Vista x64 questions

[Tremo]

Yo guys, please hold my hand here, I'm n00b to Vista, and 64 bit machines and OS in general, but I'm familiar with Win2k, and currently run an Athlon XP box.

I'm getting a new HP Pavilion notebook with a Turion 64 x2 CPU, and 2 gigs of ram. 64 bit dual core CPU, no?

HP is putting on Windoze Vista Business OS. I read that it comes in both a 32 bit and a 64 bit version. Since the Turion is a 64 bit chip, I wonder which version they are installing? Anyone care to guess or know? I think Micro$oft is providinig upgrades from the 32 bit to the 64 bit reasonably inexpensive if your machine supports it.

I guess the question is, will the 64 bit version of Vista be compatible with 32 bit applications like Office 2003? Are there any speed/performance/whatever advantages to running the 64 bit version on my laptop versus the 32 bit?

TIA for any insights and advice.

[BipolarBill]

HP wouldn't dare put x64 on it. Even if they did, all of your applications will run in 32-bit mode.

The 64-bit version of Windows is a free upgrade. Even so, almost no one uses it unless they have to.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Driver support for x64 was pretty much terrible under Windows XP, and it doesnt look like it will be getting any better with Vista x64 anytime soon.

Also add into the mix that the x64 version of Vista is incompatible with 16-Bit applications (rare these days, but you probably will have one or two lying about somewhere), and you'll see why x64 Windows has thus far failed to take off.

Personally id reassess x64 in about 12months time and see how the land lies then.

--Jakk:t

[pandaz3]

I am a supporter of Win XP X64, I run it with a Beta SP2, runs great for me, most applications are in 32 bit mode, but they work fine. I use office 2000 no problems. drivers for some legacy stuff are now in the generic MS drivers

[Sterling_Aug]

I have two systems that are running Windows X64. It took a lot of looking around, but all of the devices drivers are working fine including the D-Link wireless card.

X64 support is a little bit better than Vista is right now, but they are getting better all the time.