Vista 32 bit or 64 bit

[Ryan]

Hello, I'm wondering weather I should purchase the 32 bit version or the 64
bit version. I dont' have a new computer but will be getting an intel core 2
duo so it'll be 64 bit, but if I buy the 32 bit version is there a free
upgrade to the 64 bit later. are there lots of drivers for the 64 bit?
obviously 64 bit has many more bonus' but i'm just wondering if it has issues
like the xp version did?

also is it worth getting the most expensive home version?

Thanks
Ryan

 

[Don]

Hello, I'm wondering weather I should purchase the 32 bit version or the
64
bit version. I dont' have a new computer but will be getting an intel
core 2
duo so it'll be 64 bit, but if I buy the 32 bit version is there a free
upgrade to the 64 bit later. are there lots of drivers for the 64 bit?
obviously 64 bit has many more bonus' but i'm just wondering if it has
issues
like the xp version did?

also is it worth getting the most expensive home version?

Thanks
Ryan

I have Vista Ultimate 64 bit, and love it. I set it up, in a dual boot
environment, with XP Pro 32 bit, and now find myself rarely booting into XP
Pro. Only to use a couple of freeware applications that won't run in 64 bit
Vista.

Main thing is, first make sure there are 64 bit Vista drivers, available for
all your peripherals, like printer, scanner, video card, sound card, etc.
Things you use and will want to continue to use. Then check to make sure
your main programs you run, that you will want to continue to run, will run
in Vista 64 bit. Most will, but some older ones may not.

If you are satisfied with the above, no real reason not to go with 64 bit,
as undoubtedly that is the future. I am frankly surprised the move to 64 bit
has not happened sooner, but with Vista 64 bit seems to be becoming more
popular.

Understand, it is not going to make your 32 bit programs fly, matter of fact
you probably will see no difference in them. The OS may be a little
snappier, and as more programs are written to take advantage of 64 bit ,
you'll be set for them.
Plus, if it will make use of 4gb or more of ram, whereas a 32 bit OS will
not.


Hope this helps,

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The only really benefit of a 64-bit operating system occurs
when you also install programs written for 64-bit. Since
there are very few of these programs available, I would
suggest going with the 32-bit version of Windows Vista.

64-bit explained:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows System & Performance

---------------------------------------------------------------

:

Hello, I'm wondering weather I should purchase the 32 bit version or the 64
bit version. I dont' have a new computer but will be getting an intel core 2
duo so it'll be 64 bit, but if I buy the 32 bit version is there a free
upgrade to the 64 bit later. are there lots of drivers for the 64 bit?
obviously 64 bit has many more bonus' but i'm just wondering if it has issues
like the xp version did?

also is it worth getting the most expensive home version?

Thanks
Ryan

 

[Sam]

I would suggest 64-bit. Besides, you'll just have to upgrade later when
everything is made for 64-bit.

 

[Bob Knowlden]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx

The 64 bit version is included with the retail version of Vista Ultimate. If
you buy a lesser version, you can order a DVD from Microsoft as above. I did
that; the charge was a relatively nominal $10. You can use your product key
with either 32 or 64 bit versions (but only one installation should be
activated). It may be legal to get a copy of the 64 bit install disk from a
chum, for use with your product key. (The DVD isn't copy protected; I always
make and use a back-up copy.)

I wouldn't recommend getting Vista Home Basic. It appears to be a stripped
version intended for machines that are too low spec to run the full versions
of Vista properly.

As regards drivers, I waited for Vista until drivers were available for all
of my peripherals.

So far, the only paid upgrade that I was forced to was for Photoshop. CS2
didn't work properly under V. 64. It kept being unable to see the installed
printer drivers (the printer drivers worked in every other application). CS3
works fine. I mostly blame Adobe for choosing to not release a Vista patch
for CS2.

V. 64 also does not permit 16 bit software to run. (Some 32 bit software
uses a 16 bit installer.) That makes Vista unable to run some older
software.

Note that the 64 bit version cannot be installed over a 32 bit OS as an
upgrade.

There may be little point in running 64 bit unless you need to install more
than 4 GB of RAM.


Return address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

 

[Sam]

The "not being able to run 16-bit" is mostly just FUD.
You can easily use http://dosbox.com/ to run 16-bit.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hello, I'm wondering weather I should purchase the 32 bit version or the 64
bit version. I dont' have a new computer but will be getting an intel core 2
duo so it'll be 64 bit, but if I buy the 32 bit version is there a free
upgrade to the 64 bit later. are there lots of drivers for the 64 bit?
obviously 64 bit has many more bonus' but i'm just wondering if it has issues
like the xp version did?

There are two (potential) benefits to the 64-bit version:

1. It will give improved performance if you run 64-bit applications.

2. It will let you use more than 4GB of RAM.

Since there are very few 64-bit applications yet, and very few people
need, or can make effective use of, more than 4GB of RAM, for most
people, there's really no benefit at all.

There are also two (potential) disadvantages to the 64-bit version:

1. You may not be able to get 64-bit drivers for all your hardware,
and that may mean, for example, that you'd have to buy a new printer
or scanner.

2. A very few programs (especially utilities) may not run.

So what should you do? My recommendation is to look at the
disadvantages closely. If you can get all the drivers you need, and
all your important programs will run, install the 64 version,
otherwise install the 32-bit version. You'll probably see little or no
benefit from the 64-bit version, but you'll have a platform for the
future and will start seeing advantages as you acquire newer 64-bit
software in the future.

And there is no upgrade path from the 32-bit version to the 64-bit
one; if you install the 32-bit version now, a clean installation of
the 64-bit version will be required if you want it in the future.

also is it worth getting the most expensive home version?

Home Premium as opposed to Home Basic? Yes, I recommend Home Premium.