State of the 64bit?

[Billie Walsh]

On 08/25/2010 07:25 PM, Avi Schwartz wrote:
> I am currently running 10.04 in with a 32bit kernel on my Dell Studio
> XPS 16 laptop but I am considering switching to 64bit mainly because my
> machine has 8GB RAM of which the 32bit version sees only 3GB.
>
> Few years ago I tried running 64bit but found the experience lacking to
> put it mildly for a desktop. There were issues with Java, Flash and
> other proprietary software.
>
> My question is whether the 64bit situation has improved? I know there is
> currently no 64bit version of flash for Linux (if there will ever be)
> but will the 32bit version run reasonably well in a 64bit environment?
> Good enough for YouTube, Hulu, etc? What about the ATI driver (the
> proprietary one)? Any other issues I need to take into consideration
> while making the decision?
>
> Thanks,
> Avi
>
>    

I've had 64 bit running on three computers for a while now.

One desktop and one laptop are Intel dual cores with ATI graphics. The 
desktop has 2 gig memory and the laptop has 4 gig. I installed Flash Aid 
in Firefox, my default browser. Flash works about 99%. Sometimes it 
works every time and sometimes I visit the same site and it doesn't. 
Have no clue why. I run the standard video drivers on both so I can't 
help with the proprietary drivers. Java seems to work just fine. At 
least I haven't noticed any issues.

Other desktop is an AMD Quad Core with 4 gig memory and Nvidia graphics. 
Flash seems to work the same as the other two. I did have to install the 
proprietary drivers for the Nvidia. Google Earth wouldn't work. Java 
also seems to work just fine.

-- 
"A good moral character is the first essential in a man." George Washington