Are You Switching to 64-bit Processors?

chip_whisperer asks: "I used to be a big time custom desktop builder, making many working boxes per year, but I've been off the bandwagon for about four years now and am trying to get back into it now that Ars Technica has just released their recommendations. The standard seems to be heading towards 64-bit processors, but I'm wondering if it worth it to run a box on XP-64? I've heard that driver support for 64-bit processors can be a hassle. Also, for you fellow Linux geeks, how are current distros (like Suse, Ubuntu, Debian, and others) doing in supporting 64 bit processors?"

I am going to 65

[Timesprout]

cos I always want to have that extra bit from my machines.

Windows user

[Savage-Rabbit]

Perhaps a more interesting question would be whether the Windows-users in the Slashdot community plan to run 64-bit Vista, considering its enhanced security (PatchGuard et al.) as well as its enhanced possibilities of restricting you from doing things on your own computer.

I spoke to the /. community's resident Windows user and he is refusing to come out his closet unless you will personally guarantee that the hoard of torch and pitchfork wielding penguins outside won't tar and fether him.

Re:Why would I?

[bubbl07]

Basically what it comes down to is: it's not the size of your register; it's the size of your load/store.

Yea, you try explaining that to my girlfriend.

Re:Windows user

[Anonymous Coward]

...unless you will personally guarantee that the hoard of torch and pitchfork wielding penguins outside won't tar and fether him.

You just don't understand how open source works, do you? If for some reason the Slashdot penguin horde promises to stop tarring and feathering Windows users, I'll just fork the project and start my own horde!

Re:Windows user

[artifex2004]

I spoke to the /. community's resident Windows user and he is refusing to come out his closet unless you will personally guarantee that the hoard of torch and pitchfork wielding penguins outside won't tar and fether him.

fether? Is that a new compression algorithm I missed?

Re:I am going to 65

[CaptainCheese]

Timesprout: "You see, most blokes will be coding with sixty-four bit registers. You're on sixty-four, all the way up, all the way up...Where can you go from there? Nowhere. What we do, is if we need that extra push over the cliff...sixty-five. One bigger."

DiBergi: "Why don't you just write a integer maths library that can virtualize any size you define, and make that a little bigger?"

Timesprout: (baffled) "This goes up to sixty-five."

Re:Why would I?

[kestasjk]

*Rushes out to get a 64-bit processor, to be able to play games with bit-board chess AI faster!*

Re:Windows user

[Anonymous Brave Guy]

Kind of. You see, once you label him as a Windows user with the feathers, half an hour later what's left of him will be so small that you could transport or store it in a tiny fraction of the space originally required. Rumour has it that the algorithm is somewhat lossy, however.

Re:Why would I?

[6Yankee]

It'd take a while... use a lot of breath... in fact, by the time I'd finished, she'd probably be fully inflated!

Re:Windows user

[Anonymous Coward]

Consider that most people think trident means a brand of gum

You're on Slashdot, where 99% of the audience has participated in Dungeons and Dragons at some point in their "lives". They know what a trident is.