[SOLVED] Use 32-bit Slackware? Post here to let the developers know!
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I'm still using 32-bit. I have a mix of old and newish hardware. I could mix 64-bit and 32-bit, but then my maintenance doubles to support both. Easier for me to just support 32-bit. Note: I have run 64-bit and I have some 64-bit partitions here, but the doubled maintenance wears me out.
I've tinkered with the idea of starting a side business refurbishing computer systems with Linux based software. I live in a rural area and like many rural areas, many folks are not super rich. They tend to hang on to appliances and hardware, including computers. Around here, moving to 64-bit as the only offering eliminates Slackware as an option for such a side business.
There also remains a handful of apps that don't run in 64-bit or are not properly packaged for 64-bit. Multilibs is not a solution for all people and many don't want the overhead. Possibly if multilibs was part of the stock 64-bit Slackware that could change. Yet as Eric noted, a 32-bit system is needed to create the multilibs package.
Three out of my six machines have 32-bit CPUs, two of them are older Toshiba laptops. Although my two main machines are 64-bit, I therefore do have a need for 32-bit Slackware.
I have n Asus Eeepc 1000h netbook which will run 32-bit Slackware forever. I run a 32-bit Slackware virtual machine because my Half-Life Dedicated Server requires a 32-bit OS. I use multilib on my laptop and desktop because of the Steam game platform, Skype and Citrix Receiver I use every day. Who says 32-bit Slackware is going away?
Voices from southern region of the Asian continent:- Even if I'll purchase another powerful machine with more than 4GB of RAM and a modern CPU for a 64 bit OS, I'll keep using 32-bit on my old machines with lesser RAMs and slow CPUs as long as it's out there in the wild. Practicality, you see.
Thanks guys for taking the feedback from users. Hail Slackware.
Except for servers (at home and at work) all my computers run 32bit.
They don't have that recent hardware, have less than 4Gb RAM and run some software that is only available in 32bit.
Although some of them have 64bit capable CPUs, I don't see the point in having multilib on them (low RAM).
My primary desktop is Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz, 512 Mb RAM, Gigabyte GA-81PE1000, NVIDIA GeForce FX5200, HDD 160 Gb SATA Seagate ST3160812AS. I use Slackware 14 with Xfce.
Why does everyone seem to think that if Slackware-NEW is 64-bit only that all support for 32 bits in Slackware will disappear? The old hardware "in the world" will not get upgraded any more, so why the OS? Slackware32-14 works well, so those who need it should use it. That may require a long commitment by Pat to security updates, but that has been routine for ever.
Regards,
Bill
Er... You did, or at least suggested it was under consideration:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alien Bob
The problem is: when we asked who still uses 32-bit Slackware the silence was deafening. Now that I talk about possible farewell to 32-bit Slackware everybody starts telling they still use 32-bit Slackware/
People if you still need it, you need to make yourself heard when we ask for your opinions!
Eric
I give up. This place is getting a little too surreal for me.
I was never aware of the original question about letting 32-bit Slack.
If Pat or the group has a serious question for the masses, PLEASE ask the Slackware subscription folks via email. I've been a loyal Slacker for many, many years, and this issue makes me shake my head....
DO NOT EXPECT a Twitter comment to get valuable or significant responses. Talk 'to' people, not 'at' them.
Yes. I still use 32-bit Slackware. Installed 14.0 on my old Pentium Pro SMP box. Works damn well, and used the stock CD kernel. No problems. I have a total of 12 running systems that are 32-bit only. I have another 6 systems that are AMD and running 64-bit Slack.
If some issue out there would cause the passing of either version of Slackware....Linux (not just Slackware) is in big trouble.
Another user here running on 32-bit. I guess it's because I want to still be able to run Skype & Wine, and I'm not real familiar with the multi-lib setup and haven't tested things on 64-bit.
I would like to see more attention given to the ARM branch and to small devices (tablets, smartphones). In my view the ARM branch should be the main platform for any given Linux distro and the Intel 32/64 should follow suit.
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