Are we ready for 64-bit?

Just re-installed a secondary OS on my main PC and decided to go with the 64-bit version of Windows 7. Been wondering that for the longest time, people have not really cozied up with 64-bit Windows.

It’s been like close to a half a decade now that 64-bit editions of Windows are available and yet it hasn’t gone mainstream (the x86-64 was introduced in 2003).

Before, the main concern is that even if the OS and the hardware is capable of 64-bit, majority of the softwares are compiled into 32-bit code so you don’t really get any significant improvement. Moreover, with the 32-bit Windows OS, it can only use up to about 3GB of RAM so even if you have 2 sticks of 2GB RAM (4GB total), your system can only see 3GB and the remaining 1GB is unused.

64-bit

The biggest issue that’s causing the slow adaptation is because most device drivers aren’t compatible for 64-bit. If your printer, scanner, etc were manufactured before 2007, chances are they don’t have drivers for 64-bit OS (I have 2 USB WiFi dongles from LinkSys and they don’t have drivers for 64-bit Vista).

Maybe in a couple more years, we’ll see 64-bit take on a larger user base.

For now, I’m enjoying the speed bump running Windows 7 64-bit on an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 with a full 4GB of RAM. Firing up Adobe Photoshop CS4 64-bit is a joy (launch time: 4 seconds).

Anybody out there running a 64-bit Windows OS?

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

30 Comments

Huan22 says:

16 years ago

I’ve been running vista x64 for a year now. As far as performance is concern, there have been significant increase in the use of 64-bit applications compared to its 32-bit version.

BTW, @Abe, are you an MSDN subscriber? How did you got an early copy Windows 7 Ultimate?
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jojo uy says:

16 years ago

isnt it backward compatible ? ? that 32 shoud work on 64
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jdGONEMAD says:

16 years ago

master yuga, penge naman copy ng windows 7 na 32 bit kung meron ka. thnx.
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Abe Olandres says:

16 years ago

@Huan22 – just used the RC version.

@jojo – yup, should be backward compatible.

@jdgonemad – you can grab a copy here as well as the serial number.
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john says:

16 years ago

i will try 64bit if i got the chance to have high end specs computer rig…
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Gadget Wonderland says:

16 years ago

cool, 4 seconds lang launch time ng CS4! bilis!
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Lloyd Lopez says:

16 years ago

I’ve been using Vista 64-bit for several months. So far, I’m happy with it.
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Juneau says:

16 years ago

i’ve been using a 64bit vista for maybe a year. so far i have no regret since it really helps me with the 4gb ram and some programs that supports 64bit. but there are some programs that doesn’t support or wont start even x64 version of vista is backward compatible with a 32bit applications. but i am thinking twice to upgrade to windows 7, after a couple of months of its release or a sp1 of win7.
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JC John Sese Cuneta says:

16 years ago

Within the MS-Win arena, I agree that there is a slow migration towards 64-bit OS, however if we open it wider, there’s a growing migration in the GNU/Linux arena. I for one have been using 64-bit Ubuntu Linux for 2-3 years already.

But we’re talking MS-Win here. The main difference basically is that it isn’t easy to run a 32-bit app in a 64-bit MS-Win. Compare that to Linux, specifically Ubuntu distro, there’s almost no problem running a 32-bit app in a 64-bit Linux.

I’m really hoping Windows 7 64-bit will be 32-bit “friendly”, since that’s what I’m buying :p In any case, the applications that my siblings are using all have 64-bit versions already. And personally, I’m buying Windows 7 just to break it, hack it, customize it, study it. 98% of what I do in my computer and online, I can do with Ubuntu Linux :p

Now to pray that Windows 7 64-bit will be cheap *LOL*
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philippinenotebooks says:

16 years ago

also running 64 bit windows 7 rc on my lappy. feels more snappy than the 32 bit
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