Looks like 64-bit is finally going to get a decent launch for the desktop windows world. Let’s face it, Vista 64-bit didn’t go over too well. Software vendors just weren’t ready for it. I was just browsing Dell’s site and it seems that all of the new Windows 7 based installations will be 64-bit. Looks like the boys in Round Rock are going full speed ahead. This validates an article I read months ago saying that Microsoft was going to push OEMs to package 64-bit copies of Windows 7. Hopefully other vendors will follow suit and we can start down the path to more 64-bit software for the desktop PC. Although the only real benefit for most users is the higher maximum memory, it’s still nice to see the industry FINALLY progressing. (*nix systems have been 64-bit for YEARS now) It’s also nice that as 64-bit software matures, those of us who have been running it for the past few years can finally get some real 64-bit performance tuning from our application vendors. All I can say is that I hope software vendors who have been holding out on 64-bit get a clue pretty quick! Those new Dells are shipping and nothing pisses off John Q User faster than some vendor telling him that he doesn’t need 64-bit support… even if the vendor is right.

Oh and Nikon, please fix the damned NEF Codec to run with 64-bit operating systems… it’s really not that hard. Upgrade your development tools and just do it please. We Nikon D-SLR users pay a lot of our cameras and do so willingly knowing that Nikon makes some of the best products in the industry. Show us a little love and support 64-bit operating systems.