In fact, if you’re a dedicated Firefox user, you may want to think twice before making the 64-bit switch. Windows users can get a 64-bit version of Internet Explorer, but if you use other popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Opera, then you’re going to have to go 32-bit. The most obvious example of a 64-bit Windows user living in a 32-bit world is online. If you’re not sure whether your favorite software will work on a 64-bit system, find out at Microsoft’s Windows 7 Compatibility Center. One example is Real Player, which only recently came out with a 64-bit compatible version–Real Player SP 1. During the Vista years, most Windows users were still using the 32-bit version of XP, so software designers remained focused on these customers and did not pay much attention to what was possible with 64-bit Vista systems. The 32-bit ProblemĮven though 64-bit Windows systems were first introduced with Windows XP and then given a real push under Windows Vista, parts of the computing world are still coming to grips with the 64-bit reality. For the average consumer, the most significant advantage this translates into is better graphics, since a 64-bit system can process more visual detail than a 32-bit machine can. Both versions of Windows look the same, it’s just a matter of how much data these systems can handle at once.Ī 64-bit system can handle more than 4GB of memory (the maximum for 32-bit), and can also process more pieces of data at once. The difference between 32- and 64-bit systems basically comes down to this: 64-bit systems can handle mo re RAM and more data. But software and hardware designers are still catching up, so even with your beefy hardware and shiny new operating system, you might end up having a 32-bit computing experience anyway. You might want to get the 64-bit ve Illustration: Randy Lyhusrsion so you can load up on RAM or just to get a jump on the future of home computing. Just as with Windows Vista, one of the big questions you face when going to pick up a new computer is whether to install the 32- or 64-bit version of Windows 7.
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