64-bit Windows Vista

In this article, we will examine the pros and cons of migrating to Microsoft’s 64-bit Operating System. Some of the rumors and myths going around about 64-bit are scary; these myths are slowing the migration of many users to the 64-bit playground. Why do we all have 64-bit processors these days that aren’t being put to use? Read more to see my surprising conclusion.

When I began preparing my Windows Vista review one year ago this month, I wasn't sure how it was all going to turn out. But after looking at Vista with what I hoped were fresh eyes, I discovered that the new OS was quite good in fact; not perfect, no, but a dramatic and worthy upgrade for Windows XP users. I still like Vista quite a bit, and I could never return to XP, which seems antiquated and slightly dysfunctional to me now.

Kai Axford was beating me up the other day on my lack of current games for my PC.  As I indicated to him and others, I was waiting to grab Valve Software's upcoming release of Half Life Orange Box.  Well, it's now out and I purchased a copy last night while picking up the HD-DVD version of Transformers.

Four Gigabytes is a lot of RAM for a workstation or gaming machine, but the industry has pretty much forced us into using this much (especially if you're a heavy user of Virtual PC). Most applications today are 32-bit and only address 2GB of RAM at a time (like Photoshop), but we need more memory for all the other running goodies that are memory-starved. Even though Vista runs on 1GB of RAM, 2GB is alot better, and 4GB will unleash its potential.

This is it, the moment in excess of 60 million Vista users have been waiting for is here. The first fully-fledged Beta version of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is live and available for download. At the end of august, Nick White, Product Manager on the Vista launch team, and Jon DeVaan, senior vice president of the Windows Core Operating System division, revealed that the first Beta of Vista SP1 was planned a few weeks into September 2007.

Today Microsoft is releasing the Beta of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 which was announced by Nick White few weeks ago. I'd like to take the opportunity to share my very own experiences with Windows Vista SP1 Beta running on several PCs of my own. I decided to test SP1 on a variety of hardware which allows me to test a variety of scenarios:

• Desktop PC (Custom-made) running Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit.
• Laptop (HP tx1000) running Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit.

Microsoft seems to be in need of some education related to its Windows Update practices and Symantec seems more than happy to oblige it. The issue is related to the 64-bit editions of Windows Vista and the mandatory driver signing mitigation introduced by Microsoft in order to safeguard the operating system's core from unsigned code.

Windows Vista SP1 is an update to Windows Vista that addresses feedback from our customers. In addition to previously released updates, SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing specific reliability and performance issues, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards. SP1 also addresses some management, deployment, and support challenges.

I'm x64 and I'm not turning back.  Pay attention software developers, your x86 time is running out fast.  One of my applications didn't make the x64 cut.  We'll talk about application compatibility in a few minutes.

With its 64-bit editions of Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced mandatory digital signatures for kernel modules. Essentially, the Redmond company aimed at delivering superior security and stability of the operating system via a mechanism designed to closely manage the code deployed in the core of the 64-bit editions of Vista and Windows Server 2008, formerly codenamed Longhorn.

One of the core differences between 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista is of course how much system memory the two variants of Microsoft's latest operating systems can use. Users have to understand that Microsoft alone limited 32-bit Vista to a maximum of 4 GB of RAM while taking the high-end editions of 64-bit Vista up to 128 GB of RAM.

Microsoft's latest operating system comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors, but all the editions of Windows Vista have problems using a full 4 GB of RAM. Unlike Apple, which controls the entire hardware and software ecosystem, Microsoft doesn't have the luxury of scraping support for 32-bit platforms.

Now that Microsoft has set a release date for both the beta and final versions of Windows Vista Service Pack 1, the company is also offering a detailed look at what's being fixed and changed. One thing customers will not see is major changes to User Account Control, although Microsoft says it will reduce some pop-ups.

Microsoft needs to continually evolve the core of 64-bit editions of Windows Vista. This is the perspective offered by security company Symantec, through the voice of Ollie Whitehouse, Security Response Researcher. The view came in the light of the most recent events associated with the Kernel Patch Protection and mandatory Driver Signing technologies included into x64 Vista.

PLYMOUTH, MI (August 21, 2007) – Users looking to get the most out of Windows Vista™ can now get TweakVista at www.stardock.com/products/tweakvista. TweakVista is a comprehensive utility that enables users to modify a multitude of hidden or hard to access system settings to maximize the performance and reliability of Microsoft® Windows Vista. The program, standalone for $19.95 or part of Object Desktop for $49.95, has been designed to allow both casual, non-technical users to safely use it as well as contain a host of advanced features for power users.