If you're planning to upgrade from a 32-bit Windows computer, you'll have to copy your settings (we recommend storing an image of your existing hard drive on an external hard drive) and reinstall all of your utilities and applications later. That means booting your system from the installation CD and navigating through some confusing text prompts to install the system. Windows 圆4 doesn't offer a 32-bit Windows upgrade option you'll need to do a fresh install. If you already have one of the millions of 64-bit-capable desktops or laptops running 32-bit Windows and want to switch, be prepared for headaches. Compatibility issues far outweigh any potential speed boosts, making it an inadvisable upgrade for all but the most die-hard hobbyists. For the average user, though, 64-bit Windows is, for now, little more than a curiosity. Windows XP Professional 圆4 Edition promises substantial speed improvements with CAD/CAM, 3D modeling, and other high-end tools that will justify the move to the new OS. The release also represents a major milestone toward Microsoft's next-generation Longhorn operating system. Windows XP Professional 圆4 Edition is a big deal for software developers because it gives them a solid Windows platform to write apps that can harness the potential of 64-bit. The new OS is priced the same as the 32-bit Windows XP Professional, and for a limited time, current XP Professional customers running 64-bit systems can upgrade for free. Windows XP Professional 圆4 Edition is not available in boxed editions via resellers it will be sold only through OEM vendors and licensing agreements. But Rome wasn't built in a day, and Microsoft's transition to 64-bit will be a gradual one. With the release of Windows XP Professional 圆4 Edition and Windows Server 2003 圆4 Edition, Microsoft takes a big first step toward a 64-bit world. In fact, millions of people already use desktops and laptops with 64-bit processors that have been available from AMD since 2003 and Intel since February 2005. There's no question about it: 64-bit computing is the future, because it promises better performance and room to grow for memory-hungry applications and operating systems.

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