Gary - That is good news. I installed it this morning but I haven't rebooted yet so I didn't play with it.
Still doesn't say a lot for Microsoft's strategy to try and secure it's platform using 64-bit if it's own software is crippled on it. --- Brian On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 12:24 PM, Gary <[email protected]> wrote: > If you install the 64bit version, it installs both the 32 bit and the 64 > bit. In fact the 32 bit is the default. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [email protected] [mailto:hardware- > > [email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Weeden > > Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 9:25 AM > > To: hwg > > Subject: [H] IE 9 is out and rocks, except if you are using 64-bit > Windows > > > > Good review of IE9 over at Arstechnica: > > > > http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/reviews/2011/03/the-most-modern- > > browser-there-is-internet-explorer-9-reviewed.ars > > > > Once again, MS screws up it's own product strategy: > > > > "It's also a little disappointing that the 64-bit version is less > polished > > than the 32-bit version. It can't be made the default browser, and it > > doesn't include the new, high-performance scripting engine. Microsoft has > > long argued that 64-bit browsing isn't necessary; most plug-ins are only > > 32-bit, and so, the argument goes, browsing must be a 32-bit activity. > This > > is unfortunate. One, it leads to a certain chicken-and-egg problem: > there's > > little incentive to develop 64-bit plug-ins since nobody uses a 64-bit > > browser due to the lack of plug-ins (though Adobe Flash 11 is likely to > > include first-class 64-bit support, resolving one of the big stumbling > > blocks). Making the 64-bit version first-class-the same features and > > performance as the 32-bit version-and ensuring that, at least, > Microsoft's > > own plug-ins (such as Silverlight) were supported would go a long way > > towards making 64-bit browsing viable. This is, after all, much the same > > route as the company took with Office." > > > > > > And there are good reasons why you would want to run the 64-bit version: > > > > "The reason that 64-bit is desirable is particularly because it offers > the > > potential to strengthen certain anti-hacking mechanisms. Address Space > > Layout Randomization (ASLR) depends on the ability to change the in- > > memory > > layout of things like DLLs. In a 32-bit process there are only a limited > > number of random locations that can be chosen. 32-bit processes are also > > more vulnerable to anti-ASLR measures such as "heap spraying" (wherein a > > large proportion of the browser's memory is filled with malicious code to > > make it easier for an attacker to trick the browser into executing it). > > 64-bit is by no means a panacea, but it does strengthen these protection > > systems. For something that is as frequently attacked as a Web browser, > this > > kind of defense in depth is desirable." > > > > Unfortunately, if you're running 64-bit Windows, you can't install the > > 32-bit version. You're stuck with the 64-bit version, which means no > > scripting performance improvement and far fewer plugins. Which means I'm > > sticking with Chrome. > > > > --- > > Brian > >
