 bit os. I will use Vista Home Premium. I can upgrade RAM to 4 GB from 3 GB for $50.

Usage:
Internet
Digital photos (download, manipulate for personal use using Adobe Photoshop Elements)
Microsoft Office (currently using Office Enterprise 2007)
Track family spending (Excel, Quicken)
Taxes (Turbotax)

Peripherals:
Epson 5-in-1, wireless

Thanks for input.

 

Check epson for a 64 bit driver if they have it looking at your software id say your good to go. Which laptop are you looking at because the DV6 and DV7 come with 4GB free upgrade.

Im in the same boat, but I want to play a bunch of PC games I have. They all have something in common along with my compiler, logitech drivers interfere with their performance on 64 bit.

Out of what you listed i dont see anything against it, but i also don't necessarily see you using more than 3GB of ram at this time either, nor taking advantage of 64 bit software.

 

You should definitely go up to a 64-bit OS, especially if you are upgrading to 4 GB of RAM. Even for normal usage, 64-bit is increasingly becoming mainstream as more software is developed for this architecture (even though adoption may be a bit slow).

As ClutchX2 has mentioned, you do want to make sure that 64-bit drivers are available for your particular Epson 5-in-1.

 

32 bit offers better compatibility. 64 bit has better performance in theory. I never really noticed it in day to day usage.

 

Photoshop can be quite a resource hungry piece of software. I'd suggest going with a 64bit OS, but upgrade the ram yourself. $50 for an upgrade from 3GB to 4GB is overpriced IMO, since you can purchase a 2GB stick of ram from newegg for about ~$20.

 

Many programs that will run on a 32 bit os will not run on a 64 bit os. There are many peripheral devices that don't have driver for 64 bit os.

 

64-bit has slightly better performance and security, and allows for 4 gb+ RAM.

Almost all current up-to-date programs and the vast majority of current peripherals are compatible with either.

However, if you have legacy peripherals (which require drivers) or old programs, and compatibility with these is important to you, then I suggest getting 32-bit Windows so you don't have compatiblity problems.

As far as your printer is concerned, you can check Epson's website (or search Google) to see if they offer 64-bit drivers for your printer model.

 

Dragon's Naturally Speaking voice recognition software will not work with a 64 bit OS. Neither will Digidesign Pro Tools audio recording software. Check to see if all the applications which you plan on using are 64 bit compatible, before making your decision.

 

Most 32bit program will work on windows Vista 64bit. To put in simpler term, Windows Vista 64bit is Windows Vista 32bit + 64bit. It's 2 operating system in 1. 64bit operating system offers better compatibility since it supports both 64bit programs and 32bit programs.

There are many peripheral devices that won't run on 64bit, but those are so old that they're probably in the garbage dump or in a box in your closet. Most current hardware are supported in windows vista 64bit.

If you're using photoshop or anything that requires a lot of ram ussage, get windows vista 64bit. For any application in windows vista 32bit, the program is limited to 2GB of memory only.

If you're looking for voice recognition software, vista has one intergrated.
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/windowsvista/speech.aspx

Pro tools doesn't work in Vista 64bit, but all of the other competing products work. E.g. adobe audition

 

Cross posting(creating similar threads in different forums) is against the forum rules. Your threads have been merged...continue dicussion in the current thread.

 

64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64!

 

Can I ask?....with two identicle laptops and one with Vista 32bit and the other with 64bit, opening the same program for example, do they both use the same amount of RAM at that time? Or does 64bit use a gig more for that moment (exagerated)?
So if you were ok in the past with only 2GB RAM in the 32bit system, is the 64bit going to be the same as far as RAM useage with 2GB? or does it have to have more, like 3GB?

What I'm getting at is that if 64bits a bit faster in itself, then does it "has to have" 3GB+ to see that increase in speed over the 32bit?

 

Going with the dv4t. We got a laptop with 15.6" monitor and found it too large for portability. The dv4t has a 14.1" screen. I had that size screen at work and found it just right for my uses.

 

Depending on your config the DV4T Special Edition is a bit cheaper then the same config of a DV4T. But didnt sound like you were going for gaming so your config probably doesnt match that of the base config of the DV4T SE. I priced up both configed the way i like and the normal model was 120 more then the SE with the same config.

So all things depending check them both out just in case. Ive at some point in the past week configed them all even a mini lol.

 

Based on what you are using it for, I would go with the 32Bit and 3Gig. You can get a disk from Microsoft with the 64Bit version for under $20, then you can dual boot if you want to test the 64 bit version.

 

64 bit , why use old tech .

 

If your favorite software won't run on 64 bit.

 

Definitely 32-bit - so many programs aren't designed for 64-bit at all, that you're much better off going for 32-bit, especially for what you will be doing.. It will be many years before 64-bit takes over, if ever (by the time it does something more powerful will probably of been invented..

 

SOmething more powerful was invented 15 years ago... but no one needs it and it wouldnt have backwards compatability which would make everyone cry.

Seriusly its unlikley the consumer market will go beyond 64 bit processors for a long time. 17.2 Billion GB of ram ought to hold us over just a little while. Some people where confused when the PS2 came out, it has a 64 bit address bus and there fore was not a 128 bit processor externally.

Personally my compiler hasnt gone 64 bit yet, so i can't start compiling for 64 bit yet. But 64 bit is finally on the verge, its been hampered for so many years and with plenty of software still not avaliable in 64 bit native it leaves a choice for many. But 3GB of ram isnt gonna hold more than the lightest users for more than a couple more years. I can deal with 2GB butno less and with 7 wanting 1 minimum its pushing things.

 

<object width='425' height='344'><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2Y_Jp6PxsSQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2Y_Jp6PxsSQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width='425' height='344'></embed></object>