Bitten By 64-Bit

Actually, this is reminiscent of the last major overhaul, when Microsoft took
its operating system to the Pentium level and launched the 32-bit Windows 95
operating system to replace the 16-bit DOS systems. Those old enough to have
been around for that remember the following about the launch of Windows 95:

• Not much of anyone supported 32-bit computing. Certainly
not enough to make it worth upgrading their stuff to run on the 32-bit platform.
And if they did, it was in order to sell brand-new hardware like video cards
and memory chips, not the one to two year-old hardware that people were actually
using.

• Accounting software vendors, in particular, were slow to jump
in. After all, why upgrade your software to 32-bit processing when
it might destroy a tax season (as it did for a few) or cost you long-term customers
(as it also did for a few). In fact, many smaller accounting firms kept their
DOS-based programs until 1999, when fears of Y2K chaos forced them to upgrade
their computers, and thus their operating systems.

• There were no drivers. Companies took note that most
consumers were slow to upgrade and did the math. If there were not millions
of users who wanted the new drivers, why invest the programming dollars? So
months and even years after the launch of Windows 95, there was legacy hardware
that simply would not run.

Already, the drumbeat surrounding 64-bit Vista is starting to sound more like
a tap dance. Microsoft has announced that the “Home” version will
remain 32-bit, assuring that no company in its right mind will develop mass-market
software for 64-bits (with the possible exception of game companies, which have
been on 64-bits for several years already due to X-Box and PlayStation). With
the launch of Vista only a short time away, there are no major accounting software
developers who have announced definitive plans to support the 64-bit side of
the platform. Déjà vu all over again.

I actually like the 64-bit platform. My take on Windows XP Professional 64-bit
is that it is a bit faster and seems to be more stable. On the other hand, there
are no drivers for my laser printer, and likely never will be. My mouse doesn’t
work. I can’t download the pictures from my year-old Sony digital camera
to the hard drive. Bunches of smaller applications simply crash upon installation.
When this column was introduced 12 years ago, it was with the idea that guys
like me would experiment with new hardware and software — on the “Bleeding
Edge” — so you wouldn’t have to. Based on that philosophy,
here are my basic rules for upgrading to the new 64-bit platform:

• Take the equipment upgrade as you need it. There is no need to rush
into dual, triple or quad-core processing until there is a solid reason to do
it, no matter what Intel and AMD say.
• Wait until your mission-critical software has been upgraded to a 64-bit
operating system before you even think about it. Then, wait a while longer.
• Before you upgrade, check to make sure that every single piece of hardware
has drivers for the new operating system. If they do not, replace them or wait
a little longer.
• Forget the nonsense of the bridged, dual graphics cards. You still don’t
need more than 256MB tops on your graphics card to run accounting applications.
And if you ever do, invest in a single 512MB card. Walk away from the more expensive
dual-256MB configurations, which were a stupid idea that even high-power gamers
have rejected.

That doesn’t mean that there are not some substantial hardware upgrades
that you should be considering once tax season is over. Now is the best of all
times to invest in a bigger LCD monitor. And it never hurts to have at least
one machine in the office equipped with a new drive that can handle all of the
memory cards, sticks, USB drives and more. Finally, it is time to upgrade your
hard drives. With 300+ Gig drives for around $100, why wait? 

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Mr. McClure is a consultant and widely published writer on technology
issues.