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    Windows Vista Business OEM 32 or 64 bit?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by jmwein, Jul 26, 2007.

  1. jmwein

    jmwein Notebook Evangelist

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    I am about to buy an OEM version of Vista Business for my new Macbook Pro but I'm not sure which version to get (the OEM version do not include both the 32 and 64 bit versions on the disc). Can someone let me know which is better for this computer to run with bootcamp and what are the benefits of each? Thanks.
     
    jmwein, Jul 26, 2007
    #1
  2. ethanhunt123

    ethanhunt123 Notebook Evangelist

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    64 bit edition will support 4 GB of RAM, but then most of applications out today have problems in 64 Bit Vista ... so i would suggest you stick to 32 Bit vista for now.
     
    ethanhunt123, Jul 26, 2007
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  3. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

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    the most serious problem with 64 bit windows is driver support.

    seeing as apple has no driver support for an 64 bit windows at the moment, you should only consider the 32 bit version.

    if you went down the 64 bit road, you would have to find your own drivers to get all the devices working properly.

    there are 13 driver components installed with boot camp. you could probably find a working 64 bit gpu driver from nvidia, but a good number of the drivers are made by apple directly, for the trackpad, keyboard, bluetooth, isight, etc.

    its possible that the wireless card and some other things you could find drivers for... maybe, if they even exist.

    alternatively, you can wait for apple to release the 64 bit drivers. that will come soon.
     
    masterchef341, Jul 26, 2007
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  4. jmwein

    jmwein Notebook Evangelist

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    Any idea when they are going to become available?
     
    jmwein, Jul 26, 2007
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  5. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    As masterchef said, driver support and application support for 64-bit Windows will be thin. However, if you can get around that, 64-bit Vista is much more secure than the 32-bit version. 64-bit Vista is the line in the sand with Windows and security, but with that comes incompatibility until vendors catch up.

    So, after all that, go 32-bit. It's easier now and we are a ways away from Windows and 64-bit really being plausible for everyday users.
     
    cashmonee, Jul 26, 2007
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  6. Cinner

    Cinner Notebook Evangelist

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    Aren't OEM version only legal for custom build computers?
     
    Cinner, Jul 28, 2007
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  7. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    I think he means the system builder version of windows. No its not illegal. Just has a few restrictions. If he is in europe the restrictions will be very little and if he is in USA the restrictions will be a lot more but still worth the much cheaper price.
     
    wave, Jul 28, 2007
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