Back & forward compatibility 2

[sorcerer_see]

What I learned about hard- and software backward compatibility is that Pentium 4, which is a pure 32bits processor, can utilize up to 4GB RAM (a little less) which means it can use enough RAM for modern daily driving. Also the processor speeds of Pentium 4's are sufficient. And I think some Pentium 3 processors might be able to daily drive too.

What does this mean? It means that if I use Windows 7 64bits, or Windows XP 64bits for that matter, that I immediately exclude tons of legit hardware.

Of course, I could use 64bits on one computer and 32bits on other computers, but that does feel like cheating, and a movement in the direction of treating older hardware like museum pieces. Using 64bits feels like a knee-fall towards over-consumption, while using 32bits feels like resistance towards the same.

I got to find a way to run a GUI-less Linux in Virtualbox in Windows XP