Everyone that knows me well, knows that my machines are in a constant state of flux. I love to play, I am a true geek and I test and test till I can’t take it anymore, then I test a little more.
My most recent testing scenario has been living with Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition on my new personal desktop computer. The computer in question is a 2.66Ghz Core 2 Duo with 4 GB of Ram, 400 GB Hard Disk, DVD +/- RW, nVidia GeForce 8800 GT, etc, etc, etc.
Besides a little trouble finding some drivers, setting it up was pretty painless. Also with only a few minor exceptions that were also rectified, installing software is pretty painless.
After having my own positive experience, I did a little more research to see what doesn’t work and I was a little unnerved to see that many 3rd party devices that I do own, like iPods, won’t work with this machine.
Currently they are not being connected to it, but who knows what will happen in the future?
So the burning question is do I leave x64 and continue in ignorant bliss until I buy some gadget and have to stick it on an old machine or do I flatten this box, put 32-bit ultimate on it, and be part of the masses? It’s a tough call, and I am not quite prepared to make it, but it’s definitely food for thought.
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If you went back to 32-bit Vista, you would lose performance benefits of the 64-bit world, and a gig of that RAM (32-bit only supports 3gb as I recall).
So I say stick with the future (64-bit) until you have a concrete reason not to. Besides, by the time you need to plug in one of those incompatible devices, they may have actually been updated to work with 64-bit. It’s where things are going, so don’t back out until you really have to.
Chris Meller » Thanks for the input. FYI on 32-bit vista, it supports 4GB with SP1.
doesn’t vista just suck? it wont even accept your ipod or other 3rd party gear… bummer.
@SHRIKEE
Is that true? I never knew that Vista doesn’t accept ipod. But, I believe there must be a way to get round the problem.
@Jason Burns, unfortunately that’s incorrect, 32bit vista is able to display the correct amount of ram installed on your system, but is still unable to use it, check your system monitor and see the total physical memory.
@Teq: That appears to be correct, I just checked my Macbook Pro w/4GB which runs 32-bit Vista Enterprise while I am at work and 3GB was the verdict, thanks for the heads up.