Windows 7

Millionaire

I would get the 64bit Version.

RobTang

those businesses dont need to upgrade their existing tech tho, id stick a fairly large wager that they wont upgrade to win7. any new hardware can be 64bit and have the newer 64bit operating systems.

im not saying there shouldn't be say a 32bit version of office 2012, just the OS bit or even just not sell comsumers the 32bit version like they are doing with win7 home basic.

besides everything is (probably) moving back to mainframe style clould apps, or virtualizing every terminal on super servers.

I blame those netbooks for 32bit hanging on...

BillScarab

Marty_J wrote: »

While the majority of computers being sold now are 64 bit, there are still millions and millions of them in businesses all over the world that are not, not to mention all the software and devices such as older printers that won't have 64 bit support.

If a business uses its computers for emailing and MS Office (as most do), 64 bit computing has little to offer, and there's not much incentive to replace all the company's computers just to run a 64 bit OS. And while it may sound reasonable to just keep supporting a legacy 32 bit OS, Microsoft don't make any money from legacy operating systems. Cutting off a huge chunk of the revenue stream from one of your largest markets, just because you've arbitrarily decided that it's 64 bit or nothing, isn't a very good idea.

Microsoft already got burned with Vista, and I can't see them being in a rush to get burned again; businesses had absolutely zero interest in transparent windows and flashy visual effects, and they had absolutely no interest in upgrading all their machines to obtain them.

So going 64 bit will cut Microsoft off from one of its core markets. Businesses are reluctant to upgrade under the best of circumstances, but if its 64 bit only, many of them won't even be considering using Windows 8 until it's time to upgrade all their hardware, whether that's in 4 or 5 years time (or longer).

In those circumstances, Microsoft can kiss a large chunk of their profits goodbye.

I don't know about smaller businesses but a lot of large businesses have regular replacement schedules. For instance I work for a large multi-national and our laptops and desktops are repalced on a three year cycle.

We're not planning to deploy Windows 7 generally until 2011 but I wouldn't be surprised if any new hardware between now and then came with it.

AMD have been selling 64 Bit processors since 2003, Intel since 2004 so by the time Windows 8 hits the shelves any machine there won't be that many machines left that won't support 64 Bit.

When it comes to servers I'd be surprised if there are many running 32 Bit nowadays so it will be even less of an issue for them.

The other point is that how many people actually buy retail copies of new Operating Systems. Most people jsut carry on with what they have and wait until they buy a new machine. The ones that are interested in buying a new OS are likely to be 'geeks' and already have a machine capable of running 64 Bit.

Marty_J

RobTang wrote: »

tI blame those netbooks for 32bit hanging on...

That's an excellent point. The netbook market has exploded over the past few years and it continues to grow.

Are there any 64 bit netbooks?

BillScarab wrote: »

The other point is that how many people actually buy retail copies of new Operating Systems. Most people jsut carry on with what they have and wait until they buy a new machine. The ones that are interested in buying a new OS are likely to be 'geeks' and already have a machine capable of running 64 Bit.

This is true up to a point, but quite a lot of "non-techie" people pre-ordered Windows 7, due to its significant discount. These non-techie types either (a) don't know what 64 bit computing is, or (b) don't care.

redux

question: is it possible to install both 32 and 64 bit, on different partitions but using the same licence, while making one's mind up?

this PC has 2 GB RAM and that seems to be a maximum for the Turion TL60 processor, so if 64 bit tends to use more memory, and as the virtualisation of XP says it needs more still, I'm wondering about just staying on 32 bit which I've installed so far

BillScarab wrote: »

The other point is that how many people actually buy retail copies of new Operating Systems.

Well it depends on price, as above. £160 each, slim chance. $50 to $80, not unreasonable

RobTang

Marty_J wrote: »

Are there any 64 bit netbooks?

not under the atom range, we'll have to wait for the next netbook atom release n450/470.

Some netookish systems use celerons so might support 64bit instruction sets.

busenbust

And W7 absolutely flies on netbooks. :cool:

Marty_J

busenbust wrote: »

And W7 absolutely flies on netbooks. :cool:

Mac OS X works pretty well too.

asininity

Not sure but amd's netbooks might be 64bit. And also watch out for the ARM netbooks, they are meant to be very impressive.

spaceman5

Marty_J wrote: »

The next version of Windows is slated to be released in 3 years, .

Marty_J wrote: »

many of them won't even be considering using Windows 8 until it's time to upgrade all their hardware, whether that's in 4 or 5 years time (or longer).

Be about right then;)