Did I do the wise thing? - 64 bit -> 32 bit

[Student]

I have no name computer built by a computer shop about a year ago
and installed oem xp.

I installed win 7 32 bit home premium edition OEM version a few months
later.

Prior to that I tried upgrade version of 64 bit (on xp) and noted the the
it took almost TWICE the hard disk space. I like compact installations.
I then decided to settle for 32 bit (The upgrade copy went to my daughters
vista computer)

A few weeks ago I bought a HP laptop and a good price which had 3 gigs
memory and windows 7 home premium 64 bit (HP 15.6" AMD Athlon II P320)

I reformatted the C partition and installed 32 OEM version.

I had all the important32 bit drivers before proceeding to do so.

I used the key from the label on the computer case (64 bit)

I could not activate on line but could do so with the Microsoft computer by entering
about 45 digits.

My 32 bit system is snappy and I am happy with it. I have remapped a couple of keys
with keyTweak http://webpages.charter.net/krumsick/

What is the point of 64 bit windows if you only have 3 gigs of memory?

FD

 

[Chuck]

What is the point of 64 bit windows if you only have 3 gigs of memory

In your case, and many others, none at this time.

Down the road, when 64 bit apps are the standard, and 32bit apps legacy,
it will make a difference.

Laptops were not really intended to mainly be a general purpose machine.
The owners live with serious trade-offs that are inherently involved
in what makes a laptop a laptop.

(And the flame war is likely to start again!)

 

[Stefan Patric]

I have no name computer built by a computer shop about a year ago and
installed oem xp.

[snip]

What is the point of 64 bit windows if you only have 3 gigs of memory?

For the average user? None. No advantage.


Stef

 

[Dave]

I have no name computer built by a computer shop about a year ago
and installed oem xp.

I installed win 7 32 bit home premium edition OEM version a few months
later.

Prior to that I tried upgrade version of 64 bit (on xp) and noted the the
it took almost TWICE the hard disk space. I like compact installations.
I then decided to settle for 32 bit (The upgrade copy went to my daughters
vista computer)

A few weeks ago I bought a HP laptop and a good price which had 3 gigs
memory and windows 7 home premium 64 bit (HP 15.6" AMD Athlon II P320)

I reformatted the C partition and installed 32 OEM version.

I had all the important32 bit drivers before proceeding to do so.

I used the key from the label on the computer case (64 bit)

I could not activate on line but could do so with the Microsoft computer
by entering
about 45 digits.

My 32 bit system is snappy and I am happy with it. I have remapped a
couple of keys
with keyTweak http://webpages.charter.net/krumsick/

What is the point of 64 bit windows if you only have 3 gigs of memory?

FD

I agree with Chuck and Stefan, right now there is not a lot of 64 bit stuff
and IE 64 bit is limited. Eventually there will be more software that will
utilize 64 bit and you should see a difference then. I have Photoshop 64 bit
and it is faster than 32 bit, but how much I don't know as I am not a
serious enough user to push it to it's limits, which I think most users
would be also.
I think the major difference is 64 bit can utilize 4 GB RAM, where 32 can't.
I have 64 bit on my desktop (8 GB RAM) and laptop (4 GB RAM), mulitask a
lot, and don't see any real difference in others 32 bit systems though.
Dave