| Array Systems Inc. ( - One of the most | | | | support, often resulting in long delays between |
| mysterious aspects of the new Microsoft | | | | "beta" releases. Even discrete components |
| Windows Vista operating system is the choice | | | | (control chipsets, printers, video boards, sound |
| between a 32-bit and a 64-bit version. To make | | | | cards, scanners, cameras, and nearly all wireless |
| things more confusing, Microsoft includes both | | | | and PDA devices) have also suffered as a result |
| Vista versions with their retail editions, yet makes | | | | of scarce 64-bit drivers in the consumer market, |
| you choose which one you want. The short | | | | as these products are many in model, and change |
| answer is that end-users, small - medium sized | | | | rapidly each week. |
| businesses, and most corporations should choose | | | | Unlike applications, 32-bit and 64-bit drivers are |
| the 32-bit version for now because this is the | | | | not interchangeable, nor can they run on the |
| version that HP, IBM, and Dell are using. | | | | same computing environment simultaneously. So |
| 64-bit History | | | | to adopt Windows Vista 64, you'd have to make |
| Intel, IBM, Sun Microsystems and AMD are all | | | | sure you have all the required drivers lined up |
| major computer chip developers and 64-bit | | | | prior to the installation. For most consumer and |
| technology is nothing new to them. Apart from | | | | small business situations, it's simply too early to |
| the fact that the 64-bit chip has "more bits" than | | | | realistically have a rich set of 64-bit Windows |
| the 32-bit chip, the 64-bit chip also has a greater | | | | Vista drivers to apply. This is also why upgrading |
| amount of memory, file, disk, and database | | | | to 64-bit Vista is particularly difficult and demands |
| address space. With 32-bit hardware, you have up | | | | a great deal of research and patience to achieve |
| to 4GB (gigabytes) of address space compared | | | | 100% functionality. |
| to 144GB, 262GB, or 256TB (terabytes) of | | | | 64-bit Applications |
| potential address space in 64-bit hardware. | | | | By some accounts this is a chicken-and-egg |
| Obviously 256TB is beyond current hardware | | | | situation. For the most part, x86 applications |
| technology: however, it does set the stage for | | | | (32-bit) are the mainstream. For the mainstream |
| 64-bit processing being the future's long-term | | | | to adopt 64-bit applications there must be a |
| platform. | | | | compelling reason to do so. Conversely, unless |
| Intel's 64-bit processors were jointly developed | | | | price-friendly 64-bit equipment is widely purchased |
| with Hewlett-Packard in a project known as the | | | | by the mainstream, why would developers create |
| "Itanium Architecture" or IA-64. The goal was to | | | | 64-bit applications? Truthfully, 32-bit hardware, |
| develop a new breed of CPUs and depart from | | | | with an upper limit of 4GB of memory was |
| the limitations of 32-bit architectures of the early | | | | seldom reached by anything other than network |
| "286, 386, 486, and early-Pentium" processors. To | | | | servers and virtually never seen by PC users. So, |
| align with the early Intel IA-64 Itanium, Microsoft | | | | prior to today, most 64-bit applications belong to |
| released a special version of Windows XP | | | | high-end software or that of network servers. In |
| identified as the "XP-64 Edition" along with a | | | | fact, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 will require |
| "Server 2000 Edition" which supported the IA-64 | | | | x64 hardware essentially mandating a 64-bit |
| hardware. Neither was widely adopted mostly due | | | | processing environment. |
| to problems with software drivers and the high | | | | What is changing however is the user-base and |
| cost of memory at that time. | | | | pricing wars of PCs. As newer PCs contain the |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | 64-bit single and dual-core processors, end-users |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and | | | | can adopt a 64-bit equipment option. Price |
| professional "full service" Search Engine Marketing | | | | competition will soon press the 32-bit only |
| help at very affordable rates. | | | | systems out of the marketplace so it seems as if |
| Microsoft's first attempt to mitigate the gap | | | | everyone will be forced to convert right? Well |
| between 32 and 64-bit hardware was to create a | | | | maybe. Among the first applications to take |
| "software emulator" which would allow the 32-bit | | | | advantage of the 64-bit technology for the |
| code to operate on an IA-64 CPU. The results | | | | mainstream will be the gaming and multimedia |
| were not so good and caused things to run very | | | | sectors of the computing world. |
| slow which further reduced the interest in the | | | | Bottom of the Line |
| IA-64 Itanium processor for desktop computers | | | | Mainstream users are best served with the 32-bit |
| and servers. Microsoft would later rewrite the | | | | applications of Windows Vista and will experience |
| code so that the Windows operating system | | | | the greatest compatibility with peripherals, |
| would run in either 32-bit or 64-bit code | | | | applications, and improved features. The use of |
| simultaneously, and natively, without any software | | | | 64-bit implementations of Vista should be based |
| emulation. The result was increased performance, | | | | on need. If you have a special application or |
| regardless of which code base was hosted, and | | | | operational requirement today that mandates this |
| later cleared the way for Microsoft to launch | | | | extended version of Vista, proceed ahead; just |
| Windows Vista in 32/64 bit editions. | | | | be sure to research and resolve potential conflicts |
| 64-bit Driver Support | | | | and remedies first. Windows Vista 64 will gather |
| Perhaps the most painful part of adopting 64-bit | | | | increased momentum and acceptance; however |
| technology lies in the software supporting the | | | | the practical return on investment may be years |
| peripheral devices of the computer, commonly | | | | away. As with any new product offering, the key |
| referred to as "drivers". Makers of computer | | | | will be testing the Vista environment with current |
| motherboards of late have integrated many | | | | application prior to making an upgrade decision. |
| sub-components into their products, which have | | | | Got a question? Need Help? |
| complicated Vista / 64 driver availability and | | | | |