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I have been reading about 32bit and 64bit versions of Linux. Although 64bit has various issues regarding compatibility, would you opt to go for 64bit (provided you have a AMD64 or Intel 64 processor or any other 64bit processor)?
Right now, your primary concern is the situation with proprietary codecs.
I have a 32-bit / 64-bit dual boot on my desktop, and 32-bit on my laptop. I use the 64-bit about 90% of the time. There are occasions when I really want to see a Flash9 video, or video that requires the w32codes, but for me, those times are fairly infrequent. My kids, on the other hand use the 32-bit OS exclusively for those reasons.
64-bit OSes will soon be the norm, and since Vista is optimized for 64-bit, I think the necessary plugins will soon be available. 64-bit does have advantages, especially in the hardware driver areas, but the actual processing speed improvement is pretty much invisible to the average user.
For Java apps, you can use Konqueror, which doesn't need a java plugin, and the FOSS Flashplayer, Gnash, works fine for older Flash movies. I can't honestly say there is an advantage to using the 64-bit OS, but since it doesn't inhibit my normal usage, I prefer to use it while watching it mature.
It depends on what you use the machine for. If it's for general purpose use (e.g., browsing, e-mail, word processing, etc.) you're not going to notice a difference between 32 and 64-bits. There will be one, but the difference in time is measured in nanoseconds. You won't be doing anything intensive enough on a general purpose machine that these few nanoseconds will register in your brain.
On the other hand, if you are using the machine for calculation intensive applications such as serious graphical design, video editing, research, etc. there are enough calculations being performed that they'll add up and you'll notice a difference. For example, I simulate repairable system behavior over long periods (10-20 years). The simulations usually take a "snapshot" of the simulated system every hour or half-hour. There can be 20-million calculations or more performed in a single simulation. Moving from 32-bit to 64-bit cut about 10-12 hours (yes, hours) from the average simulation. That's noticeable.
The only real advantage I see to a 32-bit OS is the plugin and some multimedia support. However, if this is important I would (and do) use a multilib distro. This way you can use both 32-bit and 64-bit applications and, no, you don't need a chroot jail to do this. The libraries will happily coexist and you don't need a complete set of 32-bit libraries only those needed for your 32-bit applications. Eventually you won't need any 32-bit libraries.
For example, I simulate repairable system behavior over long periods (10-20 years). The simulations usually take a "snapshot" of the simulated system every hour or half-hour. There can be 20-million calculations or more performed in a single simulation. Moving from 32-bit to 64-bit cut about 10-12 hours (yes, hours) from the average simulation. That's noticeable.
Yup, that certainly is noticeable. I think I will stick with 32 bit as all I am trying to do with Linux is using it as a Windows XP alternative and developing PHP/MySQL applications.
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