Another Windows Vista SP1 Feature From TechEd

I think I would prefer the Apple way of doing things. Including the 64 and the 32 bit versions as one single version. If you're system can handle 64 bit and you're running a 64 bit app, then the OS runs it using the 64 bit version. If your computer can't handle 64 bit or you're running a 32 bit app, then your OS runs as a 32 bit version for that program.

I hope Microsoft learns from Apple in this regard.

Sorry if I was a bit confusing. Steve Jobs just announced this the other day at some Mac conference.

With Windows many people install the 32 bit version because the driver support is not there yet. With the Mac you won't have to decide if you're going to install the 64 bit version or the 32 bit version: there will only be one version.

This is a nice change from Vista's 5 versions multiplied by 2, since there are 2 (32 & 64 bit) bit-versions of each version. Microsoft really ought to take a page from Apple and limit the amount of OS versions  to at most two. Less complicated and things like what happened to me when I bought a Vista computer wouldn't happen. (I bought a 64 bit compatible computer with Vista Ultimate, but the version was 32 bit and the OEM refused to provide the 64 bit version. If Microsoft included 32bit and 64 bit capabilities in their OS, then OEM nonsense like that wouldn't happen and people would have a better impression of MS. It's the computer manufacturers who ruin Microsoft's good name and work, in my opinion. That's probably one of the reason's why Apple never licensed their OS.)

Here's an article that explains it much better than I ever could:

http://www.macobserver.com/article/2007/06/11.9.shtml

PingBack from http://www.vista-blog.de/vista-sp1-32-und-64-bit-installation-von-einer-dvd/

I was following a few trackbacks this morning to my post yesterday and one struck my eye by Softpedia.

@Jaxim - Apple lies (as usual) about Leopard. It is not fully 64-bit, but one of 2 major APIs (Carbon) is 32-bit only:

http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/06/13/64-bit-support-in-leopard-no-carbon-love

Vista x64 is thus the only true x64 desktop OS (discounting Linux distros).

Also, I highly doubt there is any x64 code at all, as Core Duo (original Mac Mini) computers CANNOT handle x64 natively.

You better NOT believe Apple in anything they say ;-)

I can already do that with some creative bcd editing on the DVD....

Will OEM DVD-s be also with 32- and 64-bit version?

Alas, there has been some confusion here - and in the article linked to by Josh... To my knowledge there will not be any significant change to Windows DVD media - you won't get an all-in-one DVD that can install either one, as that linked article seemed to insinuate (if for some odd reason Microsoft does have that in plan, I've not heard about it - and I couldn't share it if I did). What you WILL be able to do is install x64 using an x86 copy of Windows PE 2. This change isn't about x64 everywhere. It's about making life easier for IT pros and OEM's by letting them build one installation mechanism, using Windows PE 2 (x86) and installing x86 OR x64 for IT deployment or OEM deployment. It's not about any change for end users of Windows (retail consumers) - again, unless there is some change I've not been privy to. Changing the retail DVD wouldn't make sense (financial or use case wise).

Wes

Oh, and the change is for WDS as well.