Vista SP1 - 4Gb RAM

Don't mean to burst your bubble but vista only sees the 4 gigs you have installed. you still will only have 3-3.5 gigs available to use. Check task manager under the performance tab and i bet you will only see 3000-3500MBs to use

LOL. It's funny to see how many people MS' is fool'n with the 4GB on display.

Windows Vista SP1 will report 4 GB of system memory (RAM) on systems that have 4 GB of memory installed

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946003

They changed Vista to display the full amount of RAM you have plugged in, instead of the amount of RAM that is actually available for use. It's one of Microsoft's little changes that keeps people who don't understand what they are doing from emailing and calling tech support for a "problem" that they don't have.

yea when i installed SP1 i was excited for a total of 3 minutes... then i checked task manager and realized that it was just a trick... jerks

when it rains in hell, thats when they realize.

It's just a display change .... MS does a lotta things to make you feel better about it..... the proverbial smoke and mirrors.....it now correctly reports what you have but still doesn't actually use it.

Also watch out for lost nVidia drivers...One Vista blog user wrote:

“In retrospect, not my finest decision,” said SeppDietrich. “What a disaster! It exiled all of my Nvidia drivers to the Bermuda Triangle... they're simply all GONE.”

Also lot of hardware / software specific issues for which Vista SP1 won't install:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=948343

Including presence of products by:

Realtek AC'97
SigmaTel
SigmaTel
Creative Audigy
AuthenTec Fingerprint Sensor
UPEK Fingerprint Sensor
Intel Display Drivers
Texas Instruments Smart Card Controller
Sierra Wireless AirCard 580
Symantec software driver for Symantec Endpoint Protection and for Symantec Network Access Control clients
Bit Defender
Zone Labs

for people who don't already know about the difference between USING and DISPLAYING 4GB of ram, that's fine with me. if by seeing 4GB displayed in windows makes them happy, than so be it.

maybe this will stop all those complaint threads about "how come windows isn't seeing all 4gb of my ram?" which i'm soooo sick of seeing everyday...

ignorance is bliss....

Before and After vista sp1, the 64 bit version has had virtually no compatibility issues. What are people doing that can't be done in 64 bit? Using the same key you should be able to install 64 bit or 32 bit on your system. (can't say for sure thats the same with OEM supplier copies, but it works with Retail and MSDN Volume keys of ultimate, business, home premium and enterprise)

The second link says CS2 works in x64 Sorry I found it funny.

Third link real quick breakdown:
194 pages total now

176 pages Certified for x64
7 pages Compatible with x64
1 page Works with x64
12 pages unknown

and it that unknown also includes things like dell keyboards and stereo equipment. Seriously though keyboards??? I didn't even think about it when I moved to 64 bit and my keyboard is from '99 and has media keys. Come to think of it I didn't check my mouse for Vista64 certification either and it's just as old
with stuff like that the 6.2% unknown doesn't seem too bad at all.

Can't say nothing about quickbook, iphone, or autocad though...

^^^agreed

other than some VPN connection software (cisco vpn, and sonicwall vpn) i can run everything that i ran in 32bit in vista x64. Vista 64 is a very good OS for home use, IMO.

It's not FUD when Ballmer claims compatibility with 30,000 programs whenever Linux or Mac is brought up and then SP1 advertises that it is now works with 2,000. I'm not saying 2,000 is bad within a year of release but ya can't have it both ways.

I have the AutoCAD 2008 version....the new 2009 version will arrive here next month. I share drawings with at least 3 dozen architects and consultants....so far one other has 2008. At $595 a pop per year, not many people upgrade often. I ahve to save about half my drawings as AutoCAD 2004 format before exchanging with others....about 40% more I have t go back to 2000.

I wouldn't call industry dominators like Bit Defender and ZoneLabs "less than spectacular 3rd party apps".

639 apps are certified compatible.
1765 have earned the 'works with (to some extent) logo

But those number shave to be taken with several grains ...er pounds of salt.

For example...there's:

3 copies of Acronis True Image Home on the list as it's sold under different companies
9 copies of AI on the list
6 copies of Better Homes and Gardens
6 copies of check designer
8 copies of CiF
52 copies of Clinet
5 copies of Corel Paint Shop Pro
6 copies of Delorme Street Atlas
5 Encyclopedia Britannicas
24 Lexware's
24 MYOB's
Up to 8 copies of all the Paragon stiuf like HD Manager, Disk Copy, Disk Backup, Partiton Manager etc
8 Presto Mr. Photos
20 Presto Teaches Stuff titles
12 Quickbooks

Ok I got tired....But some cases it's a basic program with various add-ons, others it's different language versions, some it's like version 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04 ...or its regular, Deluxe, pro, Enterprise, Site License versions of the same thing....so all in all, it's probably around 1,500 - 2,000 apps if you bump all the doubles. It also includes OS components like MS Net which is weird. Again, not bad for a 14 month old OS. And that is Vista not Vista 64.

This Vista 64 list has 99 programs on it:
http://thevistaforums.com/index.ph [...] article=47

But here's the major reason why the TH crowd may think twice before moving from XP to Vista 64

http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/ [...] tail&id=37

Game FPS WinXPSp2 Min Max Aver
Half-Life 2: Episode 1 53 135 90.3
Counter-Strike Source 39 131 82.6

Game FPS WinXPSp2 Min Max Aver
Half-Life 2: Episode 1 42 103 75.0
Counter-Strike Source 16 102 66.5

I think the best Vista "buy" right now is Ultimate since they took a big whack off the price. Then you can get a free (or S&H costs) copy of XP and dual boot so you can sue whatever works best in any situation.