HelloJust trying to get some idea as to how many Avsim members are using 64bit CPU's and OS

You would have to go back an awful long way to find an x86 CPU that was 32-bit only. Those of us in the programming world were very annoyed that Win7 wasn't a 64-bit only OS release (the server equiv, Windows Server 2008 R2, was released as 64-bit only, but not the consumer OS) - similar to our annoyance with Intel and the 486SX, we thought we would finally have guaranteed access to a Floating Point processor and could drop the FP emulator code we had to include for systems without an FPU, but then they released the 486sx without an FPU (and the 487sx to provide an addon FPU for those machines).Until the only OS on the market is 64-bit, most developers aren't going to create 64-bit apps because they don't want to have to deal with testing two different versions of their app (having to test 32-bit app on 32-bit OS and 32-bit app on 64-bit OS is bad enough). Another issue is 3rd party libraries that only come in a 32-bit version with no source code available to rebuild it yourself - if you rely on one or more of those, you're pretty much stuck with 32-bit land only.Tim

Me....I have W-7 64 bit Professional. Photoshop CS5 supports 64 bit and the increased memory it supports. That can be very useful in animation which gobbles up memory when rendering.I purchased the 64 bit Professional primarily for the XP virtual machine capability. That works quite well. Also the built-in mirror back-up capability of entire hard drives is nice.While I like this system in general, I wish there was a simple and obvious way to turn off all the "professional" aspects of the system in one move. I'm not that demanding.While some people like everything going to the taskbar, that's not my favorite feature either. Unfortunately, not everything functions correctly in that system, and there are other certain "features" that I consider a detriment.Also, FYI, certain files on USB external hard drives authored on XP but plugged into W-7 may require that you copy a particular file to the W-7 system in order to "write" to that file. It can then be copied back to the external drive.Bob (Las Cruces, NM)

Count me in. With the technology and applications being released these days, I'm surprised users are still happy with a 32 bit system. Most of the applications I use demand at least 4 GB of RAM. I hope MS keeps us 64 users in mind and releases a 64 bit version of the new title 'Microsoft Flight' as well. Cheers

...Another issue is 3rd party libraries that only come in a 32-bit version with no source code available to rebuild it yourself - if you rely on one or more of those, you're pretty much stuck with 32-bit land only.Tim

And that's the reason 32-bit apps are still being released.Cheers,- jahman.

No matter how much it'd be nice were it true, there's no "magic flag" to set in the compiler to spit out a fully functional 64bit application based on 32bit code... :(

I'd be happy to switch to using 64 bit were it not for the fact that the 64 Bit version of Photoshop CS5 actually has less functionality than the 32 bit version, notably when you pull video into it. Moreover, most of the filters actually only work in 8 bit, even on the 64 bit version of Photoshop. In fact, the only CS5 application that actually won't install on a 32 bit system, is After Effects.Al

No matter how much it'd be nice were it true, there's no "magic flag" to set in the compiler to spit out a fully functional 64bit application based on 32bit code... :(

Nobody is saying there is a magic flag, but there *is* a flag that will let you compile 32-bit vs. 64-bit exes and there *are* not-so-magic programming techniques that will let you compile exes that actually run in both 32 and 64-bit.Cheers,- jahman.

No matter how much it'd be nice were it true, there's no "magic flag" to set in the compiler to spit out a fully functional 64bit application based on 32bit code...

Hi Bill, I have a few thoughts on this, would love to know what you think.There is an assumption here which is made when Microsoft are wanting everybody to run Flight from day one to assume that will mean 32bit apps... I'm not convinced. They also want everybody to run Windows 8 and it's application store as well I'm sure... Flight will be a key component for this as it's another 'tool' to drive hardware sales which also means more Windows 8 software being sold. It certainly makes sense.Ok so we are on the cusp of software switching over to 64bit. Many titles have done so already and it's certainly makes sense to do so with a Flight simulator. DCS A-10 Warthog is available for 32bit and 64bit. If we fast foward 18 months so were at the holiday period for 2012 then it would seem sensible for Microsoft to go with the 64bit option given the scale of Flight, use of photographic textures, expanding scenery either ingame or through the app store, it just makes sense to have the extra memory capacity which most new PC's have nowadays already to be accessible in MS Flight.The library argument isn't a factor I think, same for compilation. Libraries will all be new for Microsoft Flight so no need for legacy 32bit access, Flight being developed from the ground up - MS own words. Microsoft could decide to compile the game relatively easily in 32 or 64bit at any time prior to launch, this isn't something which has to be A or B, they could even code for both 32bit and 64bit and then do either both builds or just the 64bit. Final point is that if Flight is being targetted for Windows 8, are we even sure that a 32bit application will be possible (32bit compatibility mode aside). It's rumoured that Windows 8 could be exclusively 64bit, interesting.Cheers,Dave.

I'd be happy to switch to using 64 bit were it not for the fact that the 64 Bit version of Photoshop CS5 actually has less functionality than the 32 bit version, notably when you pull video into it. Moreover, most of the filters actually only work in 8 bit, even on the 64 bit version of Photoshop. In fact, the only CS5 application that actually won't install on a 32 bit system, is After Effects.Al

Hi Chock! Sounds very much like not all the libraries have been rebuilt for 64bit access and therefore some functionality would be missing until a patch or later release. Not something I would expect with Microsoft Flight so nothing to worry about.ps do you put 'Chocks Away' in your out of office reply :( (sorry couldn't resist!)

I'd be interested in what clammers setup is.

The library argument isn't a factor I think, same for compilation. Libraries will all be new for Microsoft Flight so no need for legacy 32bit access, Flight being developed from the ground up - MS own words. Microsoft could decide to compile the game relatively easily in 32 or 64bit at any time prior to launch, this isn't something which has to be A or B, they could even code for both 32bit and 64bit and then do either both builds or just the 64bit.

OK for MS libs, but what about third party libs (think avionics)? It's usually the third party libs that are usually the problem!Cheers,- jahman.

That poor guy with a 32bit CPU must be feeling rather lonely at the moment...

Pretty staggering results (as expected).

That poor guy with a 32bit CPU must be feeling rather lonely at the moment...

:(