[mdlug] [Fwd: Re: [opensuse] 64 bit vrs 32 bit advantages speed etc.]

[Peter Bart]

On Thu, 2007-11-01 at 22:44 -0400, Aaron Kulkis wrote:
> Peter Bart wrote:
> > On Wed, 2007-10-31 at 09:58 -0400, Adam Tauno Williams wrote: 
> >>>>> Has anyone run benchmarks on an identical system with 32 bit vrs 64 bit?
<snip>
> > Since it has that capability I was going to load the 64 bit version of
> > opensuse, if for nothing more than to know that it's there. Will this be
> > a hindrance to me, running openoffice, web browsers, VMWare? How about
> > running a 32 bit copy of Vista in a 62 bit opensuse? Or will I simply
> > not notice it? I'm not sure what you mean by the "dance on a host"
> > statement.
> 
> First, I'll give you my relevant familiarity with
> this issue
<snip>
>                =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

	I have no question as to your qualifications, your assesment is very
valued!

> Now, for todays Linux situation... even if your
> hardware allows option (4):
> 
> A lot of web-browser plugins do not yet have
> 64-bit versions....and a 32-bit plugin WILL NOT
> run properly in a 64-bit browser.  Many people
> who have 64-bit installations are complaining
> that they can't view Adobe Flash content, and
> other similar problems.
> 
>                 =-=-=-=-=-=-=
> 
> Basically, the 64-bit platform is not yet ready for
> general purpose computing -- it fulfills certain
> niche areas (massive finite element analysis,
> extremely large database operations, etc) but has
> not yet been completed in many areas.
> 
> Even on AMD-64 chips, which can run 32-bit code
> in a 64-bit platform (the only CPUs I know of which
> are capable of doing this), there are currently
> a lot of problems still.
> 
> Unless you have some bleeding-edge NEED for
> 64-bit code, my advise is to wait until this
> mess is all sorted out -- it's probably going
> to take another 12 - 24 months.  Personally, I
> don't need the frustration, and NOTHING that I
> do would benefit significantly from 64-bit install,
> but a lot would be degraded significantly if I
> were to go that route at this time.

	Thank you very much for the insight. I'm very glad I asked!

Best Regards,
-- 
Peter Bart <peter at petertheplumber.net>
http://petertheplumber.net