Hi,
A friend of mine works con cuore for an organization who offers computer training to the elderly.
They are in the lucky situation that someone donated a lump sum to purchase a number of new computers to the training room.
Now the question is whether to install Windows 7 32 bit or 64 bit.
Are there anyone with good arguments for the one or the other?
Also, in anticipation of the next question; which antivirus and firewall programs they should use.
My first thought would be to advise them to stick with Microsoft Security Essentials. This might be a bit on the daredevil side of things, but I don't want to advise them to load I don't know how much double-protection on the systems. (Well, I know that one cannot get too many guards up, but here it is also a question of maintaining the stuff).
Regards,
hougs
PS:
I reckon this discussion has been a hot topic some years ago, but doing a search in the lounge on 32 bit or 64 bit didn't yield any results. Hence, I dare stick my head out and ask
32 or 64 bit?
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Re: 32 or 64 bit?
The main advantage of 64-bit Windows is that it can handle more memory than 32-bit Windows.
32-bit Windows can address at most 4 GB of RAM, and since at least 0.5 GB is reserved by the operating system, the maximum usable memory is 3 to 3.5 GB.
If the PCs you're going to buy have 4 GB of RAM or less, there is nothing to be gained by installing 64-bit Windows. Conversely, if you choose 32-bit Windows, it's useless to install more than 4 GB of RAM.
I have a PC with 8 GB of RAM and 64-bit Windows 7 works very well on it.
As to security, I'd stick with the built-in Windows Firewall and install Microsoft Security Essentials. This combo works efficiently and unobtrusively on Windows 7. In the 2 years I've been using Windows 7, I never felt the need to switch to third-party security software. (I do run a scan with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware from time to time; it has never found anything yet.)
32-bit Windows can address at most 4 GB of RAM, and since at least 0.5 GB is reserved by the operating system, the maximum usable memory is 3 to 3.5 GB.
If the PCs you're going to buy have 4 GB of RAM or less, there is nothing to be gained by installing 64-bit Windows. Conversely, if you choose 32-bit Windows, it's useless to install more than 4 GB of RAM.
I have a PC with 8 GB of RAM and 64-bit Windows 7 works very well on it.
As to security, I'd stick with the built-in Windows Firewall and install Microsoft Security Essentials. This combo works efficiently and unobtrusively on Windows 7. In the 2 years I've been using Windows 7, I never felt the need to switch to third-party security software. (I do run a scan with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware from time to time; it has never found anything yet.)
Best wishes,
Hans
Hans
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- NewLounger
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Re: 32 or 64 bit?
Hans
Thankyou for your reply.
Your reply is in line with my own thoughts on the subject. It is nice, however, to be either confirmed or corrected. I hadn't thought of the firewall - since XP that is something that is there, toiling away in the background and give me more time to go about my own business.
I will let your reply be the one I pass on to my friend.
Regards,
Hougs
Thankyou for your reply.
Your reply is in line with my own thoughts on the subject. It is nice, however, to be either confirmed or corrected. I hadn't thought of the firewall - since XP that is something that is there, toiling away in the background and give me more time to go about my own business.
I will let your reply be the one I pass on to my friend.
Regards,
Hougs