[NBLUG/talk] 64-bit Linux on the desktop?

[Scott Doty]

On 12/24/2009 02:00 AM, Troy Arnold wrote:
>
> This question is so 2006 ;-)
>
> I've run the 64bit version of kubuntu for at least a couple of years now.
> It's all so seamless that I never even think about it.  Flash works ok in
> Firefox, but crashes fairly often.  It doesn't bring the browser down
> though.  There is a 64 bit version available:
> http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashplayer10/64bit.html
>
>   

Agreed that 64bit Linux is ready for prime time, and that's what I run
on my desktops that have the processor for it.

The 64bit Flash doesn't crash for me on Fedora 12, save on one site I've
found:  http://powercranks.com (iirc.)


> If you have 3GB+ of RAM, install a 64bit arch, otherwise flip a coin.
>
>   

Actually, that's a windows-ism.  Linux will use all the memory,
regardless of arch, if you use a PAE kernel.

(So will windoze, but $MSFT has intentionally crippled their 32-bit PAE
kernels w/a registry setting.)

One of my buddies says 32-bit apps are faster, even on x86_64 systems. 
I think it all depends on motherboard specifics, esp. if you're using EM64T.

> 'aptitude purge pulseaudio' and Kubuntu becomes remarkably solid and free
> of facepalm-inducing moments.
>   

Fedora has been real big on pulseaudio also, and I can report that it
works well for almost all of my uses now.

BUT, it won't do ac3 passthrough over my hdmi cable from my media pc --
so I'm going to be moving that back to ALSA at some point.  Doh!

Also, for Fedora users fighting with Pulseaudio:  I highly recommend
"yum install pavucontrol" and using that to set up audio the way you
want it.

Merry Holidays! :)

 -Scott