Offer 64-bit Versions of Windows Vista

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Offer 64-bit Versions of Windows Vista

470 points posted to XPS products by jefisher Jan 14

I have been searching for a new laptop and would like to future-resist the purchase and take full advantage of the 4GB RAM that I would like to include, however the only versions of ANY OS that Dell supports is 32-bit only. Dell needs to offer up the 64-bit versions so that 1/2 the warrenty is not voided when I load the 64-bit version from Microsoft using the same licence (which yes is valid). If MS can offer up these disks, why cant Dell? Support 64-bit Computing now 90% of the computers sold at Dell.com can support it.

helmecj01 Jan 14	All Dell computer should offer 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows XP
jmxz Jan 14	My guess is that Microsoft pays Dell more to take a 32-bit version -- because that customer is practically a guaranteed "upgrade revenue generator" for Microsoft down the road. I wouldn't even be surprised if Microsoft pays Dell a percentage of people who upgrade from the 32-bit-basic to the 64-bit-ultimtates after they learn that (unlike NT4.0 and Win2000) 32-bitVista can't access the 4GB Dell sold them. So if my hypothesis is right - I'm demoting because I think 32-bit-Vista is subsidizing the hardware making Dell Computers cheaper for everyone - or making the stock go up - both of which I support.
jefisher Jan 14	jmxz...take a look at the hardware specs themselves. 90% of the Intel chips that they are CURRENTLY supplying in the computers ARE 64bit capable already; they just cannot be taken advantage of because its only a 32-bit OS that is running on it. So your hypothosis is inncorrect, the only place your theory holds water is on the "low end-bargin" systems, and the users that buy that really arent interested in that like on the higher-end, business class models (IE> Latitude, XPS).
jmxz Jan 14	Seems that re-enforces my hypothesis. Microsoft wants people to pay for the retail-upgrade to the 64-bit version of the software. It's the same model as the crippleware-OEM-versions of WinDVD, MusicMatch, etc --- where the software vendor pays the OEM to take a reduced-functionality version and makes money on the upgrades later.
cr1530 Jan 14	I agree that 64 bit should be an option for initial purchase...of course the feature set would likely be different than the 32 bit feature set since there are still significant gaps in 64 bit hardware/software support...suspect that this is why it isn't offered...there would be endless whining over not having the same options in 64 bit as in 32 bit...not anyone here, of course :~) but for sure...check http://www.winsupersite.com/ for the some interesting reports on the current state of 64 bit...
cr1530 Jan 14	To be specific, see http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_1yr_x64.asp ... got to ask yourself if you can live with early adaptoritis...
jefisher Jan 15	I am running Windows Vista Ultimate x64 on an older Dell XPS 410 (after many RAM/Video Card/sound upgrades) and I have no issues running my 32-bit programs as well as the native 64-bit ones as well. I have experienced NOTHING but "server grade" reliability and stability, only having to reboot every "patch tuesday". Yes the drivers are a bit more stringent in the 64bit world, but thats why you have the stability you do. I just was mad that I had to go spend 400.00 on the full retail version (yes could have bought an OEM copy but I buyed into dells line of "buy it from us and we'll support it", which isnt true when it comes to buying retail copies of OS's) I bought the full retail because I wanted to go straight to 64bit, not upgrade to another 32bit environment. I'm glad I did it and I just wish dell would give me the option to choose 64 bit so I dont void my software warrenty when 64bit computing is coming faster than people realize.
jmxz Jan 15	@jefisher: 'but "server grade" reliability and stability, only having to reboot every "patch tuesday". ' LOLz!!!!!! I guess for some sorts of servers that's OK. Servers I see haven't been rebooted for 3+ years.
howlingmadhowie Jan 16	get an ubuntu laptop and install the server kernel by clicking on the correct button. problem solved.
dondimon Jan 16	I wouldn't wish Vista 64 on my worst enemy. I just gave up on my HP Pavillion notebook with Vista 64 and just purchased a new XPS1530 which I will install XP. Vista 64 is not supported out in the "real" world even a year after it's release. No Scanner support, NO ITUNES with ITouch support!, No Windows (Yes Microsoft) Home Server Support, No Microsoft Windows Live support - and I had to buy a new printer. When the thing went all blue-screen on me I gave up and threw the thing away.
jmxz Jan 16	@dondimon: ".... and I had to buy a new printer." Perhaps that's why hardware vendors like Dell love Microsoft. :-) Every time you upgrade Microsoft stuff (whether from Vista-32-bit to Vista-64-bit or Visual Basic 6 to Visual Basic .NET) you pretty much have compatibility issues that make you spend a whole lot more money.
jefisher Jan 16	@jmxz: "Servers I see haven't been rebooted for 3+years"; ok well they obviously have not had any updates installed on them (or are not MS, take your pick :) ) but i was using the reboot every patch tuesday simply illustrating that the system doesnt need to be "rebooted" weekly (or daily) as it was with previous MS versions and I have noticed in the 64bit market that it was signifigantly improved and the only reason for reboot now is software install or windows updates.
jefisher Jan 16	@dondimon: perhaps it was because it was an HP is why it was blue screening :) My install has been flawless on a dell, but i also dont use iTunes because im anti-apple {based on political stance by how they treated the iPhone and buggy software like Quicktime) and do not have any apple products or software to speak of, so you may be right. Also 64bit isnt ready for prime time yet, this is simply to get the option of initially ordering it so the software part of the warrenty does not get voided (and maybe in the future hardware warrenty by using an "unsuported" OS)
zanlok Feb 1	Mostly, I want RAM. Also, the processing speeds on the XP x64 systems I have tested have been impressive. Very smooth. Someday, I want to be able to use Vista with no apps ever using "virtual memory". it would be nice to play with using a RAM drive as the place to which and from where the OS loads and runs. then Vista could be quite extremely fast[er]!
jmxz Feb 1	@zanlok: 'Someday, I want to be able to use Vista with no apps ever using "virtual memory".' Curious why that's even a good idea? Many apps have pages of code and data which are only touched at application startup time. I would hope such pages get swapped out to virtual memory -- if nothing else to free up the memory to be used to cache disk pages of data files that are accessed more frequently. Regardless of the size of memory on machine - I'd want the least-frequently accessed memory to be pushed out to swap - and the most frequently accessed data files to be cached in the RAM that frees up.
zanlok Feb 1	That's exactly what Windows does, yes. As a developer, though, I'd like to think I manage that sort of thing responsibly within my applications. Games certainly do a masterful job at exactly that. Look at the new ID Tech 5 MegaTexture approach to level displays. You're still thinking in a world where the RAM is a very limited commodity. All I was saying is that it would be nice (once it is cheaper, of course) for the paradigm to shift into a different arena.
tad1214 Feb 11	Not sure if this has been mentioned, too much to read. Tom's hardware just did an article showing that 64 bit vista is pointless on 4 gb of ram. While you may gain an additional 512mb of ram, (3.5 to 4 gb) the additional memory foot print of the 64 bit system is approximately 512mb larger, putting you right back where you came from. Plus some headaches due to incompatibility. Once we hit the 8gb mark, I would like to see this.
zanlok Feb 12	If you are going 64-bit, then you should be doing so precisely to get over 4GB RAM.. like in a Precision. Other than that, stick to the 64-bit OS since there isn't an overriding concern (amid slight advantages and medium disadvantages) to be in that space.
howlingmadhowie Feb 13	i find it weird how some of my comments here keep getting deleted. any comments when i mention that people do actually pirate microsoft software get deleted, just like my last one on this forum. if only i could remember what i wrote... it would be interesting to know what could possibly have annoyed the admins that much that they deleted it, if only because i don't think it was particularly memorable.
zanlok Feb 14	maybe because it was deemed off-topic? or maybe the database is just glitching out?

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