The 64-bit era is coming
Add another decision you have to make when you next buy a PC- whether to go with a 64-bit version of Windows. Somewhere down the road, 64-bit systems will be mostly replacing the current mainstream 32-bit systems, just as 32-bits replaced 16-bits. There are numerous advantages to using 64-bits but most current software is 32-bit. However, more and more programs are coming out that are being written for 64-bits.
The most obvious advantage for a 64-bit system is its ability to use big quantities of RAM. A 32-bit system is limited in practice to recognizing around 3 GB of RAM as was discussed in a previous post. RAM is inexpensive these days and those who do memory-intensive tasks like video-editing will appreciate the added power of 4 or even 8 GB of RAM. This is the type of current user who would benefit most.
Most current 32-bit software seems to run just fine on 64-bit systems. I have a 64-bit Vista Ultimate laptop and all my programs seem to run without any problem. The main drawback to a 64-bit system currently is lack of drivers for older peripherals. Having a 64-bit system today, however, is still mostly an investment in the future.
The rapid progress (greater than many expected) in general use of 64-bit Vista is discussed by Ed Bott in a post, Suddenly, 64-bit Windows is mainstream. There is also an older post by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Making the case for 64-bit Windows Vista.
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