(It's about time IMO that Ms stopped developing the x-86 version now -- I can't think of ANY machines - even humble netbooks - remember those - available in the last 3 years or so that have been unable to run x-64 software. There comes a point where maintaining legacy systems isn't worth the expense - especially with decent hardware now there isn't any problem in running virtual machines or perhaps even creating as a follow on to Windows 7's XP mode a Windows 8 32 bit mode VM).
Application 32 bit software such as Office will run fine on 64 bit systems.
Cheers
jimbo
I absolutely don't agree with this. Not every field upgrades as often as companies in the tech industry. I'm an engineer. Half of the engineering companies out there still use xp, fyi. There are programs that we use that haven't been upgraded since they came out. For instance, the computers in our lab that control the test machines are 20-some year old xp machines. They run just fine, so there's absolutely no plan to upgrade them any time soon.
Hi there
Again you've mis-read my post -- if your stuff runs fine on XP LEAVE IT ON XP. I was suggesting Ms doesn't need to create NEW 32 bit OS'es -- I've a load of expensive engineering stuff that runs just fine on XP and will never be upgraded --original manufacturers long gone out of business.
I don't understand why you have an issue with NEW OS'es being only 64 bit - especially if your legacy hardware runs just fine on its current system -- and with a lot of Engineering type hardware it's usually very expensive to upgrade even if the original manufacturer is still in business so you will have to keep running it on the legacy systems anyway (XP) --although you can run these with decent success on modern machines in a VM.
Cheers
jimbo