Should Fred Noob install 64 bit?

[FredJones]

Should "Fred the Noob" install 64 bit Ubuntu 9? My CPU can do it--here are it's details: http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=111160&d=1240752404

I understand that I can't get Adobe Air and Flash 11, but I think that's OK.

I have a GeForce 8400 GS card also but it seems that EnvyNG will work for me: http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html

EDIT: I also need VirtualBox and IES4linux, but it seems that both will work. (END EDIT)

So what is the recommendation for me? 64 or 32? I am a real newbie and I want Ubuntu to be very easy for me so that this time I will stick with it. I tried with 8 and reverted back to Windows. :(

Thanks!

[FredJones]

Opera seems to have a 64 bit version and I think Java runtime also does. Is there anything serious I will be missing?

and are there are any disadvantages for a noob like me to running 64 bit?

I"m ready to install, but I want to use the right one. :)

Thanks!

[Sef]

Opera seems to have a 64 bit version and I think Java runtime also does. Is there anything serious I will be missing?

and are there are any disadvantages for a noob like me to running 64 bit?

64-bit works great. Opera has a 64-bit version that is easy to install. For Java, you can download either Sun Java or OpenJDK (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=774956). You can install 32-bit apps on 64-bit apps.

[FredJones]

Great. I will try 64 bit.

Thanks!!

[taygan]

I used 64-bit for a year, and am going back to 32-bit.

Great OS, fewer programs working than 32-bit.

Virtualbox 64-bit with Windows XP running inside 8.10 couldn't handle some of my programs, whereas Virtualbox 32-bit runs my XP programs inside 9.04 just fine.

Might be the new VBX version, might be 32-bit host OS, but I would stick with 32-bit unless you're in the mood to learn about your system innards (which you may well be in the mood to do!)

More discussion:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1134504

taygan.

[FredJones]

Might be the new VBX version, might be 32-bit host OS, but I would stick with 32-bit unless you're in the mood to learn about your system innards (which you may well be in the mood to do!)

More discussion:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1134504


I am mostly certainly not in such a mood. But that thread actually seems to have mixed results.

Anybody else?

[dLeon]

No harm, but it seems you already answer your own question. For all around you should stick with the 32bit version. I believe even in Windows world, 64bit version of any programs is still buggy and hard to manage. Not many developers programmed 64bit program (yet).
Wait a few years until 64bit become common.

[FredJones]

No harm, but it seems you already answer your own question. For all around you should stick with the 32bit version.

Makes sense. Yes, 10% performance gain will be worthless if it's a headache to use. So JUST IN CASE it will be, I will try 32b.

Thanks.

[oldos2er]

Read the stickies on the x86_64 forum for help installing 64-bit Flash and Java.

[cutterjohn]

It works OK as long as you don't mind the missing bits or learn enough to make them work under x86-64 on your own or with a little help.

That said if you have less than 4GB of DRAM it might not be worth the hassle. 64b version seems to use a little more memory and I haven't really noticed any performance differences.

I decided to go with it as I was doing a new install on a 4GB equipped notebook.

[FredJones]

OK, thanks everyone. I will try 32 bit install in the morning. It makes more sense for now. :)