[Nottingham] 32 bit / 64 bit

[Richard Ward]

Martin wrote:
> David Aldred wrote:
> [---]
>> which didn't work well in 64-bit environments (such as Flash, and I can't 
>> remember what else).
>>
>> Anyone know the current state of play on this?  Is the 64-bit environment 
>> generally well supported now? 
> 
> I'd say completely yes.
> 
> The propriatery flash "plugin" is still 32-bit only as far as I'm aware, 
> but that is of no concern being as there is a 64-bit "wrapper" for it.
> 
> Go for it! (Silly not to use the 64-bits of the CPU!)
> 
> Cheers,
> Martin
> 
> 
> (All 64-bit except for the 32-bit netbook and 32-bit-ish Epia C3)
> 

I have 64 bit Ubuntu on my laptop and it works fine. I would use it on
my main machine but I still need 32 bit for certain rather obscure things.

Adobe flash does indeed work with 64 bit firefox (the wrapper is called
nspluginwrapper, but IIRC it just installed flash from the repositories
and used it without a hitch). Gnash (which being free software is
naturally available in 64 bit) works for YouTube and some other stuff,
but not with the BBC iPlayer.

The old solution to this when nspluginwrapper didn't work was to install
32 bit firefox; and this is worth noting... if a 64 bit program doesn't
work you can always install and use the 32 bit version. These days
though most any program you want to use should work out of the box (or
out of the package manager).

The 32 bit proprietary RealPlayer also works on 64 bit, if you use any
of the bits of the BBC that haven't converted to flash, though last time
I set it up I had to manually nspluginwrapper it.

Another aspect that worried me when switching was wine, but I've not had
anything break on 64 that didn't also break on 32.

If you use any binary 32 bit proprietary video codecs, they are now just
as simple to get hold of on 64 bit as on 32 bit. They sometimes used to
be a pita to install.

Martin: Out of interest what is 32-bit-ish?