How can i develop under Windows XP64?

[GlennXS]

I was developing under Windows XP.  I was developing a Windows XP application for USB9211 & USB6501 hardware using Measurement Studio, DAQmx, & Visual Studio (C#).  I upgraded my development platform to new 64bit hardware and Vista64 (a $7k expense; didn't comprimise on anything (dual 24" monitors, RAID320's, ...).  When i was done, i found that Vista64 was so dog-ass slow (slower than my $1.2k XP box) and hard to work with that i removed Vista and installed XP64; now my development machine flies and i'm very happy.  However, I tried to install DAQmx871 and it bailed; no support for xp64.  Hopefully, this will change; right?  I looked on NI's site and found that XP64 versions of anything is non-existant.  Is XP64 support forthcoming?  I'm going to dread re-installing that dead dog Vista.  All the public forums agree that Vista is a dog; google "Vista is a dog".  Please don't turn your backs on XP64; give me some good news about support for XP64.

[Neil.Pate]

what is wrong with good old 32 bits WinXP Pro?

The only thing I can think of is the 3 GB memory limit, which for most apps really shouldnt be a problem.

Invite some friends around, take your Vista DVD and put it in the microwave, nuke it until the sparks start to fry. At least that will bring some enjoyment...

[GlennXS]

I spent a ton a money on 64bit hardware; the latest & greatest. I was excited about installing Vista64 (i bought that too for this project). However, Vista64 was so slow. Vista was so invading to my work flow. Vista was disfunctional; had less useful functionality than XP. So that after 3 days of stripping the bs off of Vista and trying to get it to perform as good as XP, i gave up and yanked it off. Went out and bought XP64; more $ well wasted. So here i sit.

[Dennis_Knutson]

You can make a request to the Product suggestion Center. I wonder what kind of support Microsoft is going to be giving xp64. It's my understanding that ms has been pushing developers hard for Vista support and not so much for xp64. xp64 has not been a big seller for microsoft and it may be hard to justify spending any effort on it.

[GlennXS]

It's my understanding that Ms has limited OEM's from selling XP(32/64) post June'08. It's a marketing ploy f u ask me. I didn't hear anything about ms disallowing OEM's from similarly selling Server 2003(32/64); which is essential XP Server. That's ok, I've got some Server 2003 boxes that i can use too. They're gonna have to do something really significant with Vista to get me to use the POS version of OS (i.e. Vista). I can go on and on about the bs of Vista; and i only toyed with it for 3 days!!!

[Neil.Pate]

oh yeah, marketing plot big time. With the imminent release of service pack 3 for XP now is a really good time to stock up on licenses. I haven't had that much exposure to server 2003, but my understanding is that its quite solid product

[GlennXS]

SP3 for XP32 is out there now as "Release Candidate #3". I've installed the first Release Candidate before the turn of the year and it behaved fine. I've since installed the RC2/sp3 without a hitch. However, i haven't had a chance to try the rc3 (yet). U really have to snoop around for XP64sp2. Interesting enough, i snooped around the ms site for 1/2 hour lookin' for this critter without luck. For the heck of it, I Googled it and found it on the first hit (at the ms site); very strange. I only hope the XP64sp3 is shortcoming. Incidentally, NI currently has no intention on supporting XP64 and are encouraging migration to Vista (every time i say that word my stomach cringes); however, if enough of us beg then (who knows) it might help.

[Neil.Pate]

At this point in time I just don't see the benefit in a 64-bit OS. Linux has had 64-bit "support" for years now, but even then it is still quite flaky and many apps/drivers do not behave properly.

For me, unless you really really really need more than 3 GB of RAM, there is just no point in a 64-bit OS. At least for the kind of development I do.

What is your requirement that is making you hang onto x64? Plain XP on a fast machine with plenty of RAM is going to fly, and not get in your way, basically it will behave like an OS is supposed to! (only 8 years after it was released...)

[GlennXS]

64bit computing is not essential to me at this point, however, it is inevitable to the industry. I imagine it will be essential to me at some point. Currently, a days work will include open windows for Word develop (e.g. System Manual; include documents, TOC, Index), AutoCAD or Solidworks (e.g. engineered drawings, rendering), Internet (search for resources), email (to keep in touch), and then theres that source development thing. (Sometimes i have more windows open than AltTab can display (at one time); dual monitors is a must. Though I have to admit, i seldom c "idle time" suffering in Task Manager, but sometimes pagination p's me off. On the other side, I embrass technology but i don't like to feel foolish about such; Vista makes me feel foolish. What the !@#$%!@ do i need with all the sparkle, glitter, and shimmer of Vista's animations; nada. I don't how many time i'v created directories n the wrong tree because Vista Explorer doesn't navigate quite the same; not to mention that it's much harder to c where the !~@#$ u r at with the transparencies and pastels (I'm aware that this can be disabled). And i'd rather take my "Once Every Three Year" security breach rather than b asked "if i authorized this event" for every !@#$ thing that i do. On a lighter note, I hate the mouse. I never use it unless i have to; i have a trackpoint keyboard so my hands don't have to be wondering around for that stupid mouse thing. With that said, Vista took away the END key functionality in Solitare (and other keys in other places). Actually, it was Solitare that broke the camel's back for me. Vista Solitare much slower than XP's rendition and it's more cumbersome to play; that makes me feel foolish (after i spent over $5k on 64bit stuff -i don't want to b wasting my time when i'm wasting my time). Enough said, ... I'm done with it (for now).

[Neil.Pate]

I know how you feel. Vista lasted 30 minutes on my PC.

Regarding multiple monitors, I started with two, and now am onto a triple screen setup
It is just so important for productivity when developing (debugging!).

I use a laptop (docked) which has dual video out, and added a third monitor with a USB VGA device which works wonders. So a 24" in the middle and two 19" on either side does very nicely.

My only problem now is having to run windows, I would love to get rid of that and run linux but then my LabVIEW development  would get quite tricky (MAX and other integration with the OS including ActiveX would all be gone). I tried running windows in several virtual machines, but it was not a pleasant experience.