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Nick Bilton the Lead Blogger at NYT Bits
Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
Giz Explains: What's So Awesome About 64-Bit?
Punch Cards to Laserdisc: History of Computer Storage in Pics
Death of the Disc: Physical Media Extinct by 2010?
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penguiniator
10/09/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
What... are peripheral manufacturers going to all dump 32-bit drivers, bypass 64-bit drivers, and jump straight to 128-bit drivers in one fell swoop? And what 128-bit processors are in general use on computers now?

It's been several years since 64-bit processors became available, and we still don't have all-64-bit drivers and applications available. And it was the same story when processors went from 16-bit to 32-bit.

Practical 128-bit computing won't be possible for most people until after the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit is complete.

So, if this story is accurate about Windows 8/9 being 128-bit, then it will either be many years before it is released (likely, considering their usually slipping release schedule) or it will be a very limited-availability release with limited driver support.

This sounds more like one of the many vapor-ware announcements that used to appear in the 90's than a real announcement.
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hblair66000001002
10/09/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
What is it with people with their taskbars at the top of the screen? Linux/OSX fanboys are the only ones writing articles?
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penguiniator
10/09/09

@hblair66000001002: Yes, because everyone knows you can't move your Windows taskbar to the top of the screen, and the screenshot is obviously a KDE 3.5 desktop made over to look like Windows. Oh, and Obama stole the election.
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Ursus Maritimus
10/08/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
Mmmm, 128-bit. Does that mean 16 and 32GB sticks of DDR4?
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ceilingFANBOY
10/08/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
Does anyone else find it a bit stalkerish the way they tracked down resumes of Microsoft employees and looked through them for hints as to what features might be in Windows 8?
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penguiniator
10/09/09

@ceilingFANBOY: How is reading publicly accessible info stalkerish? The Microsoft employees published their own resumes. It isn't like they were fished out of a dumpster or stolen.
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fluidstates
10/08/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
Amen. pete1061. "We're big on 64-bit OSes" yet far too often the most current 64-bit OS (read: Vista 64) turns into nothing more than a HUGE PITA because you can't find drivers for the hardware you either own or want to own, or can't run software you have or need because of incompatibilities. So what's so GREAT about 64-bit OSes if it doesn't allow your computer to DO WHAT YOU NEED IT DO??
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bagellord
10/08/09

@fluidstates: Clearly you haven't used Winows 7 64 bit yet.
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drsmith
10/08/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
The real question here is *why*? I understand the limitations of 32bit (32bit values roll over at the 4GB mark), but we have no current limitations with 64bit that would obviate the need to move to 128bit.

In fact the switch from 32bit to 64bit is such an exponential change in the sheer volume of numbers that can be represented, we shouldn't need 128 bit any time in the next 20 years. If you don't believe me, do the math.

Isn't this really just sensationalized marketing crap? 64bit was good so 128 *has* to be better?
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Hasanuddin Abu Bakar
10/08/09

@drsmith: [en.wikiquote.org]

Bill Gates once said "we will never make a 32-bit operating system"
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penguiniator
10/09/09

@Hasanuddin Abu Bakar: And no one needs more then 640K of RAM.
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madog
10/07/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
When it comes out in 37 years it'll be greatly appreciated, and potentially necessary.
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Barry99705
10/07/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
Great. Now we'll have the same retards asking if so and so is 128bit compatible. When we ask why they need 128bit, they'll say "because 128bit is better!" without knowing what the hell they're talking about. Then we'll find out they are running winxp with a gig of ram.....
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dagamer34
10/07/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
It's called planning ahead. You don't make an entire OS 64-bit compatible overnight. Heck, because Windows XP wasn't designed with 64-bit compatibility in mind, the first version downright stank, Vista x64 was missing a shitload of drivers, and Windows 7 x64 will be the first version of 64-bit Windows that is ready on day one (then again, it's really more hardware vendor support than anything else).

However, any architecture transition will be bumpy if it's not planned out years in advance. And I think it's a good idea for Microsoft to think a few steps ahead.
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Lizard_King
10/07/09

@dagamer34: I think lot of companies tend to get a product out onto the market, and start concentrating on new products as they taper off support. Purchasers also want to feel that the company has confidence in the product they are releasing - 'What, I thought Windows 7 was perfect, why not wait for Windows 8'. This leads companies to remain tight-lipped about future products. If MS started talking about the next Xbox, sales of the 360 might drop - I think it is the same reason MS wanted to reinforce the idea that Project Natal would be an add-on, not a full console replacement as Balmer hinted at.

MS has a pretty good track record at supporting older products, especially OSes. Yeah, some Luddites complained when WFW3.11 was killed off (good riddance), but all through this Vista PR nightmare XP was still supported.
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fastm3driver
10/07/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
Talk is cheap.
-Win FS team...
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ryno365
10/07/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
Jeez. Doesnt 64 bit support like a few hundred Gigs of ram? I can understand it if they want to start developing 128bit, but releasing a 128 bit os? Whats the point? We wont even have that much ram by then to make a 128 bit os worth using. And we arent even close to surpassing 64 bit.
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Edited by ryno365 at 10/07/09 5:25 PM ryno365 was starred ryno365 was unstarred

MeanMF
10/07/09

@ryno365: 64-bit theoretically supports around 16 billion gigabytes. Current processors don't support a full 64-bit address space though - they're limited to 48-bits, meaning you can only put around 250,000 gigs in your PC.

It's not about the address space - it's more about having bigger registers, data bus, etc.
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Identity (Metric)
10/07/09

@MeanMF: "only... 250,000 gigs..." :) Only. I love that word. I can't wait until something ridiculous becomes absolutely normal. Like 1TB of ram.
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BeerManMike
10/07/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
2023: Newegg "shell shocker", 2eb stick of DDR20 only 24.98 after MiR!!!
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anotirky
10/07/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
Plagiarism :-/
copied from msftkitchen
http://msftkitchen.com/2009/10/exclusive-windows-8-and-windows-9-kernals-to-support-128-bit-architecture.html
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Bertone77
10/07/09

@anotirky: Usually I don't respond to noob comments like this but Plagiarism is a big charge.

This article is being covered on many blogs (including the one you posted) but if you actually RTFA you would see that Matt gave a link to the source :[arstechnica.com] Who also carried the story.
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wild homes loves you but chooses darkness!
10/07/09

@anotirky: Yeah, I'm with Bertone on this one. This story is sourced (as are many of Gizmodo's Windows-related articles) to Ars. Try keeping a level head, and please to not accuse our friends of plagiarism.
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Noobs-R-Us
10/07/09

In reply to Windows 7: 64 Bit. Windows 8? Try 128 Bit
and I should care because?....
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JonathanS
11/05/08

In reply to Giz Explains: What's So Awesome About 64-Bit?
"Vista 64-bit being the first consumer-usable 64-bit version of Windows"

I'm typing this from a workstation running Windows XP x64, 2003 edition - when did Vista come out?
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Rabid Penguin
11/05/08

@JonathanS: Although XP had a 64-bit version I'm pretty sure you couldn't buy it over the shelf. And they said "usable."
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