As consumers get new & more powerful systems, the question of which OS to install comes in. Discontinued support for WinXP will not move people to accept Vista or Win7. Win7 should have much more to offer than having the same performance envelope with XP. One example is that Win7 32 bit should accomodate & utilise more than 3.5Gb of RAM. Systems using DDR3 are having triple channels ranging from 3Gb to12Gb or more. If more RAM can be used, it will attract those taking the 64bit route back to 32bit. For those with older systems are finding it hard to install & use Win7 Ultimate. They will have to wait for the Basic or Home versions to come out or stick to their present OS. For me I will continue to use XP as long as possible.Gigabyte EP35 DS4 P4C2 6750/4Gb DDR2 1066/ NV 8800GT 256mb/ 2x1TB SATA/ 1x750Gb SATA/ 1x500Gb SATA/ DVDRW x4 sets/ Pinnacle AVDV capture card/ Antec Trio 550W PSU

Oh, Win7 x86 could handle more than the actual usable RAM, just as WinXP x86 did (remember /PAE?).For the price of a loss incompatibility with some or more than some 32-bit hardware and software (drivers!). You can say, well, let's throw this outdated equipment away, don't make Win7 compatible, make your equipment compatible. Nice idea, you'll be welcomed by the majority of businesses that are eager to put their bucks in "new & more powerful systems" instead of squeezing their existing machines till the end of their lifetime. Why do you think they are continuing using XP until today?And what's that about "attract those taking the 64bit route back to 32bit"? You are going to call a train that left the station more than an hour ago. If you really need 12GB RAM, take the 64-bit line. Mob. AMD64 3000+, 1 G RAM, Mob. ATIRadeon9700, 20x DVDRW, C:XPSP3 (55G),D:WIN7 (25G),F:DATA (250G)

tonistein - You're right - Windows 7 should offer more than the same general performance as XP. It should also offer everyone something more - like security. (It's in there.) The problem with any 32 bit version of Windows accessing more than 4 GB (3.5 GB) of RAM is that it's beyond it's native addressing capabilities. That's why the move toward 64 bits. 64 bit versions of Windows since XP already support more than 4 GB of RAM - without any penalties. While the XP 64 bit version didn't have much in the way of drivers or acceptance in the general populace, Vista has made significant in roads in that arena and Windows 7 will likely make it even more popular. In fact, many machines you can buy right now at Best Buy or any other major hardware retailer already comes with Vista 64 preloaded. Why ever would we reallly NEED to bring everyone back to 32 bit? 64 bit is the future - like it or not. I can understand some people having difficulties installing Windows 7 Ultimate - but using it? It's WINDOWS. Yes, it's changed a bit. The task bar is different, the old familiar Windows 95 style fly out start menu is gone. Oh well. Time to move on. It's not THAT complicated. Geeze... Most people are intelligent enough to figure out the new interface. It's not nearly as drastic a change as was the one going from Windows 3.11 to Windows 95. And the Starter and Home Basic versions aren't even going to be an option for most people unless they're in a "developing nation" - meaning those of us in the US and EU are only going to be seeing Window 7 Home PREMIUM and Professional on store shelves. Beyond a few key features, Ultimate isn't all that much different than Home Premium or Pro. The interface is the same, the core features are also the same.But for what it's worth, there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with sticking with XP onyour old hardware. But don't expect the restof the universe to stand still and stick with it as well.XP lived a long life and it's now time to put it out to pasture.

I know about the capabilities of 64bit OS but how much of the common software & hardware that can function in this environment? I am just one of the common folks struggling to come to terms with rising costs that comes with new developments. Don't be surprised that WinXP will continued to be in use 10 years from now. I serviced computers on the side & some of my customers are still using Win 98 & ME & quite a lot of businesses are using Win 2000. Win7 is coming out in dismal times amid the bad economies. You think the reception will be good?Gigabyte EP35 DS4 P4C2 6750/4Gb DDR2 1066/ NV 8800GT 256mb/ 2x1TB SATA running on WinXP/ 1x750Gb SATA running on Win7RC/ 1x500Gb SATA running on Vista Ult/ DVDRW x4 sets/ Pinnacle AVDV capture card/ Antec Trio 550W PSU

I know about the capabilities of 64bit OS but how much of the common software & hardware that can function in this environment? I am just one of the common folks struggling to come to terms with rising costs that comes with new developments. Don't be surprised that WinXP will continued to be in use 10 years from now. I serviced computers on the side & some of my customers are still using Win 98 & ME & quite a lot of businesses are using Win 2000. Win7 is coming out in dismal times amid the bad economies. You think the reception will be good? Gigabyte EP35 DS4 P4C2 6750/4Gb DDR2 1066/ NV 8800GT 256mb/ 2x1TB SATA running on WinXP/ 1x750Gb SATA running on Win7RC/ 1x500Gb SATA running on Vista Ult/ DVDRW x4 sets/ Pinnacle AVDV capture card/ Antec Trio 550W PSU I think I have to disagree. I think the reception to Windows 7 WILL be good. Windows 7 is very stable and runs much faster then Vista or XP on my current system (which is far from high end.)As far as 64bit vs 32bit, I've made the switch to 64bit Windows 7 and I will not look back. All my apps and drivers work flawlessly with onlytwo minor exceptions in Office OneNote 2007(the "send to OneNote" and "file as printouts" features). I now run that programme in a virtual machine running XP SP3).Afterall, you can't expectEVERYTHINGold towork on something new. At some point you have to move forward!

tonistein - You'd probably be surprised how much actually works with the 64 bit version of Windows. That's both software and hardware. Granted, there's NO magic pill that will make an older 32 bit CPU run as a 64 bit chip, and that IS who the 32 bit version of Windows 7 is aimed at - but let's be realistic - most CPUs made in the past say - 3 years or so are 64 bit chips and most of them are even dual, triple or quad core. Outside of a few older ATOM chips used in netbooks, 32 bit hardware is pretty much dead. Even Atom chips are moving to 64 bit.As far as XP goes, you're probably right, there will likely be some folks using it long after the rest of the world's stuck a fork in it and moved onto something else. I'll bet there's still a few diehards still using MS DOS and Windows 3.1. They, no doubt, have reasons for sticking with the old stuff.But don't count Windows 7 out. Granted, the economy sucks. But there will be people using Windows 7. It make slow down adoption, but I have a good feeling that it WILL take off and it will be a monster hit for Microsoft. It may take longer than anticipated, but just think back - XP came out in fairly dismal times as well - and look at where it is now.

please, guys, not another part of this daily soap opera... concentrate on the useful side of life.Mob. AMD64 3000+, 1 G RAM, Mob. ATIRadeon9700, 20x DVDRW, C:XPSP3 (55G),D:WIN7 (25G),F:DATA (250G)

Since most of you said that 64 bit is better, I downloaded the 64bit of Win7 & remove the 32bit version. Quite a hassle to look up drivers for my Wacom tablet & Logitech trackball. Then loaded my photo editing software. Everything got accepted & running quite well initially. Then I open an existing 75mb picture project to edit. Every step take ages to complete & at one stage it seems to stop working but task manager shows it's still running. It works better in the 32bit version & in WinXP, it can handle 120mb project without hassle. I have not loaded in my video editing software yet but I don't think I want to try. My original wish is that Win7 32bit can handle the new systems loaded with 6Gb of DDR3 RAM in triple channels. That will be the ultimate system to do everything involving all types of video editing including HD & photo editing. A lot of software just won't work well in a 64bit environment.Gigabyte EP35 DS4 P4C2 6750/4Gb DDR2 1066/ NV 8800GT 256mb/ 2x1TB SATA running on WinXP/ 1x750Gb SATA running on Win7RC/ 1x500Gb SATA running on Vista Ult/ DVDRW x4 sets/ Pinnacle AVDV capture card/ Antec Trio 550W PSU

tonistein - I'm sorry you're having issues with the 64 bit version. Since you didn't mention any details as to what software you're running, there's not much I can offer as far as advice goes... I don't know what you're using to edit the file or why it's taking forever to do it's thing. You may need an upgrade to whatever program you're using that's more compatible with a 64 bit OS. Most 32 bit software will run fine on a 64 bit OS, but there's bound to be an exception. There may be other issues at work. Once again, I haven't a clue as to what you're working with. Give us some more information and maybe someone can help you get moving faster. As I said in my previous post on the subject, 32 bit OS's are limited to 4 GB maximum RAM. There's not much you can do to change the math. 2 to the 32nd power = 4,294,967,296 - or 4 GB. There are workarounds to the limitation - But there's a problem with that. It makes things incompatible. And that's not much of a solution.

Someone gave me an WinXP 64bit & I remove the Win7 64bit & loaded the XP version. I tested my photo editing software with the same 75mb project & it completed smoothly though not as fast as the 32bit XP. I an using Corel Photoimpact 12 & Paintshop Pro X2. I will be testing my video editing - Pinnacle Studio 12 Ultimate soon. I know it's a step backward but I have to make full use of my current resources. Anyway WinXP can expect to last another 3 years even without any more support. I will definitely load XP 64bit on my soon to come new system with 6Gb RAM.Gigabyte EP35 DS4 P4C2 6750/4Gb DDR2 1066/ NV 8800GT 256mb/ 2x1TB SATA running on WinXP/ 1x750Gb SATA running on Win7RC/ 1x500Gb SATA running on Vista Ult/ DVDRW x4 sets/ Pinnacle AVDV capture card/ Antec Trio 550W PSU

tonistein - Ok.. Good luck with that...