64-bit or not?

[sandsater]

I am going to buy a laptop very soon. Will I be sorry if I don´t buy a
64-bits cpu? Maybe not now but in a year or two?

 

[mdd1963]

I doubt you'd be sorry running just 32 bit WinXP....; I think it will be a while before mainstream applications are developed that won't work on a 32 bit OS.

(There are stil quite a few peripherals that don't have any drivers for WinXp-64...)

 

[slvr_phoenix]

I doubt you'll be sorry.

Of course, I'm not a very good psychic, so I can't be completely sure.

 

[mpjesse]

Get whatever suits you best. Don't concern yourself w/ 32bit or 64bit. 32bit isn't going to be dieing anytime soon... Windows Vista will be coming out in both 32bit and 64bit. And if M$ sticks to their current product cycle for Windows, we won't see another OS after Vista until 2011. (this is highly unlikely as M$ has acknowledged the product cycle between WinXP and Vista has been waaaay to long. but count on at least 2009 before we see something after Vista. at that point, 32bit support will probably be dead).

Remember, it took about 6-7 years to completely kill of 16bit support.

Right now the only major advantage to 64bit is the ability for applications and the operating system to address more than 4GB of memory. Most applications don't even take advantage of 2GB of memory. LOL.

-mpjesse

 

[sandsater]

Is Centrino and PentiumM exactly the same thing?

Haven't really understood. Is Centrino just the new name?

 

[ShortyNumber45]

EDIT:No, I guess Centrino is the name of Intel's Mobile technology.... Pentium M is a processor, it's actually a mobile version of P4.

 

[mpjesse]

To wusy listen.

"Centrino" is simply a Pentium M combined w/ a intel wifi chip.

"Pentium M" is just the processor.

A lot of laptop manufacturers would rather just put their own wifi chip/card in the laptop and use the Pentium M. Others like to use the Centrino solution from Intel.

Either way, Pentium M/Centrino is the way to go. AMD's Turion processor is OK, but doesn't have the performance or low voltage of the Pentium M.

-mpjesse

 

[slvr_phoenix]

I believe that to use the "Centrino" name you also have to meet certain low-power requirements in other areas, such as the screen. But yeah, Centrino is the a whole package of products and requirements to make computing mobile and low-power. Where as PentiumM is just the CPU itself.

 

[mpjesse]

I wish someone would make an OLED screen and low voltage/watt hard drive. It's sad that Intel and AMD are the ones who are expected to lower power requirements on their CPU's when other things use much, much more energy. Like hard drives and screens. 🙂

-mpjesse

 

[Dafaad]

Just a comment or two... First in a year or two you may be buying a whole new system anyway, things change fast.

Second, 32-bit applications seem to works much faster on a 64-bit operating system using WoW-32 in the 64-bit OS. This maybe to the memory space, not sure why this happens, but found it to be so.

Third, drivers for 64 bit OS are in short supply, but for a laptop design, this may not be an issue.

Fourth, you might look for something that is Vista ready if you are interested in that OS.

Fifth, not many 64-bit applications available yet......

So, just get what you want, doubt you will be sorry either way!

 

[slvr_phoenix]

I wish someone would make an OLED screen and low voltage/watt hard drive. It's sad that Intel and AMD are the ones who are expected to lower power requirements on their CPU's when other things use much, much more energy. Like hard drives and screens. 🙂

-mpjesse

Yeah. I hear that! It's so stupid. But then you also have people that crank up the backlight all the way too. :lol: :lol: :lol:

But I thought that OLEDs had a shorter lifespan.

Of course I'm still waiting for someone to design a decent PDA too.

 

[mpjesse]

But I thought that OLEDs had a shorter lifespan.

Never heard that before, but it makes sense. The technology is still relatively new and not being mass produced yet (at least not in laptop screen sizes). LCD's didn't last long when they first hit the market either.

I guess the verdict is still out on OLED's. They haven't quite caught on like everyone said they would. Unfortunate but understandable given how expensive it is to switch technologies... esp. since LCD's are just now beginning to beat CRT in sales and production numbers.

-mpjesse

 

[philderbeast]

To wusy listen.

"Centrino" is simply a Pentium M combined w/ a intel wifi chip.

"Pentium M" is just the processor.

A lot of laptop manufacturers would rather just put their own wifi chip/card in the laptop and use the Pentium M. Others like to use the Centrino solution from Intel.

Either way, Pentium M/Centrino is the way to go. AMD's Turion processor is OK, but doesn't have the performance or low voltage of the Pentium M.

-mpjesse

arg this is wrong still....

"Centrino" is a combination of a Pentium M CPU, intel WiFi AND an mobile intel 915 or intel 855 chipset.

of course the core solo and core duo use diffrent chipsets again, but the ones allowed to be used for it to carry the centrino brand are limited.

 

[mpjesse]

I was trying to keep it simple for the dude who asked what the difference was. But, if you want to get even more technical, it has to be the i915PM, i915GM, or i855.

Sheesh. Shall we take this a step further and mention the manufacturing process as well?

-mpjesse