What are the main drivers for 64-bit computing?
Bringing 64-bit computing to the mainstream server and workstation market will have a radical effect on demanding applications. For database servers and visualisation programs that need access to vast amounts physical and virtual memory, the advent of affordable 64-bit hardware will be a watershed.

What do you see being the most significant impact of 64-bit computing?
Not many people will care about whether it's 64-bit or 32-bit, they will only notice that they have access to incrementally more power than was previously available. The net effect in many cases will be to make redundant expensive platforms running proprietary software.

How will it impact the desktop PC market and when will it be adopted by consumers en masse?
Mainstream adoption of 64-bit technologies will begin on servers and workstations used for software development but very likely spread to the desktop on design programs, simulations, games and, eventually, everyday applications.

How will enterprise customers take full advantage of 64-bit computing?
Enterprise buyers will over time optimise applications to take advantage of the throughput and memory addressing of 64-bit platforms.

In the mid-90s, the leap from 16-bit to 32-bit computing occurred sooner than most predicted. In 2002, the industry finds itself in a similar situation.

What parallels do you see between that transition and the one we are about to embark upon with 64-bit computing?
The push to 32-bit computing was pushed by the requirements of popular software, most notably Windows® 3.0. Also, affordable 386 processors made the transition a natural one for buyers.

What is different?
The shift to 64-bit computing is likely to be more incremental as it requires a more significant infrastructure overhaul and the economy today will make many buyers err on the side of conservatism.

What key factors are going to expedite this transition from 32-bit to 64-bit computing?
AMD's technology for hybrid 32/64-bit environments may appeal to organisations unwilling to commit wholesale to the 64-bit world. Many buyers will see it as a bridge over troubled water in transitioning to the 64-bit world.

Who will be the early adopters of 64-bit computing and why?
Software developers and organisations seeing a centralised environment based on consolidated technology platforms will be among the first tyre-kickers for 64-bit. Also, greenfield sites that have no legacy of closed systems may well be attracted.

Sixty-four (64) bit computing isn't new to the enterprise, but a 64-bit chip built on the ubiquitous x86 architecture is new.

How do you see this impacting enterprise computing environments?
Software development based on a common technology platform will be a boon. For the first time, firms will have the opportunity to run the entire IT infrastructure around a single core.