Why buy 32 bit Vista verses 64 bit Vista

[Taltos]

I'm in the market for a new laptop. Most are coming with Vista. One thing I noticed is that some come with 32-bit Vista, some with 64-bit Vista and some give you the choice. XP is a 32-bit OS. Why would I want 32-bit Vista over 64-bit Vista?

Anyone have the answer and/or opinions?

[Nicole]

From what I understand, It's harder to find drivers for 64 bit and I also believe it is pretty unstable.

This is just what I have been told.

[oddjob]

Originally Posted by Taltos

One thing I noticed is that some come with 32-bit Vista, some with 64-bit Vista and some give you the choice.

Depends what you mean by "comes with" and "some give you the choice". Read everything on the box carefully INCLUDING THE BOTTOM. This is what I mean ....
http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=sbpignqj2o

[Taltos]

That video actually explains a comment on one of the notebook websites. It said next to the 64-bit Vista option that "backup media" available from Microsoft. I initially thought that meant they were selling Vista with no CD. Now I have a feeling they meant that if you actually wanted the 64-bit media, you would have to order it from MS for the $10.

And as for stable, I have seen a lot OS's and when they are new, there is a huge influx of complaints from users who just don't know how to get around in it and a lot of bad tech support from tech who have not been trained or spent much time on the new OS. There are new bugs but most of the issues you see early are hysteria and not real.

I am concerned about 64-bit drivers though. That is the really big question. I have not kept up on the OS as much as I used to. I am concerned about drivers, running games, and other software in general on the 64-bit version vs. 32 bit.

[Leon]

IDK What all this unstable talk is, my rig has been running WinVista x64 since the day it hit retail shelves and I haven't had any real issues. Although if you use flash, (as in make it) don't use vista. Flash is SO damn slow in vista.

[littleFella]

I'd rather ask: why buy Vista at all?
I've had the Vista DVD for couple of months now (somewhere in a kitchen cabinet). Eventually I'll have to play around with it but I still don't feel like it now.

[Pretend]

They sort of did the same thing with XP. Went to BestBuy the other day because I was bored and was browsing around the software aisle to see what was new and there were two different boxes for the same XP with a $100 difference in price. One claims to be for computers with 95 and before or no OS and the cheaper one for computers with 98 and up. Yeah, I have one disc and it's been used on computers with no OS, one with 95, one with 98, and one with ME, never had a problem with any.

All big business does that, anything for the extra buck.

[Bestmiler]

whats the difference between 32 and 64 bit? what do most computers now use?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Bestmiler

whats the difference between 32 and 64 bit? what do most computers now use?

The architecture. 32-Bit can only address 4GB of RAM, while 64-Bit it's more like 1TB or more. It gets pretty complicated but think like this. We're not thinking 1bitx32 we're talking 1bit^32 so 1bit^64 can address MUCH larger information thus raising speed, productivity, etc etc.

[Taltos]

I guess my real question was more about the 64 bit support. I haven't kept up in the last couple years on software and drivers. Are most of the drivers going to exist for the 64 bit version? There is a 64 bit version of XP. Anyone running it? If so, for what? Any trouble finding drivers, etc?

As for Vista itself, I've been through OS's all the way back to DOS 2.0 on the PC architecture. Every time a new OS comes out people bash it and claim its buggy or its a pain or its unstable, etc. Having used them, supported them, developed for them, most of that is just users and support getting used to new features, old features updated and moved or renamed, and drivers not already updated for the new OS. It's mostly hype in my opinion. I probably wouldn't go out and buy Vista but I've ordered a new beast of a notebook. So I am making the jump to Vista with the new beast.

Hey, Leon, you still got your Alienware notebook?

[I-Got-IT!]

If I'm not wrong, 32-bit windows are more stable and they are always easier to find drivers, programs, et cetras files that are compatiable to it compared to 62-bit windows.

[MakePB]

64-bit windows is still not in.Most of people use 32-bit.Maybe something will change in future but at this moment i do not think to step over on 64-bit windows.

[littleFella]

Originally Posted by Leon

It gets pretty complicated but think like this. We're not thinking 1bitx32 we're talking 1bit^32 so 1bit^64 can address MUCH larger information thus raising speed, productivity, etc etc.

Both 1bit^32 and 1bit^64 = 1bit

Did you mean 2^32 and 2^64?

[Natural Elements]

I will be very caution with 64 bits either XP pro or Vista even if you've got a motherboard and CPU ready for 64 bits. This technology has 2 years old on the market, and I am not sure if every software are ready to run under 64 bits. I am waiting a little to use the 64 bits OS.

The good new about 64 bits OS is running 1 Tera of RAM but I can tell you xp 32 bits with 4 GB max is plenty if you don't run Final Cut video and other music editor softwares

[ToddW]

Originally Posted by littleFella

I'd rather ask: why buy Vista at all?
I've had the Vista DVD for couple of months now (somewhere in a kitchen cabinet). Eventually I'll have to play around with it but I still don't feel like it now.

Exactly... major PITA. I'd stick with XP for a while longer.

[cpucandy]

I disagree with the below. I have windows vista 64 bit and have been very happy with the performance. Running on an AMD 64bit dual/core processer with 2gig ram. My only complaint is the lack of Bluetooth support for my dongle (kensington). Drivers should be out real soon.

If you stay with name brand parts and do your homework, you will usually have no troubles finding drivers.

Originally Posted by Nicole

From what I understand, It's harder to find drivers for 64 bit and I also believe it is pretty unstable.

This is just what I have been told.

[chicgeek]

My roommate's techie father got a call from a company called "Vista Windows". His tactic was to get them to hang up on him. He just had to say "I'm a mac user" and it didn't take long.

[Owen]

The one major benefit of using 64-bit version of Vista is memory related:
1. a 64-bit OS can address more RAM. 32-bit is limited to 4Gb
2. 32-bit applications are limited to 2Gb of RAM. This limitation disappears if you're using a 64-bit version of that package.

If memory usage is an issue, say if you're using huge databases or performing lots of video/image manipulation, that it's a no-brainer, go for the 64-bit version. However, most home/business users don't need this sort of processing power on their desktop.

64-bit Vista has one disadvantage over 32-bit and this is in terms of driver support. When Microsoft built 64-bit Vista they were building for the server market and for this they had to guarantee stability. Drivers are the top major cause of instability and so 64-bit Vista will only use drivers that are signed as being compliant by Microsoft. 32-bit Vista gives you the option of using unsigned drivers (albeit with a warning), which may be perfectly stable, but not yet certified by Microsoft. This means that there's a wider range of drivers available for 32-bit Vista.

If the decision was up to me and I was buying my hardware now. I'd go for the 32-bit version of Vista, due to driver richness and not really needing more than 4Gb of RAM

Hope this helps

[Scott Sutton]

Hi,

I purchased a Toshiba laptop Satellite A135-S4467 a couple of months ago for under $1K at Best Buy and I'm pleased so far with the performance. It has Windows Vista 32 bit with the Home Premium OEMAct.

I use it for a consulting business and Internet Marketing daily.

Good luck with your decision!

[chicgeek]

I love my toshiba satellite.