Over the weekend I installed and configured a new build [v. 1421] of the Windows XP x64 Edition on my Compaq Presario 3000 Laptop with a 64-bit processor (just in case you have not noticed it on the screenshot above).

Compaq Presario R3000

A question I get asked quite often:
64-bit Keun?(Why 64-bit?)

If you are running an enterprise information technology solution, one of the common strategies for you to adopt in order to scale-up (as opposed to scale-out) your solution would be to throw more memory at your box.

With a 32-bit hardware you will hit the memory ceiling of 4GB = 2^32 bits (the maximum addressable memory space with piddly 32-bits), unless you unleash some tricks like AWE, PAE, etc to overcome the memory barrier. These tricks have their own overheads.

I am sure you have heard of the saying “There’s nothing called a free lunch”.

With 64-bit processors this ceiling just gets blown away, since now you have a maximum theoretical addressable memory space become 2^64 bits, which is 18446744073709551616 bits. This is about 18 billion GB, or 18 exabytes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exabyte). Now hopefully you will not require more than 18EB of memory anytime soon. But, who can say ;-).

The next question I get asked is, what am I doing with a 64-bit capable laptop. Am I planning to run all the enterprise solution of my company on my shining 64-bit laptop.

No, my dear. The reason you and I (who are power users :-) offcourse) need a 64-bit laptop is because I may decide to take a shot at the GrammyAwards by creating some soul stirring music entirely on my laptop w/o visiting any recording studio. Check out the software: http://www.cakewalk.com/x64/default.asp
Here are some example of music which has been entirely created on a computer. Check it out, I bet you will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of these music:

Now for the real reason for my possessing this 64-bit hardware; I help Independent Software Vendors write efficient software on 64-bit Windows platform. So, this is my lab where I perform different experiments to check out my ideas before I present them to my audience.

Saptak Sen

If you enjoyed this post, you should check out my book: Starting with Spark.

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