I have a Windows VIsta question- ref 34 bit vs 64 bit

I am getting close to pulling the trigger on a new HP desktop and I am deciding between the two. Someone here, I forget who, made a very compelling case for the 64 bit system, because of the extra memory capabilities. My only concern is drivers. Has anyone found that there are less drivers available for the 64 bit system?

I'm really happy with my new mini desktop with 4GB RAM.

Less than $500 too.

and it's not get a mac... get more ram in that thing. at least 2G more.

I've heard 4GB is the sweet spot on 64-bit Vista.

I use XP at work and Mac OS 10.4 on my laptop, so I really dont know.

My computer came with 8GB.

I'm looking at building a 12GB system - $198 for all 12GB. :woohoo:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4364393&sku=O261-6100

In 1979, 16K of memory for an Apple II was $300.

In 1993 or so, I spent $300 to get 4MB.

Not long ago, I spent under $100 for 1GB.

That's $39 per GB!
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=ram&oe=utf-8&cid=18196838781780289341

4Gb Dual-channel PC6400 starting at under $50.

32-bit Vista has a 4GB limitation, of which almost 1GB of that isn't seen by OS (peripheral DMA mapping), 30% of it is in use just for itself. (Even on a 2GB system, Vista can gurgle at times... 4GB is its sweet spot. And on a 32-bit system, and because MS is STILL not bothering to use PAE (ugh), 32-bit users are stuck with 4GB of RAM, maximum. After the DMA issue and the space Vista chows down, you're left with something like 1.5GB. That's a joke, and what prompted me to go Vista64... where not every vendor had 64-bit support, but it's been growing...

Actually, a web search reveals some tests -- the 64-bit version doesn't use much more RAM than its 32-bit counterpart. And is faster too.

Trouble is, Vista is indolent bloat to begin with. Every technical detail; it's a dilettante, amateurish product that's just as overpriced too. :( (For something that's bloaty and is finicky, amongst how poorly it was developed, it's not worth its sticker price... or the 3rd party utilities that people shouldn't have to get to keep poorly written OS code under control...)

Having said all that, I still prefer Windows Mobile...

so what's your take on drivers?

I've heard from people who have used the Windows 7 RC that they still haven't fixed the L2 cache problem that Vista had - hopefully that will be fixed by the final version.

I don't know if I'd want that first release though. Even so, the first release of Windows 7 may be better than the latest release of Vista. :dilemma:

they are waiting until Windows 7 and then upgrading.

It is fast.

With 4Gb of RAM. Had to go to motherboard manufacturer website to get 64 bit drivers but no real problem outside of that. WordPerfect 11 didn't want to work on 64 but 12 does just fine.