[Ubuntu] Is 64 bit worth it?

[llawwehttam]

I know its a bit late but I am going to be opening a new laptop tomorrow morning and I want to get it up and running as soon as possible. Now the processor is 64bit and it has 4Gb ram.

The problem is I have heard horror stories (although a while ago) about things like flash and wma codecs in 64 bit. Have these problems been solved and will I be able to get everything in ubuntu-64 that I had in 32 bit working?

I just don't want to install 64 bit and then have problems. I also don't want to fiddle with apps to port 32 bit programs over to 64 like chroot or Automatix2 or similar. I just want to know whether 64 bit will run flash, movie files, audio files ( including mp3 and wma) without fiddling.

I know I will have to install win32codecs and ubuntu-restricted-extras and that is not a problem. I'm just worried that I will be setting up 64 bit all day!!!


To put things simply has 64 bit ubuntu improved in the last few years or is it still problematic?

[llawwehttam]

I've just had a look at the latest medibuntu packages and there is a win64codecs package which sounds promising. Has anyone used this??

Just want to know if it will run wma smoothly.


Also apparently the 32bit adobe flash plugin us awful on 64bit but there is a 64 bit version floating around. Has anyone tried this or should I stick with GNASH?

[llawwehttam]

I need to get some shut eye to cope with all the hyperactiveness tomorrow. However if anybody can help me with the above issue I always check my email and I will check for replies tomorrow.

[kmount]

Hi,

I've used 64bit Linux since it was a problem but these days I don't really notice it to be honest.

I use a 32bit browser with the supported plugins etc and I really do not notice it.

[llawwehttam]

Thanks, your just in time lol.

[kmount]

Give it a go and see how you get on.

I use 64bit Ubuntu on my work laptop with no drama and 64bit Gentoo on my desktop here.

[llawwehttam]

Hmm, I got 3/4 throught the install and is says my CD is bad. Ill try again!

This is the first new new computer I've had in ages. My desktop is a 3GHz P4 with 2gb ram!

EDIT: Im testing the disk now and it seems to be OK so far. There was a speck of dust on it so maybe the laptop didn't like that.

[llawwehttam]

Haha it found an error in 1 file.

I'm re-downloading just to be on the safe side.
I will use an expensive disk this time instead of a poundland one!

[llawwehttam]

New iso downloaded and burnt at 2.0x and No errors!!!!!

Installing now.

Does 5Gb swap, 19.8 Gb / , and the rest as /home , sound sensible?

[llawwehttam]

Well its all installed and running now so I can relax at last!!

[Batman]

I know I'm a bit late... but just thought I'd add to the good vibes and say, hey man, I've been using 64bit Ubuntu for over a year now. I like it.

[benaus]

So how are you liking 64bit ubuntu? Did you get flash working? Did you get all your codecs installed?

[llawwehttam]

64 bit ubuntu is great to put it mildly. I found the codecs easily and even .wma works! Flash wasa bit harder and I went with adobe's 64 bit alpha flash plugin which is far more stable than even the 32bit flash. The only problem I'm having is graphics drivers. The ones Nvidia offered me in the hardware drivers tab lost me my screen. After trying to fix it for 2 hours I gave up and re-installed. Luckily I had made a seperate /home partition.

I also installed a customised version of conky to monitor my system. Instructions on how I did it are here: llawwehttam's blog: Conky

[apearce]

Simple answer to a simple question.

Yes - never going back to x86

[Batman]

Did anyone else get an email about a "LinkBack" to this thread from some dumb blog portal waste of space website? 64 Bit - Blogs, Pictures, and more on Blogged

Why did it email me?