Win 7 64 bit

[osgood]

My Mum (84) needs a new computer. Laptop would be ideal so she could use it in any location in the house. She has no internet and has no plans to have it. She just uses a word processor and plays a few games.

Found a Dell online that looks good at a price she can afford, but I don't know anything about the 64bit version of Win 7.
Will there be any software issues with it?

It comes with MS Works and I have a few simple games - jigsaw puzzles, card games and I'm wondering if these will run on it.

Specs:
Processor - Intel® Pentium® Processor T4300 (2.1GHz / 800FSB / 1MB Cache)

Operating System - Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64bit (English)

Memory - 4GB Dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive - 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

Display - 15.6" 720p WLED (1366x768) Display with TrueLife(TM), with integrated 1.3 mega pixel web cam

Video Card - Intel(TM) Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD

Optical Drive - 8X DVD+/-RW Drive with DVD+R double layer write capability, with Roxio Burn 1.0--For WIN 7

 

[Mike Labbe]

Most programs will run, but it really depends on how the program was developed. You'd have to check with each company to see if their product runs with Win7 64 (or even xp 64/vista 64).

You can usually tell by visiting the software company's website, and/or their tech support forum.

Mike

 

[Pat Murphey]

Why??? 64 bit hardware and software for word processing and games an 84 year old would play?

 

[Paul N]

The only advantage I can decipher from the 32 vs 64 bit Windows is that the 64 version can handle much more memory (useful maybe for those who work with huge files, but nothing else).

 

[osgood]

Why??? 64 bit hardware and software for word processing and games an 84 year old would play?

Pat,
That was one of the options and it was $100 cheaper than a similar machine that has Win 7 32 bit.

I have found a Toshiba laptop available locally with slightly better specs for even less money and it's in stock, so my Mum doesn't have to wait a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[TheFrameGuy]

Most new PC's are going to have the 64 bit version installed. Win7 will be the last OS from MSFT that even supports 32 bit.

 

[osgood]

I bought a different laptop than the one posted above. It's a Toshiba 400g HD, AMD 2.2ghz processor and 256 mb video card.

When I fired it up, it gave me the option of 32 bit or 64 bit Win7 Premium. I chose 32bit.

 

[TheFrameGuy]

With the 64 bit version, you could run in to older hardware that drivers are not available for. The 64 bit version is faster than the 32 bit version; startup of Windows itself and software is faster. The 64 bit version is also less prone to viruses, although as it gets more popular, the viruses will follow.

I personally recommend 64 bit over the 32 bit.