64-bit is old hat, Microsoft mulling 128-bit versions of Windows
 

Believe it or not, Windows 7's successor(s) have been in the planning and early development stages for a while now. We haven't posted anything about any of them yet, but we've been watching closely to see if anything really interesting turned up. Exactly two weeks ago, it did. A LinkedIn profile, which has already been taken down, for a Robert Morgan, Senior Research & Development at Microsoft, has shone a sliver of light on the possibility of 128-bit support coming to Windows 8.

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/new...-windows-9.ars

Software still won't support it until 64 bit is turned off, MS failed to axe 32bit with Windows 7 so I don't expect them to get it right this time

7 was supposed to be 64bit only, but probably because Vista x64 wasn't a great succes (id Vista wasn't a success overall :rolleyes: ) and x64 driver support is still too basic to push the market in x64.

When Windows 8 comes out, 64-bit support should be much better and not bringing out a 32-bit version of Windows 8 wouldn't be as catastrophic for sales as not brining out a 32-bit version of Windows 7.

What's wrong with 64bit right now? There isn't any reason to go with 32bit due to 64-bit driver support anymore, in my humble opinion.

That is the point, there was no reason to relase a 32bit Version of 7 and now it stalls 64 bit software development.

There are still a lot of programs that don't work on 64-bit systems, 64-bit drivers aren't always available either (or they can't be installed because they aren't signed) and in office environments 64-bit isn't necessary because you don't need 4Gb of RAM to use Office...

chicken-egg problem, if you don't force developers to code in 64 bit they won't

Definitely agree on that one, but Microsoft probably didn't have much choice because of bad Vista sales and Seven has to make up for these bad sales (and a 64-bit only versions probably wouldn't do that).

plenty of 32bit only CPUs out there

Source?

Would those systems even recieve an OS upgrade?


Microsoft had a choice because it is Microsoft.

Apple is cutting off old system support in new OSes and almost noone complains.