Windows 8 x64 only?

[DarkNovaGamer]

Surely it's all about the driver and application support. The 64-bit OS has been around for years yet how many apps natively support 64-bit? Not even the latest version of Office (2007) has a 64-bit version. I think that while a change is necessary it takes more than just Microsoft to embrace it and developers don't seem that keen at the moment.

Office 2007 is also, what? 3 years old? (lol) Office 2010 will have a 64-bit version.

 

[whs]

But Office 2007 works at least on Win7 64bit. Some other programs don't.

 

[dinesh]

if win8 would be x64 only, then a lot of free programs which has only 32bit version will be lost.

 

[Dave76]

Office 2007 is also, what? 3 years old? (lol) Office 2010 will have a 64-bit version.

Yep, Office 2010 does have 64-bit version, I've been using the beta since it came out on TechNet. It's great.

if win8 would be x64 only, then a lot of free programs which has only 32bit version will be lost.

I'd bet a lot more free 64-bit programs will be coming out this year.
This is one of the reasons the 64-bit rumors (?) are leaked, giving all the software companies a heads up.

 

[Zen00]

Actually Paul Thurrott is in agreement, that a 64-bit only version of Windows 8 would be good.

 

[dinesh]

Actually Paul Thurrott is in agreement, that a 64-bit only version of Windows 8 would be good.

He is a unique guy.

 

[Zen00]

The main thing is, there is no really inherent benefit of x64 other than the RAM issue that makes 64-bit only a obvious upgrade.

Though with virtually every PC being sold today (if you're going to spend more than $550) being sold with 4gb of RAM, it is a most likely scenario that x64 only versions will be coming along soon, as x32 will be obsolete.

 

[whs]

The main thing is, there is no really inherent benefit of x64 other than the RAM issue that makes 64-bit only a obvious upgrade.

Though with virtually every PC being sold today (if you're going to spend more than $550) being sold with 4gb of RAM, it is a most likely scenario that x64 only versions will be coming along soon, as x32 will be obsolete.

Very true. I just bought a $500 Gateway laptop and it came with 4GB and 64bit. I was not amused because I would have preferred a 32bit with 3GBs. But that species seems to have died out.

 

[moonbeem122]

Hey Y'all,
I have a problem with my Internet Explorer 8, when I try to open anoth tab by center clicking or by right clicking, a new tab pops up but it will NOT connect. also whenever I click on a link that opens a new window it won't do anything...that really makes life difficult
Any help would be GREATLY appriciated!!!!!
moonbeem122

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello moonbean, You may get better help posting at our sister sites sevenforums.com or vistax64.com. Have you tried resetting IE? Internet Explorer - Reset - Windows 7 Forums

 

[richc46]

To follow up on Jonathans good advice, here is the link for 7

Windows 7 Forums

Here is the link for Vista

Vista Forums

 

[giantsteen]

Some Windows 8 updates (not downloads) were posted on BetaArchive, stating to be x86 and x64. Seems to be that it'll be x86 after all?

 

[Crispy]

I think its about time to move on from 32bit.

 

[Fayla]

'Dinosaur' computer's will always be around. I bet there will be people trying to install Windows 8 on a P4 with 256MB RAM and 20GB hard drive (or something like that.) Well, I hope that Windows 8 either doesn't support 32 bit or is the last OS by Microsoft to support it.

True, if anything Windows 8 will be the last 32 bit. By the time 9 shows up, maybe six years from now, everyone will have at least a 64 bit capable processor, if not starting to move to 128 bit.

 

[vrosa]

I guess that a Pentium 4 with 1GB would be enough for a probable 32-bit version of Win8.

 

[z3r010]

I would hope that they don't make the Vista cock up and give the minimum spec too little ram!!

Eight IMHO should have a minimum of 2GB ram so the user experience isn't bad for the low end

 

[Gilly]

I would hope that they don't make the Vista cock up and give the minimum spec too little ram!!

Eight IMHO should have a minimum of 2GB ram so the user experience isn't bad for the low end

Yeah definitely

I was a early adopter of Vista & without giving it much thought I bought a system with only 1GB RAM, such a terrible experience which I don't wish to repeat again.

 

[z3r010]

Before the vista release there were some very strong voices that the minimum spec was for too low, but they were not listened to, with W7 they seemed to learn that lesson and I hope w8 is the same.

 

[Brink]

With as cheap as RAM is these days. I would like to see them bump it up to 4GB RAM min for W8 to avoid having any performance issues from lack of memory.

 

[ie9]

With as cheap as RAM is these days. I would like to see them bump it up to 4GB RAM min for W8 to avoid having any performance issues from lack of memory.

Thus forcing x64?