On 64-bit and Windows Client

Bill Laing, a General Manager in the Microsoft Windows Server Division, has been quoted as saying that Windows Server 2008 will be the last 32-bit operating system.  Bill is a server guy and indeed Windows Server 2008 is the last 32-bit server operating system – all future operating systems for server hardware from Microsoft beyond Windows Server 2008 will be 64-bit.

A few folks took Bill’s comments on Windows Server and applied them to Windows Client deriving that Windows Vista would be the last 32-bit operating system. That is an incorrect extension.  While Windows Vista includes both 32-bit and 64-bit and there is a growing community of drivers for 64-bit Windows Vista we have not decided when Windows Client will follow Windows Server and become 64-bit only.

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Comments

  1. JohnCz
    Posted on: May 17, 2007 at 11:54PM  

    I think its abit complicated to do away with 32-bit because of limited resources in emerging markets to upgrade to required hardware.  However in developed nations I think there should be a concerted effort to shift to 64-bit.  What I would like to see you folks do with the next Windows R2 Client is to release it to OEM's in 64-bit form only.  I think this will help fill gaps in 64-bit driver development.  By the time of the next major release...it should be a safe business decision to go 64-bit only.

  2. danielsmi
    Posted on: May 22, 2007 at 2:09AM  

    I think it would be best for MS that Vienna be 64-bit only also.  It would make developing easier since you'd only have to focus on one version which would save you money and shorten the development period.  Also when you think about it if you add more features into the Vienna you're gonna need a more powerful processor and odds are by the time you release Vienna the only processors that will meet the requirements will probably already be 64-bit.  I don't think there's a processor produced today that isn't 64-bit and with AMD it's been that way for a few years.  Another benefit of 64-bit only Vienna is it's MS opportunity to finally bring all the neat security features in today's 64-bit OSes to the masses like ASLR and patchguard plus whatever new security stuff you'll have by 2009.

Trackbacks

  1. Posted by: Windows Vista to be the final 32-bit desktop Windows? Not for fast there … » The PC Doctor’s blog on May 17, 2007 at 5:03PM
  2. Posted by: x(perts)64 on May 17, 2007 at 5:33PM

    As reported here , Windows Server 2008 is the last 32-bit version of Windows. The next version, whenever

  3. Posted by: Windows Server Division WebLog on May 17, 2007 at 6:10PM

    At some point along the way, you've probably been given this advice about public speaking: (1) tell them what you're going to say; (2) tell them; and (3) tell them what you've said. I've always found that to be good guidance, yet so easy to overlook or

  4. Posted by: Realtime Community | Windows Server on May 17, 2007 at 8:48PM

    This is apparently old news, but its worth repeating as it came out of a presentation gave earlier today at WinHEC. According to an earlier report, As part of its commitment to 64-bit computing, Microsoft has been delivering products that are optimized

  5. Posted by: かるあ のメモ on May 17, 2007 at 9:33PM

    マイクロソフト、「Windows Server 2008」以後について明らかに(CNET Japan)より つい先日正式名称が決定した Longhon Server → Windows Server 2008 ですが、R2 移行に関しては 64 bit 版のみの提供になるみたいですね。

  6. Posted by: Microsoft News Tracker on May 17, 2007 at 10:33PM

    Yesterday, Bill Laing, general manager of Microsoft’s Windows Server Division, was quoted as saying in his WinHEC 2007 presentation that Windows Server 2008 would be the last 32-bit Windows operating system Microsoft would produce for either clients..

  7. Posted by: VolkerW's WebLog on May 18, 2007 at 1:59PM

    Well, I have to admit I was a bit confused by the piece from Joe Wilcox : "During a speech this morning,

  8. Posted by: The things that are better left unspoken on July 02, 2007 at 4:00PM

    Sixty-four is the square of 8, the cube of 4, and the sixth power of 2. It is the smallest number with

  9. Posted by: Jose Aguilar's Blog on June 22, 2009 at 2:46PM

    This past couple of week I’ve been contacted by a couple of developers concerned with Microsoft’s decision to stop supporting the Visual Basic 6.0 IDE, but to continue support for the Visual Basic runtime and some support libraries in Windows 7 and 2008

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