64bit windows

[pickxx]

I know this may be the wrong place but it doesn't exactly fit anywhere and so for that i apologize.
When will my Medina buddy (Billy Gates live in a small community of the UBER-rich called medina. I only know this because i used to live near there.) let me use my A64 with a 64bit OS? I heard from a friend that it's "just a couple months away" So that means it could be anytime.
The irony is that i live a 25-30min drive to the Redmond headquarters of Mircosoft but i am stuck asking here.

Also a side note/question:
My understanding is that this 64bit OS is just a minor upgrade in Win XP and we will have to wait till 2Q-3Q in 2005 for Longhorn. If that is true will it be priced the same as WinXP or will it be priced like it is laced with gold like when Xp first came out and i am sure Longhorn will be priced when it comes out.
Thank you

 

[Toejam31]

Couple of links:

<A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/downloads/upgrade.asp" target="_new">Windows XP 64-Bit Edition for 64-Bit Extended Systems Customer Preview Program</A>

<A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/techinfo/planning/techoverview/benefits.asp" target="_new">Benefits of 64-Bit Windows</A>

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.html?i=1961&p=1" target="_new">Windows XP 64-Bit Preview: First Look at Athlon 64 Performance</A>

<A HREF="http://www.route64.net/" target="_new">Route 64 Technology Tour</A>

Rumors suggest that the release won't be until sometime in December, at best. Until then, except for the public preview, it's vaporware.

Toey

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[Zeekfu]

Ok I will have to check out those links. Since it is available for download now as a trial version has anyone downloaded it and used it successfully as their sole os? I have seen people write they partitioned off their drive and had it on there. I am just wondering what compatibility issues might arise.
It is backwards compatible with 32 bit software, correct?
What about hardware? I read (at least some) raid controllers don't support it, what other compatibility issues are there?

I am upgrading an obsolete system. I am thinking of going a64. If I can use a trial version of an os and not have to spend $90-$130 on regular xp that would be the deal maker.

I wonder what compatibility issues/bugs/glitches might arise? Also, I wonder how expensive the 64 bit xp will be when it comes out? I guess at that point the trial version will (self-destruct) or something?

Also, of course, I wonder how much better it will be (if any) than regular xp?

 

[Zeekfu]

Along those lines of thought above. Can someone clue a newbie in on how to set up a dual boot configuration? If i go ahead and buy xp and also download xp 64 exactly what do I need to do to partition the drive correctly?

It sounds like from the anandtech review linked above that ati didn't have a decent 64 bit driver (at least at the time of the February article)

 

[Zeekfu]

bah, it looks like, at least at the time of the anandtech review in February, that gaming performance is not as good with xp 64. Oh well, I was psyched about a free os, lol.

Any other ideas/more recent reviews/etc?