Should I get Windows 7 64bit?

I really want to be able to use all 4gb of my ram but will I be limited in the software I can run? Whats are the disadvantages if any?

 

Those softwares that aren't 64 bit. Like quicktime.

 

You should list the software/needs that you need to function on a day to day basis.

For the most part, most software out there will work with Windows 7 x64.

BTW, what laptop and OS are you currently running?

 

I made the jump to Windows 7 64 bit and kept my fingers crossed. No problems so far except for some older games like Need For Speed Most Wanted and Carbon. So I kept 64 bit on my Dell notebook and 32 bit on my gaming desktop. The 64 bit Vista drivers seem to work just fine with Windows 7. I love Windows 7 and will never ever go back to Vista. To be honest, 64 bit is great and stable, but the difference is really small in performance between my desktop and my notebook as I have no software that truly utilizes 64 bits such as some newer video and sound editing programs that I do not have.

 

YES!

You'l never look back

 

Precisely, you don't need to care about the softwares. As most of the time, 32bit Softwares will work on 64bit. For example: Firefox, MS Office, Any Games(left4dead2, warcraft3, grid, tf2 and so on)
To be clear, please read 64bit Windows vs 32bit Windows here, http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=357233
Good enough for you.

My vote goes to YES! YOU SURELY ENJOY IT!

 

100% absolutely. Most enthusiasts agree that if your hardware supports it, there is zero reason not to use 64 bit. The only reason Windows 7 exists in a 32 bit flavor is to allow users with 32 bit processors to install Windows 7.

DetlevCM has an excellent guide on the merits of 64 bit over 32 bit, available here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=357233
The drawbacks of using 64 bit? Unless you use some specialized piece of hardware - none.

 

The only "drawback" I can think of when switching to 64bit is if you have to pay for it vs having 32bit. Normally they're the same price(at retail and as upgrades), but say you got an early laptop with Vista 32bit and they're only offering you a 32bit Widows 7 upgrade, then I might suggest not to bother paying more for 64bit, but that's just a personal choice.

I agree with everything everyone has said; 64bit is pretty much a no-downside upgrade for most users.

 

...Except... the license is a license. If it comes pre-installed with 32 bit, that was the manufacturer's prerogative. The license you own can be used for either 32 or 64 bit installations. Considering you can legally download the isos and install whichever version you like, I think this is a fairly moot point.

 

ISOs and installers are downloads and not everyone has a download limit large enough to download whatever they want hence why retail versions exist.

Like I said, it's not exactly a deal breaking thing but it's the only 'drawback' I can think of concerning the switch and notice the big "IF" before the part "have to pay for it vs 32bit"

 

Fair enough, I'll agree that it's not practical or possible for everyone.

 

Drivers, drivers, drivers. Anyone running older hardware is going to run into trouble.

Microsoft really make a smart move by requiring all Vista certified drivers to have both a x86 and a x64 version.

 

Okay but again, it's a moot point. This topic isn't about Windows 7 vs Windows of Yesteryear, it's about Windows 7 64 bit vs Windows 7 32 bit. And as you have said and know, if an x86 driver exists, an x64 driver exists... except in some special cases for usually bizarre and specialized hardware that few to no home users have to worry about.

 

Ah but you are wrong about the drivers.

Only if the x86 driver was certified for Vista will there be a x64 version. If it hasn't been updated since XP, then there will likely be no x64 version. A good example is printers.

Printers have an incredible shelf life and there have been a shortage of x64 drivers in a market where it is typical to find inkjets from the XP era still operating 100%.

 

Except I typically find it cheaper to replace my whole printer than buying the toner cartridge for my laser printer.

But good point. I did run into that issue with my last printer when I installed Vista 64-bit, but didn't matter when I dropped back to XP until Windows 7 came along

 

Ah, laser printers can be a whole nother issue.

 

still wrong in a lot of subtle cases. enough for me to stay 32bit at home 100%. there is no use for 64bit except in >4gb ram situations. and there is no gain in <=4gb situations really. performance is the same, and hw support is better.

 

64bit isn't 100% fully implemented, but it is coming along little by little. Remember that it took a good approximate 6 years before we fully underwent the transition from 16bit to 32bit so the switch takes time since you have to factor in older HW(that doesn't support 64bit drivers) to be mostly phased out as well as most of the softwares to be coded for the new architecture. 64bit will mostly be something for developers rather than the end user, kinda like Direct X is for game developers.

Nonetheless, unless some form of hardware is holding you back I don't see much of a disadvantage of going 64bit. For lots of people, HW drivers won't be an issue if purchasing a new computer(since most of them are 64bit equipped).

 

We do forget that people rarely if ever upgrade their OS, except through new hardware.

 

Absolutely go for it. I have not had a software not install yet, and have noticed a good increase on copy paste operations. Most modern day software will run on 64 bit.

 

Go for 64 bit as long as you dont have any peripherals that have 32bit only drivers

 

Definitely install it. It's worth it.