Why 32bit?

I just dont get why there is a 32bit Windows 7 are there any 32bit PC's left?

Edit
Just noticed I didn't even get first post on my own forum!!

But think about it, by the time 7 is released everybody will be using 4gig or more of ram, and the people that aren't, well they really shouldn't be running Microsoft's latest OS.

I think there is more to it than just that - many testers out there are not going to put a testing OS on a production / mission critical machine. Until it is shown that Windows 7 plays well in a VM environment, I suspect that many people are going to polish off older machines to try out the new OS, to keep it from b0rking their system(s).

My old P4 ran Vista pretty well, so should have no real issues putting windows 7 on there for now....

d0od said:

i think it's a kind of "chicken and egg" dilemma.

people don't wan to go 64 bit because there aren't enough/favorite program's/drivers don't work on 64bit, and developers don't make any 64bit drivers because not enough people use it...

I used 64bit Vista even when i only had 1.5GB ram - mainly because i knew i was gonna get 4gb + at some point - which i now have! Also, i use AMD 64x2 so 64bit is gonna work better in theory.

I think Microsoft are aware of a lot of legacy PC's about the place and don't want to alienate them and thus reduce profits....

I haven't actually had any issues with Vista 64bit - only one or two very niché programmes don't work - everything else does!

Thats so true, Vista 64bit runs very well here minus a few selected programmers/apps refusing to update their software for 64bit anytime soon, minus that it runs damm better than 32bit

I still use 32bit quite often and I hope they dont remove patchguard or 64bit will end up being just like 32bit is now...

johngalt said:

I think there is more to it than just that - many testers out there are not going to put a testing OS on a production / mission critical machine. Until it is shown that Windows 7 plays well in a VM environment, I suspect that many people are going to polish off older machines to try out the new OS, to keep it from b0rking their system(s).

My old P4 ran Vista pretty well, so should have no real issues putting windows 7 on there for now....

lol Yeah, my old p4 used to run the first Longhorn alphas for "awhile" and I'm guessing my Core duo will be able to run Win7 for awhile too before getting considered part of the "minimum requirements"

Steven

I think computer sellers are a major part of the problem. My dad is currently looking for a new computer so i've been going round the local independant stores (i avoid pcworld etc at all costs!) getting prices etc and when i ask them if they offer 64 bit they are all saying yes they do but they wouldnt recommend anyone other than technicians get 64 bit due to the issues that may possibly arise. If these sellers don't push 64 bit then its gonna be slow to really enter the mainstream.

If you have updated hardware, 64bit capable, there are no "issues" with Vista 64bit.
To run Vista 32bit, if you really wanted it to hum, may have needed, in many cases, a little cash spent on better graphic capabilities and, possibly, more ram. 64bit was a slightly bigger step and more expensive - it would have required a look at your motherboard/CPU among other things. There we get into the area of buying a whole new computer
I have a computer which runs 32bit perfectly. Although it is "64bit capable" It struggles with 2gbs of Ram and an antiques ATI 9600 pro graphics card - but it works, I dual boot.
Like so many others (I'm a pensioner!) I do not have the budget, at the moment, to spend cash on the needed upgrade.
It should be pointed out, however, that the software (excluding drivers) is not a problem. I have 39 programs which I migrated from XP to Vista 32bit. I have never had a problem with them. Ditto, the same programs installed on the 64 bit version, in the x86 directory, and also run 100%.