The 64-bit question......

[coaster]

This has probably been answered, and if so, I'm sorry to repeat it. I got 500 hits using the forum's search function and scanned through half of those without getting an answer. Soooooooo......the question is:

I'm getting a new computer soon. If I'm planning to do a fair amount of graphic arts work, should I get 64-bit Windows Vista, or is the standard 32-bit Vista OK?

[johnrellis]

Vista 32 is limited to using no more than 3 GB (and a bit) of memory, whereas Vista 64 and new computers let you have much more. That extra memory can be a real boon to memory-intensive graphics programs.

However, there are a number of considerations:

- There’s no advantage to Vista 64 unless you have more than 3 GB of memory.

- You’ll need a new set of drivers for your peripherals, and some vendors still don’t provide 64-bit drivers. For example, Nikon doesn’t provide Vista 64 drivers for its Coolscan scanners.

- Vista 64 does a very good job of running programs developed for 32-bit Windows XP and Vista, but it isn’t perfect. You should research the compatibility of your favorite programs.

- A program developed for 32-bit Windows will be limited on Vista 64 to using no more than 2 GB of memory (infrequently, it can use 3 GB), the same as on Vista 32. There is still some advantage to having Vista 64 if you want to run other memory-intensive programs concurrently, since together they may be using more than 3 GB.

- Of Adobe programs, PSE is 32-bit only, while Photoshop and Lightroom have 64-bit versions. I don’t know about Premier Pro or Elements.

- If you’re editing “normal” sized photos, an Adobe Lightroom blog says to expect only modest 10% speed improvements from Vista 64.

- Adobe gives out confusing messages about whether it really supports PSE 7 on Vista 64. Its marketing literature and System Requirements make no mention of Vista 64 being unsupported, it has some tech notes that mention Vista 64 without saying that it is unsupported, and the Read Me explicitly mentions one minor issue with Vista 64 without saying that it is unsupported. So someone buying PSE could reasonably assume that Adobe supports PSE 7 on Vista 64 (and many people have reported that PSE 5.02., PSE 6, and PSE 7 all do run quite well). However, at least one person has reported that Adobe Technical Support told them that PSE 7 is unsupported on Vista 64.

[coaster]

At this point I have no plans to get Photoshop, so it seems Vista-32 would be the choice to make. However, I wouldn't be surprised if I wanted to have more than 3G RAM sometime in the future. And I was told that I'd have to buy a new license to upgrade from 32 to 64 bit Vista. So, maybe I should get 64-bit now. It's not cheap.

[johnrellis]

If you buy Vista retail in a box, you can order the 64-bit edition for free from Microsoft. In the past, I know some hardware vendors (such as Lenovo) would give you the option of getting both versions at no extra cost.

[fogdrip]

coaster -

The future is certainly in 64-bit computing, today . . . Who knows?

I see that the "default" operating system if you are lookoing for a Dell Computer is a 64-bit Vista system. :confused: Take that any way you like. Maybe it's time. ;)

Good luck,

Steve

[coaster]

I agree with you Mike and John about 64-bit. John, that's good news about getting the 64-bit for free. I'll have to look into that. The guy at the computer store told me otherwise, but I'll bet he was talking about his OEM pre-installed Vista, not retail box. What I'd PREFER to do is start with 32-bit Vista. My history in computing is that I tend to upgrade a machine over time rather than buying a new one. If I start with 32-bit then I think I'll have fewer problems with migrating my present apps. Believe it or not, I still have a 16-bit app from the Windows 3.1 days that I use regularly.

[Scrapbird]

I'm confused about the advice here.
Some of you are recommending 64-bit, but Johnrellis says that PSE is not compatible with it. Since this is a PSE forum, why would y'all be recommending 64-bit?

(Hoping that I really can run PSE 6 with a 64-bit OS)

[kelox]

I'm confused about the advice here.
Some of you are recommending 64-bit, but Johnrellis says that PSE is not compatible with it. Since this is a PSE forum, why would y'all be recommending 64-bit?

(Hoping that I really can run PSE 6 with a 64-bit OS)
PSE6 will run on 64 bit Vista. I am running it and haven't had a problem yet. good luck and happy editing!!!!

[Jeff Perry]

Many of the newer PCs are coming with Vista Home Premium (64-bit). My new Sony laptop came that way and I was more than a little apprehensive. But I have to say I am pleasantly surprised.

Vista x64 also comes with a 32-bit simulator, so all 32-bit application like Elements will run. 32-bit apps (including Plug-ins) are automatically installed in the correct Programs (x86) Folder.

CS4 installs both a 32-bit version and an 64-bit version, but so far I have run it in 32-bit mode since almost all of the current crop of Plug-ins only support 32-bit mode.

As I said, with few exceptions I have been very happy, and the speed, well, Elements and CS4 have never looked so good or run so fast.

My only complaint, and one from many other new Vista adopters, is the lack of hardware support for some peripherals, e.g, HP and the Laser jet 1000. No Vista driver means it is has become a doorstop. HP says, buy a new printer, right, from HP, no way, after two laptops and my 1000, they will never get another dime of mine.

Jeff

[coaster]

Something the last several posts confused me just a little: I understand that PSE runs fine on 64-bit Vista, then Jeff mentioned Vista has a 32-bit emulator. When you run PSE with 64-bit Vista installed, is PSE running under 64-bit Vista, or is it running under the 32-bit emulator? And if the emulator, is it running slower? Thanks....

Which brings up another good question, though maybe too generall for this forum, but here goes anyway: does this mean that ALL 32-bit apps run under this 32-bit emulator?

Hey, Jeff - my HP LaserJet 1200se is probably the best printer I've ever owned. It's slow compared to newer printers, but it's built like a tank and still going strong. They don't build 'em that way anymore, and I'd hate for it to become a doorstop, like yours did.

[johnrellis]

Some of you are recommending 64-bit, but Johnrellis says that PSE is not compatible with it.
To clarify, I didn't say that PSE was incompatible with Vista 64. Indeed, many people have reported running PSE quite successfully on Vista 64. But there are a number of considerations, which I described in my previous message.

[johnrellis]

When you run PSE with 64-bit Vista installed, is PSE running under 64-bit Vista, or is it running under the 32-bit emulator? And if the emulator, is it running slower? Which brings up another good question, though maybe too generall for this forum, but here goes anyway: does this mean that ALL 32-bit apps run under this 32-bit emulator?
“Emulator” perhaps isn’t the best term to describe what’s happening – it’s not at all the same as running an old Power PC Mac application on a new Intel Mac, where the Intel Mac is emulating the Power PC and you’re paying quite a speed penalty for that emulation.

When you run a 32-bit application on Vista 64, the hardware is directly executing that application at the same full speed as if you were running the application on Vista 32. When the application calls Windows services, it calls the 32-bit versions of those services, which then simply invoke the 64-bit versions. There’s a small performance penalty due to that layering of 32-bit services calling 64-bit services, but it’s very small.

This is why people are generally quite happy with the performance of PSE 6 and 7 (which are 32-bit applications) running on Vista 64.