32 bit Windows lifespan

[zemtex]

I don't know how much longer 32 bit windows will last. Ofcourse they will still make 32 bit but how many will really use it. I think that win32 will die for a few very simple reasons:

1: Ram is cheap
2: Once you have tried 6 GB of Ram, a user will never downgrade to 3 or 4 again

If you ever buy and want to try 6 GB of ram, why would anyone ever downgrade to 4 again and use win32. The very cheap ram today will probably kill win32 alot faster than expected. What is your opinion?
It is somewhat depressing, 32 bit were always "the big deal" for at least 30 years. It's strange and uncomfortable to move to 64 bit. Although I understand the technical benefits of the new architecture being
used, it is pretty nice with all the registers you can use and the dynamic usage.


EDIT: "Wrong forum, should have been in The Colosseum"

[hutch--]

Win7 64 bit does both fine. My i7 has 8 gig but it runs almost all 32 bit software fine so its no big deal. The main gain is 32 bit software written properly runs as far back as Win9x, Win2k and XP which makes it far more flexible. 64 bit is coming but it will be slow, lousy stack design tuned for badly written compilers, irksome security restrictions and high cost replacements for things that already run well in 32 bit will ensure that 64 bit will take a long time to get going. DOS and 16 bit Windows were old pigs with segmented architecture where Win32 was elegant, clean and simple, Win64 is a mess in comparison as it is a hybrid system.

Until you have a terabyte of ram and full long mode 64 bit addressing, it will remain a hotchpotch something like early Win95 OEM.

[Magnum]

I have 768 Mb of RAM with XP and a 32 Gb hard drive and am quite happy with it.

32 bit will be around for a very long while.

[Twister]

I'm sure 32-bit would still be used. It is just the fact that it wouldn't be as mainstream now. 8-bit is still used for appliances and the likes. I am thinking that 32-bit would follow the path of 8-bit and be used in other things besides personal computer.; something like children's toys. (those would be quite the powerful toys than we had) :lol

[dedndave]

64-bit is clumsy as hell
long live 32-bit code !!!

[zemtex]

Things are changing  :( It's not getting any better now that MS implemented PowerShell into windows 7. The old cmd will slowly vanish over time.

I try to understand powershell, it seem like a very powerful tool, no doubt about it. But I hate it that you can't go to fullscreen, the terminal itself is a pain. I honestly hope that someone will write a terminal-wrapper for powershell, perhaps using opengl or dx so that one can do commands in full screen.

If you've tried PS, you probably noticed that if you don't use aliases very much, it pretty much feels like writing a normal letter, the commands are so very long.

[carlos]

There are two words that mark the lifespan of Win32  "LEGACY APPS"  in 2004 long after win XP I was in charge on 16 bit MS DOS vertical application who was central to the operation of the maquiladora were I worked, it was a Clarion dartabase who collected information from dedicated terminals, amount of sewing teams production, ans workers worktime.  the Horizontal applications are upgraded every time the OS is upgraded, but vertical apps, tend to be kept "as it was" when first deployed, many small companies (and bigger ones) are reluctant to pay for a "upgrade" of the vertical apps, just because the Os changed, so I do not doubt than in 2027 just when Microsoft unveiled WIN 128 (or will it be WIN 256?) one of the main selling points of it will be the capability of running a 2005 implemented Win xp app

just remember, the first 32 bit commercial computer (a compaq) was introduced in 1986, and the first 32 bit os in 1995 nine years late (and it had 16 compatibility)

Carlos

[drizz]

And then there's that little thing called virtualization, so you can span what ever you want for as long as you want.

Run your 32bit app that emulates 8/16bit (something) under your 64 bit guest OS  on your 32bit host OS windows with 64bit CPU :dazzled:.

[zemtex]

compatibility gone mad. Computer architects these days, taken too many pills.  :toothy

What is lacking now, is that they mount a backward compatible coffee machine into the cpu. THEN everything would be fully compatible.  :lol
But as long as it doesn't compromise too much I guess I will just remain silent and watch the industry flush itself down the toilet.

[hutch--]

The only real difference between Windows and the list of dead ducks that have gone down the drain is backwards compatibility. If you have software that does the job, why buy another operating system that requires you to buy everything again ?

I own a mountain of software and much of it would not be done any better in 64 bit but it would cost an absolute fortune to replace it all. I only own Win7 64 bit because you can get most 32 bit software to run under it, I have very limited use of 64 bit as I am not doing the type of stuff that requires it, high end CAD, very large databases, idiot fringe gaming with liquid oxygen cooled video cards or perhaps in some instances high end single machine servers.

About the only real advantage I can see in Win7 64 bit is you have more memory for each 32 bit app available and with a bit of massaging you can run multiple instances that use IPC to transfer data from one to another. I am much of the view that 64 bit is market driven, not consumer driven and thats why its introduction is so slow. If there was a real use for it, it would be up and going in a serious way now.

The other factor is much of what has been done in computing is shifting to gadgets for people who just don't need the power of a computer at all. You need very little grunt to browse web pages and check your email.

[Bill Cravener]

Gone are the days when you had to upgrade every few years to run the latest and greatest software. This is even more so I believe now that more and more applications are becoming browser based leaving the heavy crunching to the server side. I work on newer PC's occasionally using various applications and when compared to my aging IP D 2.8 I see very little difference in performance. Yes 64 bit software will become commonplace some day but as I said it will become more a server side need then a desktop need at least in the business world. I know of a good many younger folks who prefer handhelds over owning a PC and I think that will soon slow down the sales of personal computers and any need for 64 bit software for the home PC.

[Bill Cravener]

Just read this short piece from Capital Hill Blue.

Bad times ahead for PC market?

[hutch--]

 :bg

Bill,

At least Colonel Sanders would have fattened up the chickens first.  :P

[Bill Cravener]

:bg

Bill,

At least Colonel Sanders would have fattened up the chickens first.  :P

:bg Thats true Steve. The GOP said just last night on the news that there will be no debt increase unless there are cuts in SS and Medicare. Imagine taking away any of their entitlements they'd scream like stuck pigs. I can only wish the GOP scum all drop dead!