Next Photoshop will get 64-bit -on Windows only

[Capper]

Adobe Systems has shared the first scrap of information about its next version of Photoshop, CS4, and it's a doozy: there will be a 64-bit version of the photo-editing software, but only for Windows and not for Mac OS X.

Adobe generally keeps features in the Windows and Mac versions at a level of parity, but that wasn't possible this time around because of a change Apple made last year to the Mac's programming underpinnings, John Nack, Adobe's product manager for Photoshop, said in an interview.

"We're not going to ship 64-bit native for Mac with CS4," Nack said. "We respect Apple's need to balance their resources and make decisions right for that platform. But it does have an impact on developers."

(Read the "What derailed the 64-bit train?" section below if you want more details on why Adobe concluded it had to change plans.)

What does 64 bits get you, anyway? Chiefly, an easier way for a processor and software to use more than 4GB of memory. In addition, the 64-bit versions of Intel and AMD x86 chips incorporate more data storage slots called registers that can improve performance.

But Nack took pains to say that moving to 64 bits, while useful, isn't like flipping a switch that doubles performance.

Next Photoshop will get 64-bit boost--on Windows only

[Zambini]

HMmmmmmm.... I wonder what this will do to sales.

Probably plummet, but make up for increased price to people who actually make a living using photoshop and actually need it to be 64bit. >.>

[polobunny]

Well I'm pretty happy to be honest. It's kind of lame that photoshop gets to use only 2GB when you're doing hi-res. :)

[Zambini]

Originally Posted by polobunny

Well I'm pretty happy to be honest. It's kind of lame that photoshop gets to use only 2GB when you're doing hi-res. :)

But you wont be able to run it w/o upgrading your CPU...?

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Zambini

But you wont be able to run it w/o upgrading your CPU...?

Uh? Who? Me? E8400 is perfectly 64bit compatible, and it's said there will be a 64bit version. Not that the only CS4 version will be 64bit.

[Zambini]

Originally Posted by polobunny

Uh? Who? Me? E8400 is perfectly 64bit compatible, and it's said there will be a 64bit version. Not that the only CS4 version will be 64bit.

Oh. Well that shows my knowledge of current CPUs

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Zambini

Oh. Well that shows my knowledge of current CPUs

E6400 is 64bit capable too. Go go go 64bit OS! :P

[[Dr. V]]

Originally Posted by polobunny

E6400 is 64bit capable too. Go go go 64bit OS! :P

I'm running x64 Vista Ultimate

[screwballl]

Zambini,

Any Core2Duo is 64-bit from the E2xxx on up
For AMD, anything Athlon64 on up is 64-bit

[Zambini]

Well then, that shows my knowledge of CPUs even more! lol.

Cept I don't like 64 bit os's. Last one I had didn't have a flash player for Firefox (FC4-64)