64 bit laptops?

[Church of Noise]

I'll be buying a laptop in the next couple of months to do my phd work on, and I'd really like to know if there's any chance a 64 bit laptop will be available by then. (mate of mine has a 64 bit desktop and it's very very fast)

Alex

[Bodo]

MSI S270 AMD Turion
http://msicomputer.co.uk/products.aspx?product_id=703631&cat_id=390

[JamieBeeston]

The fact its 64bit wont speed it up that dramatically at present, its going to be fast as its so new (given 64bit chips are new!)

A 32bit new top of the range chip will be stunning fast too.

the only reason to go 64 bit is if you plan to make use of alot of 64bit applications, or want to future proof the laptop for the next 2-3 years.

J

[Jinx]

I've been using my AMD64 laptop for the last year - Its an Evesham Voyager. 1400x1050 screen with a mobility Radeon 9600 graphics card. Plays doom 3 well and I have had no performance issues (until recently I used it instead of my work desktop because it was faster - recently upgraded to a pentium 4 at work).

Haven't upgraded my operating system yet so still using 32 bit XP but I intend to keep the laptop for a while so tried to get one as future proof as possible.

[Alex M]

Thanks for the answers!

The main reason for choosing a 64 bit machine would be sheer calculating power. A fellow researcher just started using his 64 bit desktop with the appropriate 64 bit software and it's absolutely great for the calculations we need. I'd also need to keep the laptop for a while, so that's a factor too indeed.
Any idea when Dell will have one available? (our uni has a contract with them so I could get some nice discount apparently)

Alex

[_dobbo_]

The problem I've seen is that you can get 64bit laptops but not loaded with a 64bit OS.

So you have to take your chances installing it yourself and hoping all the obscure laptop bits and bobs have 64 bit drivers available!