Category: Geeks r Us
I'm just really curious this evening and I was wondering what the differences are between the 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows. The main reason I ask is because there are applications that have to be programmed separately - in other words, a program for a 32 bit system having to be modified just for a 64 bit system. Thanks in advance for the answers.
the way they're different mainly is how much ram they can use, 32 bit can only see and use up to 4 gigs where as 64 bit can see a lot more
Why doesn't Jaws say which versions people should download? On the website it just says 32 bit or 64 bit but most people don't know which one to choose.
On a related note, how can you tell if a computer is 32 or 64 bit? I know you would obviously know if you bought it yourself, but my grandmom has a laptop she doesn't use, and as I'll be going away soon I might take it with me. However I don't know if it's 32 or 64 bit so don't want to install Jaws until I do in case installing the wrong version seriously messes it up somehow.
Jaws autiomatically knows which version of Windows you have if you have Jaws 11. Jaws 12 is coming out soon, so I guess I should say Jaws 11 or later.
So, if you installed a 32 bit version of Jaws 11, it just wouldn't let you do it, there wouldn't be any damage? I'm just worried about this because I've had some bad experiences with computers crashing because the video cards were unable to handle Jaws. Granted this was at least 8 or 10 years ago and I'm sure things are much more stable, but I'd just like to make sure.
32 and 64 bit when it comes to jaws only matters in vista and 7 jaws 32 bit is the only version supported under xp.
To find out what OS your system has installed, navigate to the computer item located in the start menu and press shift f10 or your applications key. Choose properties, and you'll need to use your jaws to pc cursor here. Look for an item called system type, and it'll indicate 32 or 64.
It's remembering that 32 bit is the one though. Easily forgotten after a while.
Can this be done with NVDA? I only ask because this laptop I'm talking about wouldn't have Jaws on it when I needed to check. If not, I can ask someone to read that system type thing for me. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Yes it can be done with NVDA.
Most users have 32 bit machines especially if the machine is a year or more old.
Thanks guys. I think this laptop was purchased about 6 months ago or so, so I'll definitely install NVDA first on it and see how that goes.
Just remember even six months ago, most end-user systems are 32-bit no matter what the hype was. 64-bit is nice especially for servers and the like, and certainly in enterprise or extremely heavy payload environments but most laptops sold in stores or online to end users don't have 64-bit Windows unless specified.
Oh and FWIW readers will now work, yes, but your games won't and there are other software packages that run as 32-bit / will run slowly.
Don't want to sound like I'm down on 64-bit because I'm not; it just serves a particular purpose.
Some people get it for the same reason some people buy SUVs and then try and park them in tiny parking spaces at hotels. It's all in how you'll be using it.
Realize that isn't the original poster's question but more to those that get hyped up over 64-bit ... because it's 64-bit.
Actually most machines I've serviced or purchased for users even from places like best buy since I'd say january have veen running windows 7 64 bit. In fact the last 4 months of vista sales, it was almost impossible to walk in to the store and purchase a 32 system without specifying it was what was needed. This was especially annoying early jaws 10 before 64 bit was supported which wasn't until what 1142 or so. It was a pain!
Is it true that 64 bit systems are more secure? Some people have told me that, but I'm just not sure if that's the case. lol
More secure as in less virus-prone? I wouldn't say that. More secure as in data integrity? Perhaps because of the payload capacity yes.
Your best defense against security violations on your system rests between your ears. Install a good antivirus program, even Microsoft Security Essentials, and log in as a regular user. Keep your administrator account for administrative tasks.
Then don't be downloading videos from weird places that require some custom player of some sort. And if you encounter a site that tries to tell yuo they've found errors on your drive, 'can we do a free scan now?' close the damn window! Don't do Cancel or OK just shut 'er down.
The main differences are that 64 bit can run a lot faster and can see and process more ram, whereas 32 bit can only see no more than 4gb of ram and is rather slower in a lot of cases. In terms of knowing which version you are using, go into the control panel and system and it's right there. Unfortunately I don't think narator reads out the operating system stuff too well, but it works just fine if you're already using jaws or window eyes.
you may be able to put like 4 gigs of ram in a 32 bit system, but you wont be able to use all of those 4 gigs because the system will have it's own ram in there. it may report as much as 3.5 or 3.8 gigs of ram, but never 4 gigs. in a 64 bit version of windows as people have said, you can put as many gigs of ram in there as you'd like, and all of that ram can be used. and yes, best by is giving out 64 bit versions of win7, which i've used before at a friends place, it was really cool. you will see a very huge increase of speed when you use a 64 bit version of windows, but just be careful that you don't run too many 32 bit programs on a 64 bit version of windows because it could crash. that happened to a friend a mine a few months ago. most and, btw, for those that didn't know, windows 7 is gonna be the last 32 bit os, any other release of windows after 7 will all be 64.
Ah, Microshit is trying to copy Apple now eh?
When have they not since Vista?
Oh cool! I didn't know about windows 7 being the last to use 32 bit operating system.
Oh boy! here we go the apple fan wagon, if you would like I will research Apple to see what they borrowed from MS. To bee fare it would not supprise me if they both took ideas from eachother.
You know where they got the search box in the start menu on Windows Vista and 7 from? From Apple. They'll never catch Apple because Microcrap uses a different kernel than Apple does. The Mac runs off a Lynyx Kernel and Windows doesn't. So now you know why Macs rarely crash. And you know where Microcrap got the idea of the multitouch phones for the Windows Phone 7 Series? From Apple. So you can't tell me that Apple got some ideas from Microsoft, because clearly, they didn't. Microcrap's aim is to compete with the iPhone, hence why they're coming out with the Windows Phone 7 series, which by the way won't be accessible, unless Humanware comes up with a version of Mobile Speak that will be able to work with it. I personally don't care much about the Windows Phone 7 Series, to be honest with you.
Fact is, they've both borrowed from each other to a point. Apple's borrowed a shit tun less than ms though.
Ah Michael the whole Windows OS was originally an Apple knock-off for which Apple tried to sue in the late 1980s. They've been at it a long time. Ironically had Apple won that lawsuit, a lot of innovation all over the place would have been stifled. They wanted to patent the point and click interface as well as certain key combinations. Sorry new kiddies, there was an Apple long before there was an Internet or a Blind Community and it's not been all roses. Not trashing Apple here, just providing a bit of pre-blind-community Apple perspective.
Every one of the companies borrows something from the other. Even linux is borrowing some things from Apple and microsoft. Can't think of any specifics off of the top of my head right now.
the mack o s is not based on linux, it's unix. smile. and yeah, talking about ms and apple and stuff, hell, look what ms did to the taskbar to win vista and 7? just like the apple dock from what i've been told. and, yeah, i've hurd about the win7 moble series phone comeing out, and NVDA developers are trying to talk about supporting multytouch devices such as those types of cellphones and tablit pc's.
The thing I don't like about the Windows Tablet PC's is the fact that you need a stylus to use them. If you look at the iPad, it's just like the iPhone, where you use your finger. Steve Jobs clearly stated, and I quote, "If you need a stylus to use a tablet, you've already failed." If you want to use your finger on the screen istead of a stylus, you need a whole new OS, hence why Apple is using iOS on the iPad.