Memory sizes of Microsoft Windows Operating Systems
Processor and memory support
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- 2.5Selling Windows Vista
2.4Processor and memory supportWhat about processor and memory support? Most Windows Vista product editions will be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit (x64) versions. Here's how the various versions support each processor type, and how much RAM they allow.
There's been some confusion about the difference between multiple processors and multiple processor cores (for example, both Intel and AMD are currently selling dual-core CPUs, and quad-core chips are on the way). While all of the Vista product editions support only one or two physical processors, none are limited to the number of processor cores they will support. 2.5Selling Windows VistaAccording to internal Microsoft documentation, the goal of the product edition differentiations in Windows Vista is to provide "clear value proposition" to all customer segments and take XP-era innovations, such as the Media Center and Tablet PC functionality, to the mainstream. Windows Vista is also being positioned as a transitionary product for the x64 platform: Almost all Windows Vista editions will be offered in both x86 (32-bit) and x64 (64-bit) versions, and these versions will ship in the same box. So, for example, when you purchase Vista Home Premium, the version you get will depend on which type of PC you have: If it's an x64-based PC, the x64 version will be installed. Microsoft expects to transition its client product lines completely to x64 after the release of Windows Vista. What's scary here, of course, is how widely Microsoft is expanding the Windows product line. As with its Office family of products (see my Office 2007 FAQ for details), Microsoft is stretching things a bit with this wide number of product editions, and this will lead to consumer and business confusion, which is never a good thing. When the company revealed that they were componentizing Windows Vista in order to make it easier for the company and its PC maker partners to create various product editions on the fly (read a discussion about this topic in my showcase, The Road to Windows Longhorn 2003), few people expected them to take advantage of the situation like this. The sheer number of Windows Vista versions is going to cause massive consumer confusion, and some of these versions will likely be orphaned after they prove to be targeting niche markets. That will lead to further migration confusion when the time to upgrade comes. In any event, there's a lot of information to digest here, but I know that SuperSite readers have been waiting for this for ... well, years. Enjoy! --Paul Thurrott March 2, 2006 Download 0.82 Mb. Share with your friends:
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