Windows XP x64 debuted on April 25, 2005. There is still much work ahead before the Windows 64 bit environment becomes mainstream, but it's now a product available for x64 PCs. Hardware vendors will need to write 64 bit APIs and applications must be reengineered to take advantage of the native architecture. Still, this is a noteworthy advancement by Microsoft and provides a promise for the future for PCs built areound AMD 64 and Intel 64 technologies. Microsoft is also offering a free upgrade to existing XP users on the x64 PC platforms, which is good through July 2005.
Windows XP x64 - Home Page
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx
Free Upgrade for x64 PCs
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/upgrade/default.mspx
Top 5 Reasons to get XP 64
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/top5.mspx
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High performance platform for the next generation of applications
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is a rich platform that enables the next generation of high-performance computing. 64-bit native applications can deliver more data per clock cycle, making them run faster and more efficiently. |
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Large memory support
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition supports up to 128 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and 16 terabytes of virtual memory, enabling applications to run faster when working with large data sets. Applications can preload substantially more data into virtual memory, allowing rapid access by the 64-bit processor. |
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Flexibility
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition provides a rich platform to integrate 64-bit applications and existing 32-bit applications using the Windows on Windows 64 (WOW64) x86 emulation layer, providing customers with the ability to move to 64-bit computing without having to sacrifice their existing investment in 32-bit software and Windows expertise. |
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Multiprocessing and multicore
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is designed to support up to two single or multicore x64 processors for maximum performance and scalability. |
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Same programming model
Developers with 32-bit skills will be comfortable and quickly productive in the 64-bit Windows environment, finding it virtually identical to the development environment for 32-bit Windows. |
WEBCAST: Windows XP 64
Thursday, April 28, 2005: 10:00 AM Pacific time
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896031
In this WebCast, Microsoft MVP Charlie Russel describes Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and the hardware that supports it. Microsoft experts will participate in the WebCast to help answer questions. Charlie will also tell you where to turn in the online community when you need help and have more questions about Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.