Re: Debian AMD64

[Johann Spies <jspies@sun.ac.za>]

On Tue, Jan 06, 2009 at 08:40:48PM +0800, Umarzuki Mochlis wrote:
> I just got my Compaq laptop CQ40-115AU and I want to install Lenny
> AMD64. What's the different if I use AMD64 instead of i386. My main
> use of laptop is for word processing and virtualization.
> 
> Can any of AMD64 user share their experience or perhaps a bit of advice?

Points of difficulty can be:

1. Third party software that is not available.  In my case I have to
run at least one i386-system to handle my scanner because the scanner
software from epkowa is not available for the 64-bit environment.
Skype and Googleearth are other examples.  This problem can at least
in the case of Skype and Googleearth be solved by installing the
ia32-libraries.  

2. Up till recently flash was also a problem but there is now a 64-bit
version of Adobe's flashplugin available.

I don't know what you are using for word processing.  I use LaTeX.
Tools like Openoffice, Abiword ek Koffice works well on 64 bit.

For virtualization I use a 64-version of Sun's VirtualBox. Debian
packages are available.  On our servers (also 64-bit) we use Debian's
Xen without problems.

I recently got a new Lenovo Thinkpad R61i and started out with Lenny
64-bit.  However, I had several problems (like losing my network
connections intermittently) and in the end installed
Ubuntu Hardy amd64 and it had less problems - maybe because Ubuntu
uses drivers of which the license is not allowed in debian.

Regards
Johann
-- 
Johann Spies          Telefoon: 021-808 4036
Informasietegnologie, Universiteit van Stellenbosch

     "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the
      children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy  
      neighbour as thyself. I am the LORD."             
                                 Leviticus 19:18