The Last 32-bit Operating System from Microsoft

Microsoft is firmly on track to delivering exclusively 64-bit operating systems, and in this context, Windows Server Longhorn will be the last server platform to support 32-bit architectures. However, Bill Laing, general manager of the Windows Server division, delivering the announcement, made no specific reference or discrimination between the desktop and server platform. Laing only stated that Windows Server 2008 will be the last 32-bit operating system from Microsoft.

"Windows Server 2008 is the last 32-bit operating system that we'll produce," Laing revealed. "Post-2008, we will transition to 64-bit. Many Microsoft products are becoming 64-bit only today, because they're realizing the benefits of 64-bit computing. Exchange Server 2007, Windows Compute Cluster Server, and Windows Server Virtualization are all 64-bit only today, because they give significant benefits."

Microsoft's perspective is that we are currently situated half way on the road to x64. The transition from 32-bit to 64-bit is a repetition of the move from 16-bit to 32-bit architectures. Laing revealed that 64-bit is simply the natural evolution for the industry, because of the benefits that it inherently delivers.

"For the industry it does mean a change in drivers," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates commented. "We can't have a 32-bit driver with 32-bit pointers able to put information anywhere into a 64-bit address space. And so although it's not a dramatic change to create a 64-bit driver, there's still work to be done. The industry I'd say is about halfway through getting all those pieces in place. So, we're certainly pushing that, and trying to make that very straightforward for all of you."

If Laing's reference of the last x86 operating system from Microsoft is indeed intended to be general and cover all the products of the Redmond Company, then Windows Seven/ Windows 2009, the successor of Windows Vista will only be offered in 64-bit versions. And in this case, Windows Vista 32-bit is the last desktop operating system from Microsoft.