64-bit vs. 32-bit WAS Re: laptop

As a side note, I've got an AMD64 machine. I installed the native 64-bit
build of Ubuntu and am considering switching to the 32-bit build.
Binary-only apps that are built for a 32-bit environment won't work on a
64-bit environment (without much headache at least, one could set up a
chroot environment with a 32-bit userspace and do some magic to try and
fool applications).

This means that with 64-bit Linux, the non-Free Flash plugin, Sun's Java,
Adobe's Acrobat, games that you have purchased with a Linux client (UT,
Doom 3, etc), and perhaps drivers won't work. This means that binary
packages built for YourDistroLinux might not be built for this
architecture, requiring you to build it yourself. This means that a few
apps won't compile, or will compile and segfault.

You can run a 32-bit Linux environment on your AMD64 machine and it will
still be blazing fast, compile apps for it specifically and the CPU will
have twice as many registers available vs. a 32-bit CPU. Use a 64-bit
Linux only if you need to, or you are willing to put forth the effort to
try and improve things for everyone else.


> Check here: http://www.linux-laptop.net/
>
> It doesn't make any sense to ask how Linux is on Brand-X generally, you
> should know the specific model.
>
>
>
> On Tue, 2005-06-28 at 03:05 +0000, [email protected] wrote:
>> I am getting a  new laptop from best buy.  the deal they have is $1200
>> for a amd 2.0ghz 64bit cpu 60gig hd, 512 memory (in one stick to easily
>> upgrade to 2x512), 15in. screen, dvd +/- rw cd-rw and an extra battery.
>> origionaly it was going to be a hp but they ran out and now it is a
>> compaq.  how good is linux on compaq and how good is compaq in general?
>>
>> thanks Pete
>>