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Actually, the REAL barrier is the hardware drivers
"The real barrier to wider adoption of 64-bit technology isn't hardware or the OS. It's the lack of compelling software."

You're right that compelling x64 software is rare for most consumer applications but I don't see that as too big a problem so long as Windows x64 can run 32 and 64 bit applications side by side with no performance impact. But the REAL barrier is the universal hardware driver support. Even if there is 90% hardware driver support for every piece of hardware under the sun for Windows x64, no PC maker in their right mind would preload x64 in to their PC even if that PC fully supported x64. The first time that customer decides to plug in a printer or a scanner or a digital camera that didn't have x64 drivers would scream bloody murder and Tech support phones would ring off the hook with problems that can't be solved. This fact will guarantee that the vast majority of PCs sold will not be x64 for the next few years.

Servers are different not because there is a compelling reason to be running 64 bit applications for most work loads. The difference is that you don't need to worry about a ton of different hardware accessories on a server. Whatever is sold with that server is pretty much the hardware that will need to be supported and any all the HBA adapters will have x64 driver support.
Posted by: georgeou   Posted on: 11/25/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Actually, the REAL barrier is the hardware drivers  georgeou | 11/25/06
Windows needs more generic drivers  Michael Kelly | 11/25/06
Advantage my ass  Master Tech | 11/25/06
Drivers I don't need no stinkin drivers!  Hrothgar - PCLinuxOS User | 11/25/06
Big deal that is how Windows has always been  Master Tech | 11/25/06
Actually I have tried both  Michael Kelly | 11/26/06
Ridiculous!  Master Tech | 11/27/06
Well, this is just OS evolution!  mustang_z | 11/27/06
Wuss!!  toadlife | 11/27/06
Hello...  Graham Fluet | 12/29/06
He has a point  bportlock | 11/25/06
How old is the Linux Build vs the Windows Build?  Master Tech | 11/25/06
Nice attempt to dodge the fact  Linux User 147560 | 11/27/06
In your dreams  ShadeTree | 11/27/06
Nice rebuttal Shadey ~  nomorems | 11/27/06
Re: In your dreams  Michael Kelly | 11/27/06
What is a "generic driver for Linux"?  Zogg | 11/27/06
The Linux build in question ...  bportlock | 11/27/06
How old is the Linux build vs the Windows version?  Master Tech | 11/25/06
XP-SP2 is a lot younger than 5 years old.  Zogg | 11/27/06
Microsoft does not upgrade the in the box drivers ...  ShadeTree | 11/27/06
Really? What on Earth are the service packs for then???  Zogg | 11/27/06
Service Packs are collection of bug fixes ....  ShadeTree | 11/27/06
But as you say, SP2 was an exception.  Zogg | 11/27/06
Service Pack 2 did not include drivers  ShadeTree | 11/28/06
Then I obviously need to repeat my "original contention"  Zogg | 11/28/06
SPs contain updated drivers  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 11/28/06
Thanks for settling that, Ed. (NT)  Zogg | 11/29/06
"Have you even used Windows?"  Ole Man | 12/02/06
i Believe that  Graham Fluet | 12/29/06
That's kind of my problem  Badgered | 11/27/06
I agree 100%  Master Tech | 11/25/06
But why should I switch?  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 11/26/06
I have to agree  Cayble | 11/26/06
The Morbidly Obese Client  Harry Bardal | 11/26/06
I think you missed my point  georgeou | 11/26/06
Who says you'd do the switching?  dave.leigh@... | 11/26/06
It's mainly the hardware accessory driver issues  georgeou | 11/26/06
That's what I meant by "drivers"  dave.leigh@... | 11/26/06
PC OEMs will be offering the 64 bit ...  ShadeTree | 11/27/06
Au contraire!  bportlock | 11/27/06
If you don't want to watch HD content ...  ShadeTree | 11/27/06
I watch HD stuff..  bportlock | 11/27/06
Why keep pushing that myth?  georgeou | 11/27/06
I stand corrected  ShadeTree | 11/28/06
Like the FCC said, it's your IP not your hardware  georgeou | 11/28/06
That would explain how the Mac OS X Leopard will be x64  Graham Fluet | 12/29/06
George is right on this one.  ShadeTree | 11/27/06
What? I guess the pipeline should be small!  mustang_z | 11/27/06
I wish Adobe and Autodesk has 64 bit versions of their products  don_the_newbie | 11/27/06
George is Right  D. T. Schmitz | 11/26/06
I'll disagree  Yagotta B. Kidding | 11/27/06
Of course you will!  mustang_z | 11/27/06
Neither 1 or 2 is accurate for Vista.  ShadeTree | 11/27/06
Good ol' Linux Users, eh?  Zogg | 11/27/06
Chicken or egg?  Letophoro | 11/27/06
What you don't use the Briefcase? (Filesync)  Master Tech | 11/25/06
I use it all the time for backup  georgeou | 11/26/06
Are you Ed?  nomorems | 11/27/06
So what exactly did you contribute?  ShadeTree | 11/27/06
I thought AMD said 64bits was ready in 2003?  Prognosticator | 11/26/06
Good point  georgeou | 11/26/06
A few points  Robert Crocker | 11/27/06
Wait for Core 2 Duo? On what planet?  georgeou | 11/27/06
One of our customers....  bportlock | 11/27/06
Backup has NOTHING to do with 64 bit  georgeou | 11/27/06
Processor power...  bportlock | 11/28/06
The issue is 32 versus 64 bits. Don't change the subject to a 20 y-old PC  georgeou | 11/28/06
Anecdotal evidence has its uses....  bportlock | 11/28/06
Bottom line is that you're wrong to attribute backup speed to 32 or 64 bit  georgeou | 11/28/06
I had a 64-bit desktop machine in 1995...  jinko | 11/27/06
I had a Nintendo that was x64  Graham Fluet | 12/29/06
And Intel had 32 bit in 1986; transitioned in 1995  Bill Ward | 11/28/06
Blame Microsoft  linux for me | 11/30/06
Irony is..  Linux User 147560 | 11/27/06
Don't forget multimedia  Michael Kelly | 11/27/06
Yeah, you're correct on that account  Linux User 147560 | 11/27/06
Good point, but  Michael Kelly | 11/27/06
Yes, if I'm correct  Graham Fluet | 12/29/06
INTEL'S what's holding it up.  Feldwebel Wolfenstool | 11/27/06
Wait until more people hit the 4 GB barrier.  CobraA1 | 11/27/06
Sorry, that's just...  DCMann | 11/27/06
I am so NOT going to go back to paging.  CobraA1 | 11/27/06
Don't think either is an Issue...  jpr75_z | 11/27/06
drivers/software  csmith@... | 11/27/06
Try Foldershare -- free syncing - just works  ricochet_z | 11/27/06
Lots of free non-Microsoft windows software that syncs:  nomorems | 11/27/06
I use AllwaySync  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 11/27/06
32 Bit FileSync  Codedigital | 11/27/06
That's what it says, but...  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 11/27/06
64 bit  p71@... | 11/27/06
...who needs a 64-bit system?  roger.leininger@... | 11/27/06
give it time  CobraA1 | 11/27/06
I do.  Species8472 | 11/27/06
but...  redtrain65 | 11/28/06
Who Needs A 235mph Race Car?  Ole Man | 11/27/06
235mph race car & the $100 pc  s.moscovita@... | 11/28/06
Video Editing Workstation?  jollyrgr3@... | 11/27/06
You must not have looked very hard  toadlife | 11/27/06
odd...  richvball44 | 11/28/06
?!? WTF?  Graham Fluet | 12/29/06
Question from an Apple idiot...  ladyirol | 11/28/06
Not until next year  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 11/28/06
Why is'nt it a problem for OSX to support 32-bit hardware but Vista does't?  Graham Fluet | 12/29/06
64 Bit  KKnutsson | 11/29/06
Um, yeah  Ed Bott ZDNet Moderator | 11/29/06
using suitcase  farren.j@... | 11/30/06

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