32 or 64?

[maxqnz]

I'm currently running Feisty 64, and am looking forward to Gutsy Gibbon. However, the number of app.s that are still not available for 64-bit architecture makes me wonder if I should blow it all and start from scratch with a 32-bit Gutsy. All my personal files are on a USB stick for easy cross-platform access, so there would be no data loss issues. For a simple SOHO user, no heavy multimedia/graphics or audio work, is there really any advantage in sticking with 64-bit when key packages like OpenOffice don't seem to come rolled for it? Before I get the usual " blessed is the source, build it yourself" mantras, I hasten to add that I'm just a user, who would rather spend his free time learning Hindi than compiling from source code. So if ain't built for me, I ain't building it. Contemn me all you wish, scorn bothers me not. All I am after is a simple, relatively objective assessment of the pros and cons of either sticking with 64-bit or "downgrading" to a 32-bit package with more available software. Thanks!

[Xyphus]

Re: 32 or 64?

It may be different with Gutsy, but I am running the 64bit version of Feisty and have not had any problems with a lack of 64bit packages. Barring the well-known Flash and Java problems, I found my experience with the 64bit pretty much identical to the 32bit version. I am very much into multimedia, and I had no problems getting audio/video working flawlessly. I was even able to install and run games such as UT2K4 without a hiccup at all. Wine stumped me at first, but once I found the install script to get the 64bit version up and running, that went pretty smoothly as well.

I would think that once Gutsy is fully released and out of Beta, the same should hold true.

I will be installing the 64bit Beta version of Gutsy over the weekend, so I'll report back here if I run into any issues.

[dibl]

Re: 32 or 64?

This probably more "opinion" then "analysis", but I hear a lot of skepticism about 64-bit *buntu that my own experience doesn't bear out. I've been running 64-bit Feisty Ubuntu since it was released last April, and now have 64-bit Gutsy Kubuntu (Tribe 5 plus updates), and the only issues I've ever encountered were:

- lack of flash player for Firefox in Feisty, which was easily taken care of with the nspluginwrapper script. It's a non-issue in Gutsy -- there's a flash package in the repo

- Couple of false starts with downloaded Debian tarballs that puked on detecting the 64-bit architecture

- my little bits of utilization of Open Office in Gutsy haven't revealed any issues (but I haven't exercised it hard)

- audio, video, gimp, USB devices, printer, VMWare Player, Virtual Box, Firefox, are all working perfectly

So, I dunno -- doesn't seem to be much to fear in 64-bit, as far I can tell.

[samwyse]

Re: 32 or 64?

- lack of flash player for Firefox in Feisty, which was easily taken care of with the nspluginwrapper script. It's a non-issue in Gutsy -- there's a flash package in the repo

I presume Flash works also in Konqueror? I don't really care for Firefox. I've been running 32-bit Feisty, but plan to install 64-bit Gutsy.

[jameskilty]

Re: 32 or 64?

I've been running 64-bit Feisty Ubuntu since it was released last April,
...
- audio, video, gimp, USB devices, printer, VMWare Player, Virtual Box, Firefox, are all working perfectly

Did you use Evolution? I am having problems with the Contacts. I have posted a question about it with details.

[dibl]

Re: 32 or 64?

@samwyse -- I haven't tried to use Konqueror to browse a web site where flash is needed, but I'll try it tonight and post the results. I normally use Firefox for browsing and Konqueror for file management -- just my habit.

@jameskilty -- Nope -- I'm not an Evolution user, sorry. Do think your problem is related to running the 64-bit OS, or some other issue with the Contacts?

[jameskilty]

Re: 32 or 64?

No idea really. It worked then didn't - might have been connected with downloading some programmes. It accepts new data from the email (message>add sender..) but the contacts page is blank -no empty database list.

[Snowhog]

Re: 32 or 64?

Flash sites work great (I'm on one right now) with Konqueror. If you have the required flash packages/plug-ins, you should be set.

Note: I'm running a 32-bit CPU.

[Snowhog]

Re: 32 or 64?

Update: I've noticed a problem which appears to be flash related. When right-clicking on the Konqueror tab for the site I was viewing the Flash link and selecting Close tab, Konqueror locks up - totally. Only way (that I know of) to fix it is to open a console and issue the killall konqueror command. The freeze doesn't happen all the time, and seems to be a timing issue.

[maxqnz]

Re: 32 or 64?

Thanks to all. It looks like I might stick with 64 after all. Is the OpenOffice in the 64-bit package 2.30, or 2.2.x?

[samwyse]

Re: 32 or 64?

Update: I've noticed a problem which appears to be flash related. When right-clicking on the Konqueror tab for the site I was viewing the Flash link and selecting Close tab, Konqueror locks up - totally. Only way (that I know of) to fix it is to open a console and issue the killall konqueror command. The freeze doesn't happen all the time, and seems to be a timing issue.

I've noticed (in Feisty) that you can just kill nspluginviewer if Konqueror locks up. It lets you continue browsing after that.

[Snowhog]

Re: 32 or 64?

I've noticed (in Feisty) that you can just kill nspluginviewer if Konqueror locks up. It lets you continue browsing after that.

Thank's for that. I'll give that a try the next time Konqueror freezes.

[dibl]

Re: 32 or 64?

Thanks to all. It looks like I might stick with 64 after all. Is the OpenOffice in the 64-bit package 2.30, or 2.2.x?

As of tonight, it is 2.3. I just updated and there was quite a lot, including a string of OO package updates, so it might have just now been updated.

[dibl]

Re: 32 or 64?

I presume Flash works also in Konqueror?

OK, as promised, I did a little experiment with Konqueror and Firefox. I have the "flashplugin-nonfree" package installed on my Kubuntu Gutsy 64-bit rig, updated through "now" (1900 Eastern US time, and I note that there appear to be some hung-up updates at the moment -- an Adept "refresh" turns on the "Upgrade" button, but nothing materializes when I push it ....)

So, with Konqueror I tested 3 sites: Youtube, Foxnews.com, and Cnn.com. Results: Youtube worked flawlessly, and the other 2 did not run the videos. Hmmmm.

Opened Firefox and tried the same 3 sites. Youtube and Foxnews.com worked flawlessly, and Cnn.com did not. Hmmmm.

I don't know exactly what to make of it -- those things aren't a huge part of my daily use of the system, so I'm not inclined to spend much time fooling with it, at least not until Gutsy is released -- then I might dig around to see if something is missing from my setup.

That's the report -- YMMV, of course.

[Uber Nooblett]

Re: 32 or 64?

Glad you are coming round to sticking with 64bit

With a 64 bit processor and large amounts of RAM, you are only ever really going to get your machines full potential with 64bit software. Where it not for that fact, I would not have opted to pay for a 64bit version of Vista to port apps and play games, the hw support for 64bit Vista is much much worse than the support for 64bit Kubuntu, which we should all be grateful for! At least with Kubuntu (and other distros) you do have the option, though you mentioned this was not for you, to spend a simple 5 minutes compiling progs to work with the architecture from source. The same is not evident in Windows as its all closed source and so one has to rely on manufacturers to be arsed to produce 64bit drivers and sw etc.

Whatever you do, I hope you continue to enjoy Kubuntu. I wouldn't recommend upgrading 7.04 to 7.10 as its fraught with issues including kernel faults at the moment. best thing to do if you want to go to Gutsy 7.10 is make it a fresh install from boot CD, that way you are less likely to encounter flaws and irritation.

Best of luck

JJ