64 bit - Ajarn Forum

buddahas · 7th May 2008, 03:10

I have just discovered that my ancient single core laptop is 64 bit, however, I noticed that in this day and age most computers still come preloaded with 32 XP's and Vistas. So, is anyone running native 64bit apps and are they any better? I know major apps like Photoshop are still not 64 bit.

How is mac on that front?

defender · 7th May 2008, 04:55

If you fancy giving it a whirl there is an Ubuntu 64-bit edition .....

Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu

New version - 8.04 Hardy Heron looks sweet.

buddahas · 7th May 2008, 05:02

I tried ubuntu before and I liked it except it does not recognize my internal card reader, ATI drivers kinda sucked (no Beryl) and most music apps don't work with it.

I'll try it out, anyway. Thank you.

defender · 7th May 2008, 05:36

Aaah yeah .... ATI will be a pain in the arse .... usually workarounds available, but I don't know if I'd bother.

Beryl's gone and replaced by Compiz Fusion, which looks good I suppose, but I don't use it.

Of course you mean to say Windows music apps don't work ..... there are millions of free, open-source music apps that do and most piss on what's available for Windows IME.

mugwump · 7th May 2008, 08:31

I loaded up the 64 bit version of Windows XP for my old AMD64 Athlon PC. It was still far too beta and almost nothing worked properly. Lots of slow-downs, conflicts, uneven performances and just a generally frustrating experience. It's not worth it at this time.

Plan B · 8th May 2008, 15:12

I'm using Ubuntu & Windows XP 64bit.

As you said some applications aren't out in 64bit or even run in 64 bit. Find out before hand if anything you rely on will work or not. You might be able to find equivalent programs. I replaced Zone alarm with Agnitum firewall (which was a step up in my opinion) and other programs I like : Nod32 & Tuneup, both work in 64bit.

Only thing I wasn't pleased with was that MusicMatch jukebox didn't work on XP.

Amarok on Ubuntu is very similar though.

@defender Is the 8.04 worth the trouble of downloading and reinstalling? I've got mine working pretty much how I like it now.

theanimaster · 8th May 2008, 23:17

Mac OS X has been 64 bit since Leopard. But as for Photoshop CS 3:

AppleInsider | Adobe passes on 64-bit code in Photoshop CS3

No can do.

Even worse, for CS 4:

No 64-bit Photoshop for Mac users: News - Software - ZDNet Australia

Quite pissed off at Apple for this.

buddahas · 8th May 2008, 23:32

^ Yes, but I read CS4 will be 64bit on windows only while Mac will get a shaft. I don't care about Photoshop, it was just an example, but I was wondering why more companies are not supporting 64 bit when it's been out for a while. Actually, I don't understand a lot about Microprocessors since 486DX days, but it seems to me like we are getting a half ass product since most manufacturers are installing 32 OS on 64 bit machines.