32 bit? that's so last millenium...

Hi

I am new here but I love testing new operating system before everyone else, I tested vista when that came out and I would like to congradulate how stable this Public BETA is in comparison.

The reason for my post is simply why are they still releasing 32bit operating systems?

The only time I can think of a 32bit processor to be running Windows 7 is a laptop that shouldnt be running such an OS anyway.

Microsoft need to be pushing forward and forgetting about the past, this is what recovered apple from their disasterous times (merely and observation).

Releasing Windows 7 as 64bit only will for everyone to start coding for 64bit and finally we will see performance increases on the system.

I ask who has windows 7 32bit BETA who actually only has a 32bit processor. Its almost impossible not to have a 64bit CPU but I am waiting to be surprised. 64bit FTW!

i don't even know if my processor is 64bit. but i just recently upgraded from a very old machine and all my software is 32bit so i didn't even bother checking. plus i'm only running 2gb ram.

i really don't have any complaints about the speed of my system. why should i bother with 64bit? i don't plan on getting more ram soon, and i really don't want to deal with the software compatibility issues...

the hold back of 64bit adaption is of course the relying on 32bit software compatibility. Microsoft just play it safe i think to release two version. Another thing that pushing the need of 64bit OS is the memory requirement of certain games, as well as the increase of frame buffer in GPU that certainly need more than 4GB addressing. I say, bring it on crysis alike games and we'll see more and more people going 64.

smarteyeball said:

It is

thanks mate, now i know. might upgrade one day. perhaps i can start checking up on the status of the apps i rely on the most, then when windows 7 goes retail, i can get the 64-bit...

k56flex said:

the hold back of 64bit adaption is of course the relying on 32bit software compatibility. Microsoft just play it safe i think to release two version. Another thing that pushing the need of 64bit OS is the memory requirement of certain games, as well as the increase of frame buffer in GPU that certainly need more than 4GB addressing. I say, bring it on crysis alike games and we'll see more and more people going 64.

Windows XP could run 16bit apps and it was 32bit, Vista 64 can run 32bit apps. So this means you dont need a 32bit edition to use 32bit apps. The default Internet explorer in Windows 7 and vista is 32bit!

If you have 64bit you can see what is 32bit by looking in task manager and the process with have a * (star) next to the name.

I have even installed 32bit drivers into my vista to make some older hardware work, and it did work... so again. Why bother with 32bit edition??

kye3k1 said:

Windows XP could run 16bit apps and it was 32bit, Vista 64 can run 32bit apps. So this means you dont need a 32bit edition to use 32bit apps. The default Internet explorer in Windows 7 and vista is 32bit!

If you have 64bit you can see what is 32bit by looking in task manager and the process with have a * (star) next to the name.

I have even installed 32bit drivers into my vista to make some older hardware work, and it did work... so again. Why bother with 32bit edition??

again, some works some didn't. I still havent seen native firefox (i knew the beta is around), IE 64 is buggy as hell, adobe just never bothered with 64 Flash plugins... etc.