Day number 4 after the 64bit installation

Why 64bit:
32bit operating systems to address a maximum of 3.5 GB Ram, this limitation does not apply to 64-bit operating systems. According to my information supports Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit 192GB Ram. For years, is already available hardware that supports 64-bit operating systems. The future of operating systems will inevitably go towards 64bit. Whether you still want to invest in a 32bit OS everyone must decide for themselves. Whoever acquires the System Builder OEM version of Windows 7 has to decide for half the normal price, between 32- or 64-bit. The OEM version is shipped without a manual.
4 days ago I installed the 64bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate on my computer. Vista I had completely left out, so I moved directly from Windows XPpro. All comparisons refer to XPpro accordingly.

System:
ASUS P5KPL-AM, Intel E2160 (2.4GHz), 4MB RAM, GeForce 9600GT, 2 ACER 17 "monitors, printers Canon IP4300, Epson Perfection 1670 scanner.

To install:
The installation holds no secrets and is to accomplish even for inexperienced users. Tip: I have been staying a backup disk in a removable rack, on which I absichere all my important data. The advantage of the removable disk is that I can turn it off at an installation. So I can not destroy by a "wrong mouse" my backups. If the drive on / off the computer has to be rebooted.

I decided, for safety's sake XPpro to keep ahead and set up a new partition for the installation in a logical drive. It is advisable to leave XPpro in the boot partition, because only then recognize Windows 7 XP than 2 operating system, and bind them automatically in the boot manager one.
After installation, it is powerful colorful on the desktop. Who it just like, I am grateful that I was able to switch off all again and was able to set a fast XP surfaces.

The operating system is designed so that you can easily explore it and can use to basically intiutiv. The first installations of my office, photo and technical software revealed that keeps all your old 32-bit programs under the clean install 64bit Windows. Should there be with old software conflicts, Microsoft offers the ability to install an XP environment emulation via download. With the exception of a very old shareware Paint Shop Pro 4 and a technical version of a very old high-frequency filter simulation (RFSim99) ran all the programs without the XP emulator.
64bit drivers:

My concern for 64bit driver availability was fortunately in vain. Windows 7 recognized all the hardware of my computer, a driver installation for the mainboards as under XPpro, was not necessary. Extensive support of hardware is installed, the printer driver in the original 64bit version was incorporated, NVIDIA and Epson provide for their hardware to full hardware to download. If one makes a little longer operating, is Windows7 out by itself that there is a better NVIDIA driver, and recommends this update through the system update, well done!
Speed:

The boot process is identical to that of Windows XP, both versions to boot in about 55 seconds until the are ready to work.
The working speed is no different from XP. Windows 7 appears subjectively in the operation smoother running than XP.

Network / Security:
The network offers a so-called. Home network and the normal networks. The home network is to be understandable for the layman supposedly easier. As I set up my network itself, I have chosen the classic method. The firewall is powerful and can be configured consuming. I recommend "Windows Firewall Control" from:

[...]
to install. Thus one has a clear control center, the operation of the firewall is significantly simplified and you will be informed in real time about the current actions.

Delete and move the file actions are confirmed, sometimes referred to as Administrator. When programs are installed, there is a confirmation prompt that prevents unwanted programs can secretly install. The security effort is appropriate and the user will not be bombarded with unnecessary questions. For security reasons, it is worthwhile to read what would be installed there.
If applications are to be installed, on which the user wants to access directly altering (z. B. * .ini files), it is recommended not to select the default folder for the installation, but create your own installation folder. The default folder have a very high security monitoring, so that this can be cumbersome to change files,

Outlook Express:
Is there no longer exist. As a replacement is Windows Live Mail. Unfortunately, Live Mail is programmed in causing this eye cancer ClearType font. Therefore I switched to Mozilla Thunderbird, which was overdue anyway.

Games:
I use as a game IL-2 Sturmovik in one, with mods, multiple gigabyte version and T-34 vs Tiger. Both games run perfectly with DirectX or Open GL without noticeable loss of speed.

Conclusion:
Microsoft has learned from the Vista flop. Since I had never Vista in use appears with Windows 7 the logical evolution of Windows XP.
Conclusion:

Microsoft has managed to win the most important hardware provider for the programming of 64bit drivers. While a few years ago was to accomplish only waiving the use of certain hardware or software, the change from 32- to 64-bit system, the driver support has become much better. The 64bit version of Windows 7 is working sparingly with the system resources and can be used without restrictions on power systems with 4GB Ram.
Meanwhile I have so much confidence in this new operating system that I have the XP partition reduced with a partition manager to 20GB. But be careful, Windows will then start again until the repair console was designed with the DVD.

This successful Windows 7 64bit will be the start of the era of 64-bit platforms.