64-bit Computing

The transition to 64-bit computing has been going on for many, many years now, but 32-bit computing continues to dominate the home market. When do you think is 64-bit computing finally going to take over?

I think we may be reaching a turning point soon, due to the appearance of much larger RAM sizes. Still, it will take some years for the software to catch up with that. Hmm.

 

I can't say when we will see a 64-bit revolution, but I think that anyone considering a PC should be seriously consider a 64-bit system. It's the future, so why not prepare yourself? I've been running 64-bit Vista and I'm extremely happy with everything.

Now, keep in mind that almost every program out is still made for 32-bit, so that really negates a lot of the speed benefits of 64-bit computing, but it's only a matter of time now. I would venture to say that we should see a shift around the time that the Windows 7 comes out, if not sooner. However, that's conjecture at the moment.

 

The majority of people will be using at least 1 computer running a 64-bit OS in a matter of months. Vista x64 does a great job running almost all x86 programs - couple that with the fact that many new computers come preloaded with 4 GB of RAM and a 64-bit OS, the market will switch over very soon.

 

I beg to differ! To say that a majority of people will be using a 64-bit OS in a few months - even a year - is patently false! While the number of Vista x64 shipments have been going up strongly in recent months, and Leopard (which still has a 32-bit kernel) has been gaining share, Vista x64 shipments are still well below Vista x86 and XP x86 shipments - I wouldn't hesitate to say 2/3 of shipments are still 32-bit.

64-bit will continue to gain, but it will take awhile to catch up. I'd predict sometime in H1 2009 it will hit 50% shipments. But 50% usage? My guess would be H2 2011. People don't upgrade that often.

 

I would love to see the 64bit OS's raise their pitchforks in revelution!!!

my next laptop will be 64 bit

 

Hmm, Windows 7/Windows Vienna should be 64-bit only! That would certainly accelerate the transition if backward-compatibility with 32-bit programs was good. I mean, why bother making 32-bit versions any more, when 64-bit versions work well with 32-bit programs?

 

I really don't foresee this happening, although I don't think it would be entirely a bad idea. Most people probably wouldn't even know the difference. Software developers would need to work double-time to produce 64-bit programs for 64-bit to really make sense, and I think that might be what's holding mildly holding up the process right now, despite the backward compatibility. That's also conjecture at the moment.

 

The only problem right now on XP/Vista 64bits OS, is that besides the WOW(Windows-On-Windows) emulation, any program that relies on external 32bits drivers to run, or any 16bits aplication will not work. WOW64 can only emulate 32bits software.

Another problem is on some older CPUs like Pentium IV 5X0 series and below, wich can process 32bits only.

Thats why Windows 7 will not be an 64bit only.

 

Yeah, it was a value judgement on my part that it 'should' be 64-bit only - I too don't think it's actually going to happen.