What's New: Microsoft Transitions To 64-bit

Microsoft has announced that the next version of several major programs will only be available in 64-bit editions, preventing them from running on current versions of Windows and older hardware.

While the server version of Windows Vista, codenamed "Longhorn," will be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, but the scheduled 2009 update for it, which Microsoft refers to as "Release 2," will only be available in a 64-bit version. Other major programs that will no longer be available in 32-bit editions include the next version of Small Business Server, Exchange Server. Likely the next version of SQL Server will fall into this category as well, with a 64-bit version already shipping.

AMD's Athlon 64 and Opteron platforms continue to be the market leaders in 64-bit PC hardware.

Tuesday, Nov 15, 2005 09:48 am CST

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