In September, 2008 we first alerted our readers that mass-market retailers were bundling the Vista Home Premium 64-bit operating system, rather than the standard 32-bit version with some new computers. With the arrival of both Windows 7 and the 2009 Christmas shopping season the 64-bit trickle has turned into a torrent. In fact, unless you’re shopping on a website that caters to businesses you’ll have to search far and wide for a computer installed with a 32-bit operating system.
Why is this critical? While 64-bit machines are optimized to process graphics and play the latest games, they aren’t compatible with many farm and business applications, including mapping and accounting/management systems like FBS Windows versions 8.0 and older.
Because of this inevitable transition, FBS has been diverting significant time and resources to convert all of our Windows software to the .NET platform, opening the door for 64-bit compatibility as well as future web applications. These changes will be incorporated in the upcoming FBS Version 8.1, which will be released soon. For a list of new features in Version 8.1, go the FBS Website Homepage. (Most of these changes are already available via download (Utilities Check for Updates).
Our recommendations:
- If you are purchasing a new computer this year, make sure you select either XP, Vista, or Windows 7 32-bit editions. Don’t expect informed advice from the “big box store” salespeople—they’re stocked to the ceiling with 64-bit boxes and have no appreciation for ag software or even business applications.
- For those of you who have already purchased 64-bit versions of Vista or Windows 7, short-term work-arounds are still possible (Virtual PC, Remote Desktop or using an older machine to run your farm applications). Long-term solutions—for FBS and other programs—may still be a few months off.
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