Vista will be the last version of Windows for Pentium 4 and Core Duo owners

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David Flynn17 May 2007, 1:43 PM

Microsoft has sounded the death knell for 32-bit operating systems, meaning Vista's the last version of Windows that will boot on Pentium 4 and Intel Core Duo. Perhaps AMD had a point after all with its early introduction of 64-bit...UPDATE |Microsoft has clarified its position.

UPDATE | Microsoft's Alex Heaton has clarified the comment of Bill Laing, on which this story is based. "Bill Laing, a General Manager in the Microsoft Windows Server Division, has been quoted as saying that Windows Server 2008 will be the last 32-bit operating system.  Bill is a server guy and indeed Windows Server 2008 is the last 32-bit server operating system – all future operating systems for server hardware from Microsoft beyond Windows Server 2008 will be 64-bit," Heaton said.

"A few folks took Bill’s comments on Windows Server and applied them to Windows Client deriving that Windows Vista would be the last 32-bit operating system. That is an incorrect extension.  While Windows Vista includes both 32-bit and 64-bit and there is a growing community of drivers for 64-bit Windows Vista we have not decided when Windows Client will follow Windows Server and become 64-bit only."

 

It's the end of the line for 32-bit operating systems, Microsoft has proclaimed at its annual Windows Hardware Engineering conference

After the software giant has gotten over its hangover from partying like it's 1999 with the release of Windows Server 2008, it will have one last 32-bit hurrah with a "release 2" update to Windows Server 2008, and that'll be it.

32 bit CPU: if you have one, learn to love Vista -- you're stuck with it.32 bit CPU: if you have one, learn to love Vista -- you're stuck with it.
There will be no more versions of Windows -- on desktop or server -- that will work on 32-bit CPUs like Pentium 4 or Core Duo (first-gen MacBook owners, take note, Windows Vista will be the last version of Windows installable on your machine.)

The company's general manager for Windows Server platform, Bill Laing, confirmed that "Windows Server 2008 is the last 32-bit operating system (for desktops and servers) that we'll produce".

Speaking during a morning keynote address WinHEC, Laing described the company as being "in the middle of a transition to 64-bit computing. Post-2008, we will transition to 64-bit. Many Microsoft products are becoming 64-bit only today, because they're realizing the benefits of 64-bit computing."

EIGHT more versions of Windows en route

Meanwhile, whatever was in the water over at the Windows marketing building on Microsoft's sprawling campus, it seems their Windows Server counterparts have also been drinking it.

At yesterday's WinHEC geekfest in Los Angeles, Microsoft detailed that an astounding eight versions of Windows Server would be on the market by next year, including a new SKU for medium-sized business boxes.

All will be built on the foundations of Windows Server 2008 , which in turn shares much of its code with Vista. (Both the desktop and server-side operating systems not only sprang from the same soil but at several stages in their long gestation were due for simultaneous release.)

First up are the four versions of Windows Server 2008: Web Edition, Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition and Datacenter Edition. Fair enough, as that's a repeat of the SKUs in the current Windows Server 2003 family.

More news on Windows Home Server

In October this year we'll see the debut of Windows Home Server , which has so far resisted attempts to be branded with a year-based version.

(Microsoft also announced at WinHEC that Lacie and Gateway had joined HP as launch partners for Windows Home Server hardware, confirmed that Windows Home Server would be available system builders rather than restricted to OEMs, and released a list of third-party vendors who are developing software for the home server platform. These include Diskeeper's defragmentation utility, home automation tools from Embedded Automation's mControl and Lagotek's Home Intelligence Platform, plus media streaming from PacketVideo Connect and SageTV).

Amped up server for small businesses

In early 2008, Home Server this will be joined by another new server sibling aimed at medium-sized businesses of between 25-500 PCs (these are US definitions of business sizes -- most Australians would consider a 500-seat shop to be a large business).

Codenamed ‘Centro', but likely to be christened something way out and radical such as Windows Medium Business Server 2008, the platform will borrow from the successful Small Business Server recipe.

This will include a simplified setup and licensing process plus bundled and tightly-integrated products such as the Exchange, SharePoint and SQL servers as well as the Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM offerings and a new version of Solitaire. (Okay, we're kidding about that last part.) Unlike the single-sever SBS platform, however, Centro will be capable of spanning across several server boxes.

Centro will be followed mid-year by Small Business Server 2008 (currently codenamed Cougar), which brings the tally to seven serves of Windows Server.

The final member of the family is the streamlined Windows Storage Server for managing storage, including network-attached storage boxes. WSS is currently parked in ‘2003 R2' mode, although the WinHEC Server Madness roadmap didn't specially call out a next release of WSS. Maybe there wasn't enough room on the PowerPoint slide...


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EcranBleu:

MSFT has promised so much in the past that the "64-bit only" version is yet another marketing stunt. Come on! What about all the legacy code that exists out there? Will they provide an "emulation layer" inside this new windows version to be able to run 32-bit code?

Also, why are you talking about Vista being the last version installable on a Mac core duo? Seriously, who gives a crap?

If we bought Macs, it's not to run Vista! I have a core 2 duo Mac and I only run Windows 2000 in parallels to use 1 (not 10, not 3, not 2, just ONE) program that runs on Windows only. I didn't even care about windows XP since it uses twice as much RAM as W2k. Vista? The only time I tried it, it was at CompUSA and I gave up after 30 seconds when I saw they had f-ed up the UI by removing the menus. If I have to learn a new UI just for the sake of it, I thought, I can just buy a Mac and get a Unix foundation at the same time.

So, if MSFT took five years to get Vista running on a 32-bit CPU where they have a LOT of experience, do you think the new 64-bit version will exist during our lifetime?

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Anonymous234567:

That the x32 Server Os is dying is old news. All new Intel and AMD processors are now x64 capable, so there's little reason not to make the move. As for worries about x64 vista - it's already here. For the desktop, the transition will take longer, but is doubtless coming.

Oh, and by the way - all core2 duos have x64 capability, as do some later P4s. They'll run the 64-bit version just fine.


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Ben Goodwyn:

I am not so sure this refers to desktop OS. The way I understood the keynote was that this only was for server operating systems. Is the "(for desktops and servers)" your editorial or is that a quote from the keynote or a separate interview?

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Anonymous89789:

I don't think this is true. Bill Laing mentioned last server OS. I think MS will still have 32bit OS for the desktop

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Anonymuos:

First, the quality of this article is PATHETIC and its full of errors. And second, MS has said nothing really specific about the Windows client. On the server side, Windows Server 2008 will be the last, even R2 will be 64-bit only.

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APCMAG-CRAP:

Another example of APCMag's poor quality of journalism.

Keep up the bad work!

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Anonymouszz:

Check your processor specifications.

The Core 2 Duo (and Core 2 Quad) ranges are IA64 capable.

I.E. They are ALREADY 64 bit processors and have NOTHING to fear from the demise of 32bit software.

SOME Older Pentium 4's MAY be left behind in this shift.

Personally I could care less I run linux.

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Dan Warne:

The article says "Core Duo", not "Core 2 Duo". 

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weazzle:

Actually it is not IA64 compatible, it is EM64T which is Intel's implementation of the AMD64 spec. A fair number of the later Pentium 4 and I believe all of the Pentium D processors have EM64T support.

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raindog:

Nothing particularly out of line here, with Microsoft pensioning off hardware regardless of market demand. There are more than enough server systems out there to support middle aged or low end hardware.

As for the client side it seems many have decided XP is the last Windows version another hurdle at the server end just makes the decision to run alternatives that much easier.

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Annonymous:

So what happened to the days when all you needed was a small server with not really high specs to *be* a server?

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tin:

Personally I agree. A server shouldn't need a 2GHz CPU and 2GB of RAM just to sit idle. Our home server for example used to be a Pentium Pro 200 with 128MB RAM. That was for 6 regular users, and covered file sharing, domain logons, web server, mail server proxy and routing.
Small Business Server would never run on that.

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can:

...but even though 2GHz and 2GB is recommended (for a basic install?), by tailoring your install and just installing what you need, the spec requirements can go down a great deal, giving you a chance to install it on a older, trusty PC with no problem at all.

Furthermore, these days aren't the old days, and any server from this millenia should have the specs to even run that "bloated install".

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Aninnymouse:

Well I do suppose thin clients are effectively becoming desktops anyway. Why not bloat servers while we're at it?

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Anonymous342ou4:

This article is quite alarmist and points out many things that may not even be true. Sure, this article is focused on servers but an assumption is made that all this knowledge would apply to desktops. One does not need to look any further than the Windows NT rollout and the subsequent delays in porting consumer Windows to the new platform. It was a nightmare.

I also think the Mac comment is worth picking apart as well. A lot of care and attention has gone into making OS X reasonably "platform independent" which has allowed the transition from PowerPC to Intel in a manner that impacts users in a minimal way. Making the jump from OSX/i32 to OSX/i64 will be trivial given what the Mac guys have been up to in past years.

Like many in the forum I prefer Linux. Though I don't spend my whole life on forums, I must admit this is the closest thing to a "Microsoft Fanboy" article that has ever existed in my humble internet meanderings.

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stephan beal:

To comment on:

"32 bit CPU: if you have one, learn to love Vista -- you're stuck with it."

Wrong. More than 10 years after the 486 went the way of the Dodo, there are Linux distributions which still target that platform. There is no reason to believe that such support will not continue for the 32-bit platforms of today. Such machines will serve as print servers, file servers, firewalls, thin clients, etc., just as many older Pentiums do today. Not to mention the organizations which collect older PCs for distribution in "developing nations". In those places, 32-bit PCs will still be alive and kicking for at least the next 15 years. And, in all likelyhood, they'll be powered by Linux.


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Jordan:

i thought Core 2's were 64bit? so wouldnt they still work?

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Dan Warne:

Yes, they would... the article refers to Core Duo, not Core 2 Duo.


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kenshinflyer:

Sheesh, why is everyone fussing about this latest doodad Bill Gates wants you to buy? As for me, all I need is my Toshiba Portege PIII loaded with the authentic Windows 98SE that came with it. I just added all the updates I can find for this 'obsolete' OS (there's supposed to be a tone of voice in the word 'obsolete') and away I go. As a result I can still surf the 'Net, do my email, and post this message! Sure, go ahead, call me a sourgraper...but, at least, I'm not worrying about all the licensing nonsense that requires you to resort to cracks.

After all, 'business' is defined as "a means of someone taking your money away without resistance." Bill mastered it. And he used this mastery on you Vista guys.

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kenshinflyer (New user):

64-Bit Computing?

I would want a laptop/desktop that could do my office work as well as play good games. STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 2 does not need a 64-bit CPU/OS. My favorite H-Games (like SHUFFLE! and Snow Drop) does not need a 64-bit CPU/OS. Those cute Flash games don't need a 64-bit CPU/OS. StarCraft (the original one) didn't need a 64-bit CPU/OS. The best games so far on the PC are on legacy code and does not need a 64-bit CPU/OS.

Why won't Microsoft just make a good plain-and-simple OS? Something that will attract technophobes? Windows 95 worked for me for 10 years! Why won't Bill admit that there are still many people preferring older OSes? Why won't Bill continue to release updates for these OSes?

Anyway, Bill, if I ever wanted a newer OS, I'll go to the store and buy one, no questions asked. But if that newer OS has plenty of useless gewgaws, thingamajigs and doohickeys, forget it.

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kenshinflyer (New user):

64-Bit Computing?

I would want a laptop/desktop that could do my office work as well as play good games. STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 2 does not need a 64-bit CPU/OS. My favorite H-Games (like SHUFFLE! and Snow Drop) does not need a 64-bit CPU/OS. Those cute Flash games don't need a 64-bit CPU/OS. StarCraft (the original one) didn't need a 64-bit CPU/OS. The best games so far on the PC are on legacy code and does not need a 64-bit CPU/OS.

Why won't Microsoft just make a good plain-and-simple OS? Something that will attract technophobes? Windows 95 worked for me for 10 years! Why won't Bill admit that there are still many people preferring older OSes? Why won't Bill continue to release updates for these OSes?

Anyway, Bill, if I ever wanted a newer OS, I'll go to the store and buy one, no questions asked. But if that newer OS has plenty of useless gewgaws, thingamajigs and doohickeys, forget it.

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