64-Bit Windows XP Released. Sorta.

[MarineCorps]

Microsoft Corp. said Thursday that it has released a number of 64-bit operating systems to manufacturing, including Windows XP Professional, in time for a scheduled release in late April.

As expected, the company also released Windows Server 2003 Server Pack 1, the basis for the 64-bit updates. ADVERTISEMENT

Specifically, Microsoft said that Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter x64 Edition, and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition all had been released to manufacturing. Further details will be released at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) later this month.

The 64-bit operating system has been long awaited by both Intel and especially Advanced Micro Devices, whose 64-bit Athlon and Opteron microprocessors have been forced to run on beta versions of the operating system. Linux distribution vendors, on the other hand, have offered 64-bit versions for months.

"Microsoft believes this is the right time to provide this flexible new OS to customers and, with broad industry partnerships, help usher in a new era of computing," the company said in a statement. "Partners are embracing 64-bit computing in a meaningful way and the availability of x64 will serve as a catalyst in the market to bring benefits to the mainstream. More than 300 partners from every segment of the industry have demonstrated support for Microsoft's x64 platform on both the desktop and the server."

Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2003 is primarily designed as a security update, although the code base is the foundation for the new releases. Until late 2004, Microsoft had been hoping to deliver the final SP1 release before the end of calendar 2004. Last summer, officials admitted that both SP1 and the accompanying 64-bit releases would be delayed until some time in the first half of 2005.

Over 8,000 developers have been trained on 64-bit Windows through Microsoft's Route64 training program, Microsoft said. In the coming weeks Microsoft will start accepting software applications submissions for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition as part of the "Designed for Windows" logo program.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1781094,00.asp

Word is that those with 32 bit windows will be allowed to upgrade to 64 bit windows for free. Sadly the details on that are very very un clear.

Microsoft plans to allow customers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to trade in their 32-bit versions of Windows for 64-bit editions.

The 64-bit version of Microsoft's desktop and server operating systems is due to be released next month. Given that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has had 64-bit hardware available for around two years, many customers are expected to upgrade their old operating system to take advantage of performance benefits offered by the optimised code.

Microsoft Australia Windows Client senior product marketing manager, Danny Beck told ZDNet Australia this morning: "For a limited time, Microsoft will offer OEMs who wish to support the trade-in program to exchange Windows XP Professional 32-bit or Windows Server for the equivalent version of Windows XP x64 (that is, 32-bit Professional for x64 Professional, 32-bit Standard for x64 Standard etc)."

Beck stipulated the program would be optional for OEMs. "They will individually make the business decision about whether or not they will support it," he said. "OEMs and system builders are in the process of being notified about the programme. This notification is ongoing. This is a worldwide initiative."

Those who don't have an OEM system won't be left out in the dark. "For customers who purchased through a local system builder partner or built their own PC, Microsoft has developed a host Web site enabling this exchange," Beck said.

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/0,2000061733,39185835,00.htm

Thats all that I have found at. No idea where this site he mentions is. The MS site doesn't even mention it being released at all, which is odd since in another interview they claimed they would have shipments in the millions within the first 12 months.

 

[Cedric Greene]

Well it does say not released until April so likely any site to exchange 32bit for 64bit won't be up till then. I hope this is true because I was actually thinking of purchasing a copy of 64bit for my new system, purchasing Windows... the thought still haunts me. This way I can trade in the OEM disc that came with my previous computer.