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What you can get right now

Posted on 14 Oct 2008 at 11:19

What stands in your way of getting Windows 7 features now? Just a little time and patience...

Get 64-bit today

If you want to go 64-bit today, and gain the ability to use more than 4GB of RAM, there's one simple solution: install a 64-bit edition of Windows. More or less all modern computers are capable of running a 64-bit OS. AMD built support into its single-core Athlon 64 in 2003, while Intel added 64-bit support to the Pentium 4 in 2004. If your processor's newer than those, you should be fine.

If you choose this path, we'd recommend Vista rather than XP. The standard 32-bit editions of XP still have an immense user base, and will likely be supported for many years to come, but the 64-bit edition was discontinued three years ago, and drivers are thin on the ground. 64-bit Vista, conversely, is gaining momentum all the time - witness the increasing ranks of 64-bit machines arriving in our Labs.

If you're feeling adventurous, you could alternatively switch to Mac OS X: the latest version is fully 64-bit compatible. Unfortunately, the iMac is hardware-limited to 4GB of RAM. If you want to use more, you'll need to splash out on a Mac Pro, which has eight DIMM sockets, capable of taking up to 32GB. There are plenty of 64-bit Linux distributions, too - indeed, 64-bit Linux has been around for longer than Windows. But we anticipate most people will prefer to stick with Windows.

Moving to 64-bit Windows has its advantages, but it also has downsides. The biggest complaint is the lack of drivers: most major manufacturers now provide 64-bit drivers for new devices, but there are precious few drivers available for older hardware.

What's more, you can't rely on hobbyists to step in and write new drivers. Remember that 64-bit Vista will only accept drivers that have been digitally signed by the publisher, with Microsoft's approval. Moving to 64-bit Windows can thus entail replacing some perfectly working devices. The good news, though, is that Microsoft has promised that current Vista 64 drivers will continue to work under Windows 7 when it finally appears, so if you buy compatible hardware today you won't need to replace it in a year or two's time.

As we've noted, some of our readers - not to mention some of our staff - feel the requirement for signed drivers is a step forward for security and stability. But you can get the same benefits by insisting on signed drivers for yourself: Windows XP and Vista will warn you before installing unsigned drivers, and give you the opportunity to cancel installation. Before you buy a device, you can make sure signed drivers are available by checking the full database of certified hardware at http://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl.

Strip it down

When the news emerged a few months ago that Windows 7 wasn't going to be the pared-back, barebones "MinWin" of rumour, a collective sigh of disappointment could be heard across the internet. It seemed the fabled simpler, more lightweight Vista was not to be.

But you can reduce Vista's bulk yourself. Head over to www.vlite.net and you can download vLite, a slipstreaming package that lets you create a customised Vista installation disc with only the features you want. Don't want the IIS web server? Don't need remote desktop? Simply deselect them within the vLite interface. Next time you install the OS, they'll be gone. Drivers, services and even major system components such as Internet Explorer can be removed in this way.