[LBo] 64 v. 32 bit.

[Andrew Henry]

Geoff Jones wrote:
> I recently acquired a 64 bit box for the first time. I have 32 + 64 bit Debian 
> testing installed on it. On the 64 version, I keep running into problems 
> finding 64 bit Apps - and also browser plugins ( like no JRE x64  ? ).
>
> I have to decide which will be my "main" os.
>
> I would like to hear other peoples experience of 64 bit architecture - 
> especially whether losing "convenience" is a good trade-off for "operational 
> improvement"? 
>
> [ This is hardly new technology - why is software still so far behind? ]
>
> Geoff.
>   
It's a conspiracy maan!! :)

Yeah, it sucks that there is no Java 64bit plugin for Java when they
have open sourced the whole shebang, and the plugin works fine for 32bit.

Also, Windows codecs don't work, realplayer, flash etc are only 32bit. 
I could go on.

However, I have run 64bit for a few years now, and workarounds for most
annoyances do exist, if you look for them.  I run Ubuntu 7.04 on 2
laptops amd64 edition and I use 32bit Firefox that has 32bit
Java1.5/Flash9/Mplayer (for Realplayer & Quicktime support), which
solves all my issues.

Admittedly, this locks me in a bit...I have to choose between 64bit
Mplayer/Mencoder for video encoding or 32bit for web plugin support. 
32bit mencoder does work, but I will get a slight performance benefit
out of using 64bit.

All in all, im pretty happy with my 64bit computers, and its mostly web
plugins that have bad support, that really bother me.  Oh, that and
printer drivers.

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