a few words on 64 bit please!

Configuring a t400 on the Lenovo website I saw the choice of 'windows business' and 'windows business 64'. Not knowing what this meant for me I called Lenovo.

The sales rep said the t400 could successfully run a 64 bit operating system but if you pick a 64 bit operating system all your applications (outlook, photoshop (which I use a couple hours each day), every little 'tool', etc.) have to be 64 bit. He said 64 bit is best for graphics...perfect for photoshop...but everything on the machine has to be 64 bit.

Is this right? Did everyone re-buy all their major software and all their bits and bobs to run 64 bit? Thank you!

 

No, you do not need to re-buy most software...it will work. Things like Firewalls, AV Security stuff, and hardware that do not have 64bit software should be just about the only thing you need to worry about.

 

Except for these things as mentioned above then, is there any reason not to get it?

 

In general, if you are not using four or more GB of RAM, you don’t need it. x64 is still targeted towards the enthusiast and you might have some issues with some software and hardware that might not support x64. Regardless, x64 tends to have slightly better security and performance.

 

Way better performance. I've compared side by side, the difference is day and night, IMO.

 

64bit is NOT enthusiast. Everything is moving to 64bit.

 

How many of your applications are 64 bit native? Which 64 bit browser are you using right now? Granted, I run x64, but would NOT recommend it to everyone.

 

does 64 bit require 4GB of RAM

if so...crap

 

No it does not.

 

4Gb ram requires x64, not vice versa.
Don't be confused with the requirement to run the system, it's the same as x32.

 

Vista is the last mass produced(?) OS that will have a 32-bit option.

That should help you make your decision

 

What do you suggest, im dumb

 

I try not to assume too much

Basically, I'd say the only reason not to buy 64-bit, as others have said, is if you have a really expensive piece of software (such as Adobe Photoshop, or AutoCad) that only works on 32-bit systems.

Older anti-virus software also won't work, but if you're buying a new system, you should also be investing in some new antivirus.

Everything will be 64-bit within two years or so, your day-to-day performance will only be affected positively, there's really no reason not to!

 

They all work in x64 bit, I have them installed on my HP.
For autocad you need the x64 version though.

 

I have switched between 32 and 64 bit 3 times so far... 64 bit is definitely faster, and (I think) more stable. But in every case, there were nagging compatibility problems with software/hardware that I just couldn't live with, so back to 32 bit for me. I will be glad when everything finally moves to 64, and I wish MS had not given vendors the option of 32 bit Vista. The next OS, will be 64 only.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about compatibility. 2/3 of my software is 32-bit and thats probably a pretty common ratio. If you have a high-dollar program you are worried about, check with the manufacturer.

The only conflicts I've found so far have been a result of poor documentation. For example, Windows Media Center and DVD Maker are both 64-bit, but there is a 32-bit and 64-bit version of Windows Media Player installed. The 32-bit Windows Media Player is the system default so 3rd party codecs appear to work fine in it, but don't work in the other programs. I believe these are the type of "incompatibilities" that are most common, but a quick google search can usually straighten everything out.

With that being said, I probably wouldn't bother with 64-bit unless you have 4gb of RAM - it's probably not worth the (small) hassle. Of course, with RAM being as cheap as it is...

For extra credit, I've attached a screen shot of 32-bit autocad running just fine on 64-bit vista.

 

It won't, sucks.

I have vista 64 and a few programs that are 64 bit.
Photoshop, I notice it's faster overall. It's supposed to be 32 bits with some chunks of code in 64, so I don't know really
Autocad 2009 is 64 bits, but the program itself is slow as balls. I much rather use ver 2002 that is 32 bits but is reasonably fast.
Maxwell render is 64 bits and it works fantastically. It's really fast and it works great.

Other than that I have everything 32 bits and it works well, but nothing extraordinary

 

Yeah! acad 2002 all the way! LOL

 

it is not the right time for 64 bit OS ... and will not be in the near future (2-3 years)

 

Wrong. Windows 7 will, like Vista, have both 32bit and 64bit versions.

 

Thanks to all for your informative contributions.

 

64-bit is great for the near future, but at this moment you will have less problems with 32-bit, that's for sure.

Right now, only go 64-bit if you have a specific need for it, like 4 GB or more RAM for example.

 

Stewie and others,

Can you say more about the kinds of problems that one runs into with 64 bit? I am trying to decide between 32 bit and 64 bit and am going to order a T400 at the sale price tomorrow.

Thanks for your advice.

 

Mostly drivers and software compatibility. I know a lot of 32-bit software can run in x64 Windows, but there are still some that don't work very well. Also, at this moment, all companies are still rolling out 32-bit updates before 64-bit, that includes Microsoft themselves.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying 64-bit is bad, but at this moment it is true that you will run into compatibility issues that you normally won't with 32-bit. Right now it is still in the transition period. If you don't have a specific need to use 64-bit, I still suggest people to stay with 32-bit for now.

And for everyday office work, you're not really going to see a day and night difference in performance, at least not with the majority of software out there today.

 

Can you confirm this?

I had this info come to me in a company-wide email from a MS rep around the time XP was officially discontinued. Perhaps he just meant 'all retail systems will be 64-bit' with a 32-bit version available as a stand alone software retail package.

Keep in mind, I work in retail so I don't always get the whole story. Thanks for the correction though.

 

A few links (but I couldn't find any on MS's own website):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vienna (first paragraph)

http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/07/23/important-news-about-Windows-7_1.html

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=592

 

Yeah - I checked all I could - MS is definitely giving mixed messages about supporting 32 and 64 bit in the next release. At this point in the development cycle, I think they are telling people whatever they think they want to hear - as release gets closer a purely business-sales decision will be made, which means 32 bit will be there - how depressing. All those slack vendors will continue to not update their software/ drivers for a chip technology that has been dominant in the hardware for nearly a decade (by the time V7 comes out). Sigh!

 

I am under the understanding that autocad is the only auto desk program that will work on 64bit and photoshop doesnt have an official 64bit but does work. Please let me know if anyone found any other auto desk programs in 64bit. Looking for Architecture and Revit..