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    questions about Windows Vista labeling

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by paradoxguy, Apr 28, 2011.

  1. paradoxguy

    paradoxguy Notebook Evangelist

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    Admittedly this is a trivial question--how did x86 come to refer to the 32-bit version of Windows Vista, since the more logical "x64" refers to the 64-bit Windows Vista? Wouldn't it be more logical for the 32-bit version to be referred to as "x32" instead of "x86"? This confused me momentarily when I was trying to choose between the "x86" and "x64" versions of a driver to install--I had to perform a Google search to understand the difference.

    [I realized after I posted this that x86 and x64 refer to both Windows XP and Windows Vista, but my general question remains--why not "x32" to label the 32-bit versions of both OS.]
     
    paradoxguy, Apr 28, 2011
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  2. Dreamliner330

    Dreamliner330 Notebook Evangelist

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    x86 refers more to a lineage of computer technology that goes back...forever.

    x86 refers to computer technology, 32-bit/64-bit is the software platform.

    ^^^thats not 100% right, but its close enough.
     
    Dreamliner330, Apr 28, 2011
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  3. paradoxguy

    paradoxguy Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks much for the responses and edification, I understand the background better.
     
    paradoxguy, Apr 30, 2011
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