Today over 3,000 software developers, hardware manufacturers and Microsoft employees are meeting in Seattle for the 2005 Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC). Bill Gates is planning on giving an opening speech which will unveil the 64-bit versions of Windows for desktops and servers. Microsoft says the next ten years of operating systems will revolve around Longhorn and 64-bit versions. Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition allow the addressing of 64-bit instruction sets in the latest processors from Intel and AMD. Microsoft predicts, as well as hopes, nearly all new desktops and servers sold will use these OS.

Although the operating system works well with current generation 32-bit software, many computer vendors will keep shipping PCs with the 32-bit version of Windows. Users switching to 64-bit Windows will need new drivers for peripheral devices such as printers, scanners and digital cameras which may not be available for older hardware. The 64-bit version of Windows will contain only half the number of software drivers that are now bundled with current versions.

They state that by the time Longhorn ships most users will be buying 64-bit computers. At the rate they are traveling Longhorn will be out of date before it is even released.