[Judas]

Yay, Maybe, or straight up no it's a bloody waste of time

i'm in the group that figured that vista 32bit was a small waist of time, but worthwhile solution, win7 however is just screaming to be 64bit only.. it's seriously time in all honesty. Anyone still using hardware that is 32bit only can stick to the 32bit vista... it'll do... IMO

[Mac Daddy]

I see no need for a 32 bit version of this OS ....

[Tyrsonswood]

There is enough 32 bit machines in the workforce and even dedicated software running on them that I can see Microsofts point in doing a 32 bit version.... It's not for home users running old gear, but for 32bit dedicated work stations, point of sale equipment stuff like that. It certainly won't be their biggest seller.

[OldBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

There is enough 32 bit machines in the workforce and even dedicated software running on them that I can see Microsofts point in doing a 32 bit version.... It's not for home users running old gear, but for 32bit dedicated work stations, point of sale equipment stuff like that. It certainly won't be their biggest seller.

If they are too cheap to update their hardware, they aren't going to update the software either. Screw'em, that's not a good reason for MS to waste time and money on developing an OS for obsolete equuipment.

Now we are going to have the same BS with the 3rd party folks like Creative, Canon, etc, having to write and maintain two sets of drivers. I just hope that this time, they concentrate on 64 bit first instead of 32 bit like they did with Vista.

The same goes for gaming. Having to continue to develop games that have to stay within the 32 bit memory limitation is going to severely hamper the game developers, unless they have the balls to tell folks, "Sorry, but if you have a 32 bit OS, you can't run this game".

[mkk]

They want something that can both replace WinXP and do better than Vista on low end machines. It also doesn't hurt do be able to sell systems with 32bit OEM Win7 and then have users buy 64bit Win7 separately when they realise they want it.

[Lowfat]

Definitely should be cut. It is slowing the progress to 64-bit applications.

[Mourgolikos]

I believe that's it was not a good idea, as almost all of as are using 64bit. 32bit is slowing the developing of 64bit. The only reason for 32bit is to support very old machines and make as more profit as possible, selling to everyone.

Well, i can wait so it's not a big problem for me (at least).

[Erroneus]

Well there is one problem by not supporting 32bit in Windows 7. Atom N27x and Z5xx does not support 64 bit, so those machines are not gonna run it.

I can see why a 32bit would be a good idea, BUT I agree they should have cut it, would defiantly improve 64-bit driver support.

[Sic Puppy]

Pure waste of time, if youp PC can't do 64bit then Vista should be the furthest you can go with an O/S. MS forced people to go to Vista to get DX10 so why not force 64bit with Windows 7? 64bit components are not exactly expensive anymore

[Mousey]

To be honest i reckon x86 is a waste of time so i'm going with the majority on this one. The 64 bit support for vista was fantastic, the only device i haven't found a driver for is my webcam but considering it's not even a pc webcam (PS2 Eyetoy) it's not much of a surprise lol

It's fast, it's flexible and it's powerful. Scrap 32 bit and go 64. PLEASE MICROSOFT

[Zelig]

Originally Posted by Mousey

To be honest i reckon x86 is a waste of time so i'm going with the majority on this one. The 64 bit support for vista was fantastic, the only device i haven't found a driver for is my webcam but considering it's not even a pc webcam (PS2 Eyetoy) it's not much of a surprise lol

It's fast, it's flexible and it's powerful. Scrap 32 bit and go 64. PLEASE MICROSOFT

Whoa there, if you want a non-x86 processor, you need to be looking at Intanium or PowerPC processors, among others.

[dj_stick]

I voted yes, because until all pro application and hardware developers start coding 64bit software/drivers (you'd be surprised how far behind many are) there's still a need for a 32bit OS

[MitchRapp]

I voted for YES it's a waste of time

but in a way I see it as "keeping PS/2 and Parallel and Serial ports on the back of motherboards"

Someone out there will need it... somehow...



although if you've going to run Vista or Windows 7, I'm thinking you already have a 64-bit capable processor...


Businesses however might have a problem with this, since some businesses keep old computers running, and some old computers are 32-bit only

[OldBuzzard]

Originally Posted by dj_stick

I voted yes, because until all pro application and hardware developers start coding 64bit software/drivers (you'd be surprised how far behind many are) there's still a need for a 32bit OS

And if you keep giving them a 32 bit OS they will NEVER make the switch.

That's one reason for killing 32 bit, to force lazy developers to get off their ass and join the 21st Century.

[temeteus82]

Best way to get people and dev people to move 64-bit OS is to give them 64-bit OS only...

[blibbax]

I'm using 32 bit Vista because I happen to have a license for it, but if I bought an OS tomorrow I wouldn't even consider 32 bit.

Unfortunately the majority of the public wouldn't don't understand the difference, and just take what the OEM gives the, which for some inexplicable reason tends to be 32 bit.

Why Dell? Why Hewlett Packard?

[Judas]

remember.. that you can even download the 64bit version of vista and install it freshly using the EXACT CD key that you have for 32bit... no problems....

i've been doing it to a pile of machines, mostly gaming or higher end machines..... last week i fixed up a hp machine.. after heavily changing things out due to it's total lack of capability, and installed 64bit version of windows vista and when it asked for the cd key, punched in the 32bit key on the side and voilla... didn't even have to phone in to activate.

[blibbax]

Originally Posted by Judas

remember.. that you can even download the 64bit version of vista and install it freshly using the EXACT CD key that you have for 32bit... no problems....

i've been doing it to a pile of machines, mostly gaming or higher end machines..... last week i fixed up a hp machine.. after heavily changing things out due to it's total lack of capability, and installed 64bit version of windows vista and when it asked for the cd key, punched in the 32bit key on the side and voilla... didn't even have to phone in to activate.

WOW!!!

Where do you reccomend to download Vista 64 bit?

[Judas]

Originally Posted by blibbax

WOW!!!

Where do you reccomend to download Vista 64 bit?

erm.... there are a number of questionable places.. but are kinda dangerous.

your best bet would be to find someone you know that might have the OEM copy of the x64 disk.. it can be ultimate or basic doesn't matter... so long as it's basic/home P/ultimate in SP1 flavours, you'll be able to install using those disks... (as each disk has essentially all 3 and will auto installed the correct version based on your key)

[blibbax]

Originally Posted by Judas

erm.... there are a number of questionable places.. but are kinda dangerous.

your best bet would be to find someone you know that might have the OEM copy of the x64 disk.. it can be ultimate or basic doesn't matter... so long as it's basic/home P/ultimate in SP1 flavours, you'll be able to install using those disks... (as each disk has essentially all 3 and will auto installed the correct version based on your key)

Yeah I thought of that just after I posted - good tip tho thanks, didn't know that the 32 bit keys could carry over.

[dawgXdenta]

I've run every OS you can imagine, why anyone would go 32 is beyond me, 32 is like mmmhhhh? a porshe 911 gt 1968, whereas 64 is like porshe carrera gt 2005. The only thing is with all that speed you have very few roads to take it out on.

[dawgXdenta]

after reading a bit I just realized my first PC was an amd 64 3200+. Why the F*** have they not yet moved on. That was a waste of money to have an architecture that wasnt even untilized I didnt even use 1 64 bit software on my 1st rig!! Just think about it how much research and development goes into creatng had core hardware only for the software companies to not write compatible software to run it. That means you paid all the cash for the research of your hardware and never got to max capability of your machine b4 it was outdated. What a bitch!

[RealityRipple]

There's one good reason for a 32 bit version of Win7, and I'm surprised no one mentioned it: Virtual Machines.

[Zelig]

Originally Posted by RealityRipple

There's one good reason for a 32 bit version of Win7, and I'm surprised no one mentioned it: Virtual Machines.

Care to elaborate?

[RealityRipple]

Microsoft Virtual PC (originally Connectix Virtual PC), the best 100% free PC emulator, only allows 32 bit operating systems currently. Why would a company release software that didn't work with one of its own products? That'd be like Sony releasing a game exclusively for the Wii.

[Erroneus]

Time for an update of Virtal PC then

[blibbax]

Originally Posted by Erroneus

Time for an update of Virtal PC then

Quite. Virtual PC is a nice idea, but it has far too many compatibility issues. Anyway, I doubt it makes up so much of Microsofts market that they want to carry on with 32 bit just for that. I think it's just a basic fear of change that's keeping us back.

[Tyrsonswood]

Microsoft only cares about money, they did a 32bit because there's money in it for them somewhere. They aren't afraid of change.

[RealityRipple]

I thought the point of this thread was the user's POV, not what makes business sense.

[VampyrByte]

I think having a 32bit version is great, but they need to make the 64bit version the normal, not the option. There are probably people out there, who will want to run Windows 7 on P4's and AMD Durons (god help them) and other legacy systems for reasons only beknown to themselves.
That said, i will be using the 64bit, if i get itm have been using x64 OS since the release of Xp x64 and wont stop, until it moves on to whatever comes next. The only disadvantage is the lack of proper 16 bit support, I miss those old games, and Dosbox dont work for windows based games