What’s stopping you from going x64?

Mike Halsey | Jul 27, 2009 | Comments

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Given the responses to my recent article 32 or 64 bit, what’s your preference? Windows7News readers clearly like the benefits of having a 64 bit operating system.  The additional computing power, the additional security and obviously the benefits of breaking the 4Gb memory barrier.  So what could still stop you from going 64 bit?

There’s no doubt that 64 bit is better but the problems standing against people who want to upgrade include…

  • Driver support – Less of an issue for newer hardware, but some hardware vendors still don’t have 64-bit driver support for their products and, sadly, many people only find this out after they’ve installed a 64-bit OS.
  • Firewall support – There is still no free stand-alone firewall that runs on a 64-bit version of Windows.  Why?  Currently if you want anything other than the standard Windows firewall these companies will force you to buy their not-really-worth-the-money security suites.
  • Software support – Apple were late to come to market with a 64-bit version of iTunes and they’re not alone.  There’s still a lot of software that won’t run on a 64-bit OS.

It isn’t much but frankly, it’s enough to stop an awful lot of people and it can be truly annoying.  Let me give you an example of the lack of software support I mentioned earlier.  If you want to run the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer, and why wouldn’t you for better stability and security, and you pay a visit to YouTube, or any other website running on Adobe Flash, you’ll receive a message saying that there’s STILL no 64-bit version of the Flash player.  That’s just ridiculous!

I agree with everybody, and it very nearly was everybody, who said that they thought 64-bit was right for them and I only use the 64-bit version of Windows 7.  I also believe there should be no 32-bit version of Windows 7 at all, then maybe we wouldn’t have these problems.  However there are obviously still many barriers and hurdles to overcome before we can all be comfortable making the switch.

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About the Author: The author of the new Windows 7 Power Users Guide, a how-to guide for non-technical Windows users on how to get the best out of Microsoft's new operating system, with step-by-step and quick guides. You can follow Mike on Twitter or on his own website The Long Climb

  • What’s stopping you from going x64? http://is.gd/1Ov1y


    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • What’s stopping you from going x64?: Given the responses to my recent article 32 or 64 bit, what̵.. http://bit.ly/wkDrO

    #windows 7


    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • What’s stopping you from going x64?: Given the responses to my recent article 32 or 64 bit, what’s your pr.. http://bit.ly/wkDrO


    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • v12xke
    Just a small correction... Comodo offers a free x64 software firewall. I don't use it, but they have supported 64-bit for some time.
  • I think a x64 system is less vulnerable to begin with! But yeah you will still want to have some security I guess!
    .-= Windows7full´s last blog ..Windows Mobile 6.5 Screenshots =-.
  • Yeah, there is a reason that MSFT didn't go just x64. Because of companies like adobe and HP and may others that refuse to properly support x64 versions of *any* OS.

    So the choice basically was, screw over a lot of people for a while and hope that companies decide to not be assholes and actually release x64 drivers or bite the bullet and release x86.

    And I've personally gone completely x64. The only apps that don't have proper x64 support that I use is flash. Curse you adobe!
  • Essentia
    Yes, there are firewalls that run on x64, that's a false argument. Except for commodo, there's also Agnitum.
    All 32-bit software runs on x64. This is just a bogus answer. Sure, there are some things like lacking 64-bit codecs, flash and stuff, but if you use 32-bit software in the first place, you won't run into those problems. 32-bit software works just as well as 64-bit software. Just because we have a 64-bit system doesn't mean we can't use 32-bit software. So essentially, it's a start. It doesn't benefit us, but it WORKS.
    Hardware problems is the biggest problem that I know of. This is what stops people from using x64. I have had no problems myself, though, but mostly I just don't buy computers from computer manufacturers who still just stuff a 32-bit OS into their computers instead of fixing everything to make sure it works with 64-bit. Morons.
  • Most of the reasons in the article are simply not true. Drivers are the only concern, but mostly with older hardware. All (or at least 99.9%) 32bit programs run on 64bit Windows including iTunes. In the past 4 years I have been using XP 64bit and now Vista 64bit I have found 2-3 32bit programs that failed to run. Avira offers (for more than a year now) 64bit FREE antivirus software. And Flash problem is non existent, because no one is using 64bit IE7/8, all other browsers are 32bit and Flash works just fine.
  • I found driver support to be realy crap on older hardware which is fair enough but then as you mention 64bit versions of software not not much of it about, 32bit chrome sucks, randomly crashes same with firefox so i've gone back to 32bit 7 my media centers will be running 64bit as i plan to chuck in 8gb of ram
  • Absolutely agreed. Browsers crash and little software support.

    I'm sticking with 32 bit till vendors get their act together.

    Onuora
    window7update.com
    .-= Onuora Amobi´s last blog ..Jul 27, Windows explorer bug =-.
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