In last 2 years many computer users are asking if Windows 64-bit is better than Windows 32-bit. I would like to explain it very simple for everyone who is interested to read about Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit and the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit. But before I start with that I would like to write a short story about my own experience with digital world what started many years ago.

I was thinking about my digital life and thought I can write about it because it is somehow interesting. I started my first experience with digital world at the University of Constance in Germany. In computer center, we had Linux on every single computer. Linux was very hard to understand and work with for me, who never has seen any computer in his whole life. It was really big pain in pants to send an email for example.

After months I decided to have my own computer and work at home. I had to use many different multimedia applications and CAD software. I went to Media Markt. Media Markt is a store like Best Buy in the U.S. Then I bought my first Personal Computer and I wanted to go home as fast as I could to use my computer but it was a dream.

The first problem was installing my windows on my brand new computer. It was a Siemens computer and it has to be a good computer. I needed many hours to find out how to install my Windows 95. Anyway I got my computer running but my problems never ended. I had drivers, anti viruses, security and multimedia problems.

Anyone knows that Windows 95 was a 32-bit version and Microsoft promised that every 16-bit application can be run on Windows 95. But it was such of lie. There were too many applications written in 16-bit and you could not use them on Windows 95 32-bit.

Right now we are in the 21th century and we still have the same problem what we have had in the last 12 years. They promise only to sell their products.

One of the most asked questions we heard about Microsoft Windows Vista if I should get Vista 64-bit or the traditional 32-bit edition. What is the future? Are we going to switch to 64-bit sometimes or we will use Windows 32-bit forever? I would like to explain these questions as simple as I can that everyone can understand who doesn’t have enough knowledge about Vista 64-bit and Vista 32 bit (x86).

It is much better when we know, what is the difference between 64-bit and 32-bit? 64-bit edition Windows is the 64-bit extension technology and AMD (second processor producer in the world after Intel) has invented (AMD64) to seamlessly migrate the 32-bit (x86) world into a 64-bit. It was the most revolution in the digital world but the world was not ready for that in the year 1999.

In the year 2003 Microsoft has created the first Windows 64-bit ever and the called it Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit 2003 Edition. It was the most exciting moment for ever y Microsoft user because you could imagine the security for your computer again. But Windows XP 64-bit supported only 32-bit (x86) applications through emulation. 

Last year Microsoft released finally Windows Vista in 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit editions after Windows XP was almost 6 years old. There are two different versions: the retail edition contains 32-bit and 64-bit editions and the OEM versions contain 32-bit or 64-bit edition and you should know which one to order.

Not the most questions about Microsoft Vista is if you should install Vista 32-bit or 64-bit edition.

There are two things you should know before decide for installing Microsoft Vista 64 bit (x64) edition:

1-    If your Processor (CPU) supports 64-bit applications

2-    If your hardware´s drivers support Vista 64-bit

The most important hardware for running 64-bit is to find out if your processor (CPU) supports 64-bit. There are some applications you can use to find out if your Processor support Vista 64-bit. The best one what I use called CPU-Z. It shows you if your CPU supports 64-bit.

It is free software and you don´t have to pay for anything. Download CPU-Z here. After you download and run your CPU-Z look for Instructions. If you see EM64T in that list you are ready for Microsoft Vista 64-bit edition.

After you are sure your Processor is supporting Vista x64 then you have to find out if all your hardware has drivers for Vista 64-bit. Just go to the hardware company´s website and look for Vista 64-bit drivers. You can find it out very easy if there are 64-bit drivers for your hardware or not.

There are some important hardware you have to find 64-bit drivers for them because you cannot use full performance of your computer if you don´t have any compatible 64-bit drivers for Windows Vista 64-bit edition.

A-   Sound Card: For sound you could have issues because there are not too many 64-bit drivers for sound card.

B-   Graphic Card (Video Device): ATI and NVIDIA are two big video device companies and they have the latest 64-bit drivers for every graphic card

C-   Network Card: It is recommended to find your 64-bit driver for your network card before you install your Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit edition. I am saying that because if you do not do that, you cannot connect to the internet without installing the driver for Network card.

D-   Printers and Scanners: Unfortunately you cannot find any 64-bit drivers for your old printers and scanners. If you decide to run Windows Vista 64-bit on your computer you should be mad after you cannot print or scan anything.

E-    Webcam: If you are using a webcam you should be sure if your webcam company has published a 64-bit driver for your webcam. Just go to the website of your webcam and look for Vista 64-bit compatible drivers.

Most of 32-bit written applications you can run on Windows Vista 64-bit. The only important for your computer are the 64-bit drivers. If only one hardware doesn´t have any 64-bit driver, than you cannot enjoy your Windows Vista x64.

I am giving you a list of applications, what you can use with your Microsoft Vista 64-bit

1-    All Adobe products like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Flash, and etc. are running on Microsoft Vista 64-bit

2-    All your favorite games can be run on your Microsoft Vista 64-bit

3-    Winamp, your favorite MP§ player is running Microsoft Vista 64-bit

4-    Picasa2 is working on Microsoft Vista 64 bit

5-    ACDSee, your favorite photo organizer works with Microsoft Vista x64

6-    Nero, your favorite CD burner and movie maker is running on Microsoft Vista 64-bit (But only the new Nero 8)

7-    All different Internet browsers such as Opera, Netscape and Firefox are running on Microsoft Vista 64-bit

8-    You iTunes work on Microsoft Vista 64-bit without any problem (You can read more about iTunes if you have any problem with Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit)

9-    If you use any FTP application, most of them are running on Microsoft Vista 64-bit

10- Your TurboTax is working on Microsoft Vista 64-bit

11- Your Resume Maker works with Microsoft Vista x64

12- Your newest version of Norton Security and MacAfee can be run on Microsoft Vista 64-bit (I recommend Symantec Endpoint Protection)

13- Skype works well on Microsoft Vista 64-bit

14- AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Nemetschek, Maya, ant etc. are running on Microsoft Vista 64-bit

With my own experience I can say that 90 percent of 32-bit application can be run on Microsoft Vista 64-bit.

If you are a normal PC user who has a older computer, then I recommend to use Microsoft Windows Vista 32-bit because it is easy to run your computer with Windows Vista 64-bit but after you get drivers issues then you can say adios to your Vista 64-bit dreams. Because, it will be a Dead End street.

But if you are a professional PC user like CAD user, Multimedia user or Designer then I recommend for the biggest update to Windows Vista 64-bit. All your Applications like AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Maya and all other design and multimedia applications are running on Microsoft Vista x64.

But we can be happy next year after most companies will switch to 64-bit edition and we can use 64-bit applications like Adobe with full performance under Windows Vista 64-bit.

I hope I could give you some information about Windows Vista 64-bit. It is depends of your decision now if you would like to use Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit or Vista 32-bit. If you can find all 64-bit drivers for your hardware and right now you are using Vista 32-bit edition, I recommend for updating to Vista 64-bit.

In the end of my Article I would like to list why you should run Vista 64-bit:

1-    More security in internet

2-    Windows 64-bit runs %32 faster than 32-bit

3-    All your application can be run faster

4-    Stability of your operation system

5-    You can install more RAM (Memory) on your computer than before.

6-    And a lot more