Okay before we talk about this, you should understand the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit. What it boils down to is how much memory (RAM) that your programs can access, as a function of how many binary digits you can use as a reference to where in memory you want to work. Think of it like this: how much information you can show on a road sign is sort of related to how big you make the sign.
Anyway, I installed my copy of Windows 7 Pro in 64-bit over my Windows XP SP3 partition today. I downloaded the ISO and obtained my serial number from the MSDNAA. The entire package cost me $0 since I am a University of Waterloo student, so there’s that for awesome uses of some services provided by my school. For fellow Waterloo kids with functioning Quest login credentials, here’s the page.
So far, I’ve been installing drivers and getting everything going. The process has been going very smoothly and I haven’t had any major issues (a first for me, as this kind of thing usually involves me having to completely restore a wiped drive or something along those lines). My only hiccup so far has been my inability to get the sound drivers working, but I am hoping for a workaround/update soon. From what I’ve read, it is not too hard to try some of the existing fixes either.
Windows 7 feels snappy. Almost clean even. It’s very responsive (though that may just be because it’s a fresh install) and I am finding that all my applications, x86 compatibility mode or native x64, are running smoothly and loading very quickly. For example, my Firefox install, after loading up all my usual extensions, loads up in around four to five seconds, which is truly a feat IMO. Perhaps this will deteriorate later on, with use and clutter, but I’ve never had programs load this fast for me while on XP and certainly never on Vista.
I will probably write a bit more about this later on, once I’ve redownloaded my games (Team Fortress 2 and Left 4 Dead only, for now) and had a chance to play them via this install. I have heard many a great thing about the gaming experience.