While the 64-bit Windows Vista installation will come with a 32-bit emulation layer called Window on Windows (WOW) which will allow you to run your old 32-bit apps on your 64-bit Vista via emulation, the 32-bit hardware drivers will not work on new Microsoft’s operating system. Opposite to that, recently previewed Mac OS X Leopard will come with 64-bit and full non-emulated 32-bit support.
Dean Pullen in his article for The Inquirer sees Leopard’s non-emulated support for 32-bit applications and drivers as a great advantage compared to 64-bit version of Windows Vista.
“Note that the non-emulated support in OSX is for applications and drivers. 32-bit programs on Vista 64 need to work on WOW emulation to run in Vista, and 32-bit drivers are a no-no. Lack of driver support is the main reason Windows XP x64 hasn’t been widely adopted, and why the Vista fudge will ensure hardware incompatibilities between the two Windows versions remain for sometime to come.
This is quite a boon for OSX, and one that should be highlighted frequently and often,” says Pullen.
