In short: 64-bit applications are almost non-existent.
A little bit longer:
So, few months ago I decided to try the latest Windows for desktop in its most modern form: Windows 7 x64. It’s 7, and it’s 64-bit. Its modernness can only be rivaled by Windows Server 2008 R2 which only available in 64-bit. The reason is to get the so few percent possible speed improvement in x264.
Fast forward few months, I then noticed that:
- The speed gain from x264 64-bit is negated by the fact that I’m forced to use avs2yuv for filtering video for x264 and I’m too lazy to do lossless pass.
- There’s almost no 64-bit applications available. In the 3 months period I have installed, like, single-digit amount of 64-bit applications. And 7-Zip 64-bit feels sluggish.
- 7-Zip
- WinRAR
- VirtualBox
- x264
- Photoshop
- Anti virus (avast)
- Drivers
Last thing I needed is another reason to move back to 32-bit.
And that comes today: I need (or actually, want) to install coLinux (after trying out on friends’ laptop and seems to be capable of doing what I wanted). It doesn’t have 64-bit support yet. And I don’t think it’ll come anytime soon. So, there – I’m going back to 32-bit.
2009/11/26 – 2010/02/18 (probably the longest I ever used 64-bit Windows.)