How big a deal Win Vista 64bit really is?

Windows Vista (previously codenamed Longhorn) is due in 2006 according to the MS website.
I believe that it will feature 64-bit "calculations". How big a deal that is? How much performance improvements will it give us with current software? How much performance improvement will it give with the software written for 64bits?
I know the question is not specific and that the answer depends in part from what is my use of the computer, but any good pointer is appreciated

One more thing. I guess that software written for 64bit will not run on WinXP, right?

 

well...windows vista is gonna be available for 64-bit computers and 32-bit computers....it will be used for programming and some other heavy duty apps that are used...and it won't be a big deal at all for a few years from now

 

Thanks! I think I understood from your post something important that I had not understood before: it is not just the software that will be different, you will actually need 64-bit hardware to run the 64-bit WinVista. (Right?)

And I guess that older 32-bit software will still run on the newer 64-bit WinVista

 

yes and yes

 

64 bit is nothing to worry about right now. The 64-bit version of Vista is supposed to come after the 32 bit, which will be released first.

 

yes..that is correct...hope my post helped ...and there is no reason to worry...because it will be a while before u will like HAVE to have it

 

Is it true that once Windows Vista comes out, there will a decrease of viruses for Win XP than before, or is it vice versa?

 

I'm pretty sure that ain't true...

 

Thanks to all

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=25270

Still want Vista?

 

After reading the System Req., I don't think I'll be able to run Vista any time soon, at least the 64-bit version anyway.

 

Don't think most of us will heh...

 

Those system requirements sound ludicrous! There's no way MS can expect people to upgrade, or even get a new computer to match those specs without breaking the bank! I really hope that rep. was talking about the 64-bit version, not the 32-bit, otherwise, I'm stickin' with XP.

 

as always, hardware prices drop early and often. by the time vista is a staple and there's enough software around to take advantage of the 64 bit version, the minimum hw specs (if the above ARE minimum and not recommended) will cost a lot less than they do now.