I don't understand why desktop OS (like W7) still have a 32-bit option at all. But it really surprises me that 64-bit-only is something new for servers. Does someone really operate a professional server with less than 4 GB? I mean it is not WHS, it is an (expensive) professional server OS we are talking about here. Or am I missing something here?

Getting rid of 32-bit support is long overdue.

But I don't understand ditching Itanium support, especially since Intel keeps making them. Not sure what OS they will be using then...

There are a multitude of people that still use 32 bit hardware, so attempting to force them to discard what they have would simply cause them not to pay for updating to Windows 7. I'm supposing that is not the case for those who operate servers, so MS doesn't feel compelled to support something that may not be used much anyway.

seekermeister said:

There are a multitude of people that still use 32 bit hardware, so attempting to force them to discard what they have would simply cause them not to pay for updating to Windows 7. I'm supposing that is not the case for those who operate servers, so MS doesn't feel compelled to support something that may not be used much anyway.

But when was the last server CPU sold that didn't support 64-bit? I know my 4 year old laptop has a 32-bit CPU and I have W7 on it. So the home OS upgrade path is valid. But servers?

I'm not up to date on OS history, but XP 64 came out in 2005 or so. I assume server 64-bit OS came out way before 2000. No one who spends money on a new server OS still has that old hardware.

I'm not dismissing old hardware, but people that have old hardware typically don't spend money on an OS that costs more then the hardware is worth.

Edit: pparks1 post came at the same time... now I understand. Somehow the article made it look like 64-bit only on server OS would be something new. It seems has been 64-bit only for a while. Still a shame, that manufacturers switched to 64-bit so late.

At least MS is getting rid of 32-bit

Isn't this kinda old news?

Server 2008 R2 and Exchange 2010 are 64bit only anyway?

Good!

I know Microsoft is kind of stuck with big upgrades because to many people have old hardware but I think this is great.

Sure they might lose some business but they must keep doing this to keep up with the times. I am just surprised it is taking this long.