30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

[Guest John Adams]

I'm no stranger to Windows Vista. My wife and I were part of a program

called "Living with Longhorn" (later changed to Living with Vista) in which

we tested the product in our home starting in August of 2005. We saw the OS

develop from an early (and very different) beta on to what it is now. All

that time, we were using 32-bit software.

 

Recently, however (30 days ago to be exact), I purchased an all new system

and decided to put Vista x64 on it. I picked out only hardware that had a

Vista certified logo and installed Vista x64 as soon as it was put together.

I'll detail my experience below:

 

The Problems:

The initial problem I had was in compatibility with a DVD-RW burning device

by Sony. I had to change to an LG SATA drive and then everything was fine.

It also seems like perhaps my video card drivers aren't quite as nice as the

32 bit counterparts, but it's a close call. I also occassionally lose

sound, but only if I have the speakers off and then turn them on again

(which seems like a hardware issue to me, not a driver issue). The only

other problems I have had are in software compatibility, namely the fact

that there isn't an adobe x64 pdf iFilter through Acrobat Reader.

 

The Benefits:

I have never had a system so stable and responsive as this machine. I can

multitask like crazy (i.e. record two TV shows at once, encode video, browse

the internet, and listen to music all at the same time). It responds

immediately to anything I click, unlike the half-second or so delay I have

always been accustomed to. I don't think I've shut the system down even

once since I set everything up in the beginning. I've restarted maybe three

times total. This system wakes up from sleep immediately every time and

isn't phased at all.

 

This has been a great experience, so I decided to go ahead and activate my

copy. Vista x64 has been awesome and I look forward to bigger and better

things as x64 becomes the norm.

[Guest Carlos]

RE: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

John:

This is your lucky day.

Here's your x64 IF filter.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/foxitreader/Foxit_PDF_IFilter_X64.msi

Read all about it here:

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/ifilter/

Carlos

 

"John Adams" wrote:

> I'm no stranger to Windows Vista. My wife and I were part of a program

> called "Living with Longhorn" (later changed to Living with Vista) in which

> we tested the product in our home starting in August of 2005. We saw the OS

> develop from an early (and very different) beta on to what it is now. All

> that time, we were using 32-bit software.

>

> Recently, however (30 days ago to be exact), I purchased an all new system

> and decided to put Vista x64 on it. I picked out only hardware that had a

> Vista certified logo and installed Vista x64 as soon as it was put together.

> I'll detail my experience below:

>

> The Problems:

> The initial problem I had was in compatibility with a DVD-RW burning device

> by Sony. I had to change to an LG SATA drive and then everything was fine.

> It also seems like perhaps my video card drivers aren't quite as nice as the

> 32 bit counterparts, but it's a close call. I also occassionally lose

> sound, but only if I have the speakers off and then turn them on again

> (which seems like a hardware issue to me, not a driver issue). The only

> other problems I have had are in software compatibility, namely the fact

> that there isn't an adobe x64 pdf iFilter through Acrobat Reader.

>

> The Benefits:

> I have never had a system so stable and responsive as this machine. I can

> multitask like crazy (i.e. record two TV shows at once, encode video, browse

> the internet, and listen to music all at the same time). It responds

> immediately to anything I click, unlike the half-second or so delay I have

> always been accustomed to. I don't think I've shut the system down even

> once since I set everything up in the beginning. I've restarted maybe three

> times total. This system wakes up from sleep immediately every time and

> isn't phased at all.

>

> This has been a great experience, so I decided to go ahead and activate my

> copy. Vista x64 has been awesome and I look forward to bigger and better

> things as x64 becomes the norm.

>

>

[Guest John E]

Re: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

"John Adams" <seamus@horadrim.net> wrote in message

news:uzAzEQ69HHA.5464@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> The Benefits:

> I have never had a system so stable and responsive as this machine. I can

> multitask like crazy (i.e. record two TV shows at once, encode video,

> browse the internet, and listen to music all at the same time). It

> responds immediately to anything I click, unlike the half-second or so

> delay I have always been accustomed to. I don't think I've shut the

> system down even once since I set everything up in the beginning. I've

> restarted maybe three times total. This system wakes up from sleep

> immediately every time and isn't phased at all.

>

> This has been a great experience, so I decided to go ahead and activate my

> copy. Vista x64 has been awesome and I look forward to bigger and better

> things as x64 becomes the norm.

 

 

Hi John.

 

I have a similar experience here. I have used Vista 64 from the start. I was

getting a lot of BSOD crashes, which proved to be due to Nvidia drivers and

Intel RAID drivers. I have now sorted those thanks to updates from the two

companies mentioned. I have had a completely stable system for the last

three months. On the other hand, I still have no TV tuner card. My old tuner

card was a Hauppauge 1300 Hybrid card, and it is not scheduled for drivers

for 64 bit OSs. My complaint is not with Microsoft, but with Hauppauge.

 

I now have no TV card, and the system works fine.

 

If you know of a TV card which works in the UK with analogue and digital

input and has Vista 64 drivers, I would be a completely happy bunny.

 

;-)

 

Another John.

John

[Guest John Adams]

Re: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

I'm using dual Hauppage HVR1800 PCI-Ex1 cards. They work quite well and

they do both digital and analog and the radio. I don't know about UK

support though.

 

- John

 

"John E" <JCE@privacy.invalid> wrote in message

news:eFUQN369HHA.5424@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> "John Adams" <seamus@horadrim.net> wrote in message

> news:uzAzEQ69HHA.5464@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>

>> The Benefits:

>> I have never had a system so stable and responsive as this machine. I

>> can multitask like crazy (i.e. record two TV shows at once, encode video,

>> browse the internet, and listen to music all at the same time). It

>> responds immediately to anything I click, unlike the half-second or so

>> delay I have always been accustomed to. I don't think I've shut the

>> system down even once since I set everything up in the beginning. I've

>> restarted maybe three times total. This system wakes up from sleep

>> immediately every time and isn't phased at all.

>>

>> This has been a great experience, so I decided to go ahead and activate

>> my copy. Vista x64 has been awesome and I look forward to bigger and

>> better things as x64 becomes the norm.

>

>

> Hi John.

>

> I have a similar experience here. I have used Vista 64 from the start. I

> was getting a lot of BSOD crashes, which proved to be due to Nvidia

> drivers and Intel RAID drivers. I have now sorted those thanks to updates

> from the two companies mentioned. I have had a completely stable system

> for the last three months. On the other hand, I still have no TV tuner

> card. My old tuner card was a Hauppauge 1300 Hybrid card, and it is not

> scheduled for drivers for 64 bit OSs. My complaint is not with Microsoft,

> but with Hauppauge.

>

> I now have no TV card, and the system works fine.

>

> If you know of a TV card which works in the UK with analogue and digital

> input and has Vista 64 drivers, I would be a completely happy bunny.

>

> ;-)

>

> Another John.

> John

[Guest John Adams]

Re: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

 

- John Adams

 

"Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:2222EE06-0B12-4DFE-A9CD-19B8EFB8F87E@microsoft.com...

> John:

> This is your lucky day.

> Here's your x64 IF filter.

> http://www.foxitsoftware.com/foxitreader/Foxit_PDF_IFilter_X64.msi

> Read all about it here:

> http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/ifilter/

> Carlos

>

> "John Adams" wrote:

>

>> I'm no stranger to Windows Vista. My wife and I were part of a program

>> called "Living with Longhorn" (later changed to Living with Vista) in

>> which

>> we tested the product in our home starting in August of 2005. We saw the

>> OS

>> develop from an early (and very different) beta on to what it is now.

>> All

>> that time, we were using 32-bit software.

>>

>> Recently, however (30 days ago to be exact), I purchased an all new

>> system

>> and decided to put Vista x64 on it. I picked out only hardware that had

>> a

>> Vista certified logo and installed Vista x64 as soon as it was put

>> together.

>> I'll detail my experience below:

>>

>> The Problems:

>> The initial problem I had was in compatibility with a DVD-RW burning

>> device

>> by Sony. I had to change to an LG SATA drive and then everything was

>> fine.

>> It also seems like perhaps my video card drivers aren't quite as nice as

>> the

>> 32 bit counterparts, but it's a close call. I also occassionally lose

>> sound, but only if I have the speakers off and then turn them on again

>> (which seems like a hardware issue to me, not a driver issue). The only

>> other problems I have had are in software compatibility, namely the fact

>> that there isn't an adobe x64 pdf iFilter through Acrobat Reader.

>>

>> The Benefits:

>> I have never had a system so stable and responsive as this machine. I

>> can

>> multitask like crazy (i.e. record two TV shows at once, encode video,

>> browse

>> the internet, and listen to music all at the same time). It responds

>> immediately to anything I click, unlike the half-second or so delay I

>> have

>> always been accustomed to. I don't think I've shut the system down even

>> once since I set everything up in the beginning. I've restarted maybe

>> three

>> times total. This system wakes up from sleep immediately every time and

>> isn't phased at all.

>>

>> This has been a great experience, so I decided to go ahead and activate

>> my

>> copy. Vista x64 has been awesome and I look forward to bigger and better

>> things as x64 becomes the norm.

>>

>>

[Guest John E]

Re: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

"John Adams" <seamus@horadrim.net> wrote in message

news:eMD4EX79HHA.700@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> I'm using dual Hauppage HVR1800 PCI-Ex1 cards. They work quite well and

> they do both digital and analog and the radio. I don't know about UK

> support though.

>

> - John

 

Yup, the lovely Hauppauge has decided to support the USA cards but not the

UK ones in that line. Here is the link to our support:

 

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/whatsnew/vista.html

 

It would be rather less exasperating if they hadn't pretended for three

months after Vista was released that they would support those cards. If you

have a lot of time on your hands (I'm sure you don't) you can have a good

laugh at their British customers expense by reading these newsgroup posts.

http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=12299

 

I was, until last year, a Hauppauge fan. Then I bought this hybrid card (HVR

1300) which worked just fine on XP 32bit (no driver for XP 64 bit) and works

on Vista 32bit (no driver for Vista 64 bit). This is not an ancient card - I

bought it in March 2006. I am seriously disappointed that Hauppauge can't be

bothered to support it in the 64 bit world here in the UK.

 

Some of their other cards do have support (as you can see in that first

link). In the meantime, those of us with this card wait, and take note of

their customer service.

 

John.

[Guest Kevin]

Re: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

OMG...John, for the first time in a long time a voice of Sanity on a Vista

Forum! I've heard so many people complain about Vista and cry about having

to go back to XP it was beginning to make me think I must have one of the

only good images.

 

I bought a brand new HP DV9000 series Notebook in February just after the

Vista release. It's got an AMD Turion 64x2 processor in it and is running

Windows Vista Ultimate 64 Bit. I love this machine. It is fast, stable and

as you said will handle everything I throw at it with ease. It multitasks

better than any other computer I've ever seen.

 

I've only had one compatibility issue due to the 64Bit O/S. I use Alladin

Etoken to connect to my Business VPN and they did not have a 64Bit driver.

BUT about 1 month after I purchased my machine a new version was released

and works perfectly.

 

I can get so many programs running on this machine it's amazing. Multiple

sessions of Citrix Server over my VPN, MS Office, Video and Picture Editing,

Music, Media Center........I've had one BSOD since February.....caused by me

installing the wrong WebCam Driver....easily fixed.

 

I'm actually starting to wonder if 64Bit is more stable than 32? I subcribe

to a few HP User Forums and every day I get an email with a long list of

people who have purchased new PC's and want to kill Vista and install XP!

Why would someone want to do that to a brand new machine?

 

Anyway, people should give the O/S a chance. It's really quite nice once

you get the hang of it.

 

 

"John Adams" <seamus@horadrim.net> wrote in message

news:uzAzEQ69HHA.5464@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> I'm no stranger to Windows Vista. My wife and I were part of a program

> called "Living with Longhorn" (later changed to Living with Vista) in

> which we tested the product in our home starting in August of 2005. We

> saw the OS develop from an early (and very different) beta on to what it

> is now. All that time, we were using 32-bit software.

>

> Recently, however (30 days ago to be exact), I purchased an all new system

> and decided to put Vista x64 on it. I picked out only hardware that had a

> Vista certified logo and installed Vista x64 as soon as it was put

> together. I'll detail my experience below:

>

> The Problems:

> The initial problem I had was in compatibility with a DVD-RW burning

> device by Sony. I had to change to an LG SATA drive and then everything

> was fine. It also seems like perhaps my video card drivers aren't quite as

> nice as the 32 bit counterparts, but it's a close call. I also

> occassionally lose sound, but only if I have the speakers off and then

> turn them on again (which seems like a hardware issue to me, not a driver

> issue). The only other problems I have had are in software compatibility,

> namely the fact that there isn't an adobe x64 pdf iFilter through Acrobat

> Reader.

>

> The Benefits:

> I have never had a system so stable and responsive as this machine. I can

> multitask like crazy (i.e. record two TV shows at once, encode video,

> browse the internet, and listen to music all at the same time). It

> responds immediately to anything I click, unlike the half-second or so

> delay I have always been accustomed to. I don't think I've shut the

> system down even once since I set everything up in the beginning. I've

> restarted maybe three times total. This system wakes up from sleep

> immediately every time and isn't phased at all.

>

> This has been a great experience, so I decided to go ahead and activate my

> copy. Vista x64 has been awesome and I look forward to bigger and better

> things as x64 becomes the norm.

[Guest John Adams]

Re: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

I'm conviced that the 64 bit version is actually more stable than the 32 bit

version. Why? I don't know. But I have two computers, one 32 and one 64

and the 64 bit system is definitely more stable.

 

I've noticed especially with Dell systems that they really foul up the Vista

settings. A relative of mine bought a new Dell system with a pre-installed

Vista installation and it was horrible. It had crazy problems like the

Favorites in IE were insaccessible, she couldn't delete files, and other

very strange issues. She bought a retail version of Vista, installed it and

all the problems magically disappeared. It wasn't Vista's problem and I

suspect that a lot of OEM versions are ruined by the companies who monkey up

the configurations, load them up with crapware, and stuff them with

"diagnostic and support" packages that really just make things worse.

 

The only companies I would even think about buying a computer from anymore

are HP and Gateway, but even then I would probably wipe the disk and install

a retail version of Vista if I could afford it.

 

- John

 

 

"Kevin" <kjdinoc@msn.com> wrote in message

news:EFA99C27-932D-4277-8B4B-6CF0E2103DAE@microsoft.com...

> OMG...John, for the first time in a long time a voice of Sanity on a Vista

> Forum! I've heard so many people complain about Vista and cry about

> having to go back to XP it was beginning to make me think I must have one

> of the only good images.

>

> I bought a brand new HP DV9000 series Notebook in February just after the

> Vista release. It's got an AMD Turion 64x2 processor in it and is running

> Windows Vista Ultimate 64 Bit. I love this machine. It is fast, stable

> and as you said will handle everything I throw at it with ease. It

> multitasks better than any other computer I've ever seen.

>

> I've only had one compatibility issue due to the 64Bit O/S. I use Alladin

> Etoken to connect to my Business VPN and they did not have a 64Bit driver.

> BUT about 1 month after I purchased my machine a new version was released

> and works perfectly.

>

> I can get so many programs running on this machine it's amazing. Multiple

> sessions of Citrix Server over my VPN, MS Office, Video and Picture

> Editing, Music, Media Center........I've had one BSOD since

> February.....caused by me installing the wrong WebCam Driver....easily

> fixed.

>

> I'm actually starting to wonder if 64Bit is more stable than 32? I

> subcribe to a few HP User Forums and every day I get an email with a long

> list of people who have purchased new PC's and want to kill Vista and

> install XP! Why would someone want to do that to a brand new machine?

>

> Anyway, people should give the O/S a chance. It's really quite nice once

> you get the hang of it.

>

>

> "John Adams" <seamus@horadrim.net> wrote in message

> news:uzAzEQ69HHA.5464@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> I'm no stranger to Windows Vista. My wife and I were part of a program

>> called "Living with Longhorn" (later changed to Living with Vista) in

>> which we tested the product in our home starting in August of 2005. We

>> saw the OS develop from an early (and very different) beta on to what it

>> is now. All that time, we were using 32-bit software.

>>

>> Recently, however (30 days ago to be exact), I purchased an all new

>> system and decided to put Vista x64 on it. I picked out only hardware

>> that had a Vista certified logo and installed Vista x64 as soon as it was

>> put together. I'll detail my experience below:

>>

>> The Problems:

>> The initial problem I had was in compatibility with a DVD-RW burning

>> device by Sony. I had to change to an LG SATA drive and then everything

>> was fine. It also seems like perhaps my video card drivers aren't quite

>> as nice as the 32 bit counterparts, but it's a close call. I also

>> occassionally lose sound, but only if I have the speakers off and then

>> turn them on again (which seems like a hardware issue to me, not a driver

>> issue). The only other problems I have had are in software

>> compatibility, namely the fact that there isn't an adobe x64 pdf iFilter

>> through Acrobat Reader.

>>

>> The Benefits:

>> I have never had a system so stable and responsive as this machine. I

>> can multitask like crazy (i.e. record two TV shows at once, encode video,

>> browse the internet, and listen to music all at the same time). It

>> responds immediately to anything I click, unlike the half-second or so

>> delay I have always been accustomed to. I don't think I've shut the

>> system down even once since I set everything up in the beginning. I've

>> restarted maybe three times total. This system wakes up from sleep

>> immediately every time and isn't phased at all.

>>

>> This has been a great experience, so I decided to go ahead and activate

>> my copy. Vista x64 has been awesome and I look forward to bigger and

>> better things as x64 becomes the norm.

>

[Guest John Adams]

Re: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

I installed the iFilter and it seems to be working just fine. The only

thing is that it doesn't load thumbnails like the 32 bit version of the

adobe iFilter does. Oh well, at least I can search the files again.

 

Thanks again!

 

- John

 

 

"Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:2222EE06-0B12-4DFE-A9CD-19B8EFB8F87E@microsoft.com...

> John:

> This is your lucky day.

> Here's your x64 IF filter.

> http://www.foxitsoftware.com/foxitreader/Foxit_PDF_IFilter_X64.msi

> Read all about it here:

> http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/ifilter/

> Carlos

>

> "John Adams" wrote:

>

>> I'm no stranger to Windows Vista. My wife and I were part of a program

>> called "Living with Longhorn" (later changed to Living with Vista) in

>> which

>> we tested the product in our home starting in August of 2005. We saw the

>> OS

>> develop from an early (and very different) beta on to what it is now.

>> All

>> that time, we were using 32-bit software.

>>

>> Recently, however (30 days ago to be exact), I purchased an all new

>> system

>> and decided to put Vista x64 on it. I picked out only hardware that had

>> a

>> Vista certified logo and installed Vista x64 as soon as it was put

>> together.

>> I'll detail my experience below:

>>

>> The Problems:

>> The initial problem I had was in compatibility with a DVD-RW burning

>> device

>> by Sony. I had to change to an LG SATA drive and then everything was

>> fine.

>> It also seems like perhaps my video card drivers aren't quite as nice as

>> the

>> 32 bit counterparts, but it's a close call. I also occassionally lose

>> sound, but only if I have the speakers off and then turn them on again

>> (which seems like a hardware issue to me, not a driver issue). The only

>> other problems I have had are in software compatibility, namely the fact

>> that there isn't an adobe x64 pdf iFilter through Acrobat Reader.

>>

>> The Benefits:

>> I have never had a system so stable and responsive as this machine. I

>> can

>> multitask like crazy (i.e. record two TV shows at once, encode video,

>> browse

>> the internet, and listen to music all at the same time). It responds

>> immediately to anything I click, unlike the half-second or so delay I

>> have

>> always been accustomed to. I don't think I've shut the system down even

>> once since I set everything up in the beginning. I've restarted maybe

>> three

>> times total. This system wakes up from sleep immediately every time and

>> isn't phased at all.

>>

>> This has been a great experience, so I decided to go ahead and activate

>> my

>> copy. Vista x64 has been awesome and I look forward to bigger and better

>> things as x64 becomes the norm.

>>

>>

[Guest Anteaus]

Re: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

Interesting points there, as my only Vista experiences have been with 32-bit

Beta and OEM copies. Which are universally dreadful.

 

Maybe the 64-bit version really is a different animal. Only thing is, not

many ordinary users would ever find out, becasue just about everything ships

with 32-bit preinstalled, even if it's a 64-bit processor. Are MS selling

themselves short in this case?

[Guest John Barnes]

Re: 30 Days of Vista Ultimate x64

 

My case is just the opposite. My Vista32 is reliable every time, about 1-2

times a month my 64-bit requires booting with last known good and 2 times

had to be started via the install DVD. My experience with Gateway from

friends and family has always been a nightmare. Personally as a result, I

have never bought one.

 

"John Adams" <seamus@horadrim.net> wrote in message

news:ON1z8s99HHA.5948@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> I'm conviced that the 64 bit version is actually more stable than the 32

> bit version. Why? I don't know. But I have two computers, one 32 and

> one 64 and the 64 bit system is definitely more stable.

>

> I've noticed especially with Dell systems that they really foul up the

> Vista settings. A relative of mine bought a new Dell system with a

> pre-installed Vista installation and it was horrible. It had crazy

> problems like the Favorites in IE were insaccessible, she couldn't delete

> files, and other very strange issues. She bought a retail version of

> Vista, installed it and all the problems magically disappeared. It wasn't

> Vista's problem and I suspect that a lot of OEM versions are ruined by the

> companies who monkey up the configurations, load them up with crapware,

> and stuff them with "diagnostic and support" packages that really just

> make things worse.

>

> The only companies I would even think about buying a computer from anymore

> are HP and Gateway, but even then I would probably wipe the disk and

> install a retail version of Vista if I could afford it.

>

> - John

>

>

> "Kevin" <kjdinoc@msn.com> wrote in message

> news:EFA99C27-932D-4277-8B4B-6CF0E2103DAE@microsoft.com...

>> OMG...John, for the first time in a long time a voice of Sanity on a

>> Vista Forum! I've heard so many people complain about Vista and cry

>> about having to go back to XP it was beginning to make me think I must

>> have one of the only good images.

>>

>> I bought a brand new HP DV9000 series Notebook in February just after the

>> Vista release. It's got an AMD Turion 64x2 processor in it and is

>> running Windows Vista Ultimate 64 Bit. I love this machine. It is fast,

>> stable and as you said will handle everything I throw at it with ease.

>> It multitasks better than any other computer I've ever seen.

>>

>> I've only had one compatibility issue due to the 64Bit O/S. I use

>> Alladin Etoken to connect to my Business VPN and they did not have a

>> 64Bit driver. BUT about 1 month after I purchased my machine a new

>> version was released and works perfectly.

>>

>> I can get so many programs running on this machine it's amazing.

>> Multiple sessions of Citrix Server over my VPN, MS Office, Video and

>> Picture Editing, Music, Media Center........I've had one BSOD since

>> February.....caused by me installing the wrong WebCam Driver....easily

>> fixed.

>>

>> I'm actually starting to wonder if 64Bit is more stable than 32? I

>> subcribe to a few HP User Forums and every day I get an email with a long

>> list of people who have purchased new PC's and want to kill Vista and

>> install XP! Why would someone want to do that to a brand new machine?

>>

>> Anyway, people should give the O/S a chance. It's really quite nice once

>> you get the hang of it.

>>

>>

>> "John Adams" <seamus@horadrim.net> wrote in message

>> news:uzAzEQ69HHA.5464@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>> I'm no stranger to Windows Vista. My wife and I were part of a program

>>> called "Living with Longhorn" (later changed to Living with Vista) in

>>> which we tested the product in our home starting in August of 2005. We

>>> saw the OS develop from an early (and very different) beta on to what it

>>> is now. All that time, we were using 32-bit software.

>>>

>>> Recently, however (30 days ago to be exact), I purchased an all new

>>> system and decided to put Vista x64 on it. I picked out only hardware

>>> that had a Vista certified logo and installed Vista x64 as soon as it

>>> was put together. I'll detail my experience below:

>>>

>>> The Problems:

>>> The initial problem I had was in compatibility with a DVD-RW burning

>>> device by Sony. I had to change to an LG SATA drive and then everything

>>> was fine. It also seems like perhaps my video card drivers aren't quite

>>> as nice as the 32 bit counterparts, but it's a close call. I also

>>> occassionally lose sound, but only if I have the speakers off and then

>>> turn them on again (which seems like a hardware issue to me, not a

>>> driver issue). The only other problems I have had are in software

>>> compatibility, namely the fact that there isn't an adobe x64 pdf iFilter

>>> through Acrobat Reader.

>>>

>>> The Benefits:

>>> I have never had a system so stable and responsive as this machine. I

>>> can multitask like crazy (i.e. record two TV shows at once, encode

>>> video, browse the internet, and listen to music all at the same time).

>>> It responds immediately to anything I click, unlike the half-second or

>>> so delay I have always been accustomed to. I don't think I've shut the

>>> system down even once since I set everything up in the beginning. I've

>>> restarted maybe three times total. This system wakes up from sleep

>>> immediately every time and isn't phased at all.

>>>

>>> This has been a great experience, so I decided to go ahead and activate

>>> my copy. Vista x64 has been awesome and I look forward to bigger and

>>> better things as x64 becomes the norm.

>>

>