Windows 7 and Elemental.

Given SD is a developer partner with MS and that MS has included its [SD] tech into its [M$] Vista system, I would assume SD has access to W7 builds already.

Gold++, Platinium, partner with MS.

Even more i think, they can extand that partnership futher marketing side-wise as Elemental is one of the few game that will howl 64 bits OS developed and optimized.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. It would be neat if it was included with all OS purchases as an example of what such can game can do with such a system. It would be far better then the crap child oriented things they install now.

We already have it running on Windows 7 just fine. It'll run basically the same as Vista.

Windows 7 is pretty much just Vista less Windows XP support.

It also fixes a lot of the issues, such as UAC and stuff.

Should be pretty good really. 

Thanks.  Would you recommend on a laptop purchase that I go ahead and get stuck with Vista, or wait for Windows 7, if it's for Elemental?  I understand if this is a question you're obligated or feel that it is prudent not to answer- I have a good feeling this is the case.

A lot would depend on Windows 7 release date- if I think it's 2010, then I'd get something sooner rather then later. I've read late 2009 though, which should be in the middle of your beta.

Especially if it's a laptop, I'd hold out not only for 7, but for the next round of CPU/GPUs after it...if not for the extra performance, for the extra price drop.

But that's just me.

I'm waiting as is.  Won't wait past this year.  The specs I want only cost about $1000 now, so it's reasonable.

It does have to be a laptop , since we use our own laptops for work (for our own personal timekilling use)

Hah, well if I hadn't preordered already then I'd certainly go for a 64-bit Windows 7 / Elemental bundle with a small discount.

Edit: Bah typos.

hell I just bought a  pc now and for some reason I yhad a feeling Vista was still new stuff. Now with what I hear it's old stuff And I will need to get another OS. 

Did Xp not last for 5 or 6 years or soemthing? Now vista is in for 2 and it's game over... What am I missing?

People didn't want to switch to Vista due to the bloat?

I think everyone's looking to Windows 7 to correct the past sins Microsoft committed with Vista.  Things have gotten much better with Vista than at launch for sure, but I think a lot of hopes are pinned on Windows 7 being the OS Vista should have been.  How that plays out remains to be seen, but like Brad and others, I really wish Microsoft would just go the 64-bit route ONLY with 7 since hardware support for 64-bit is here and growing.

Has been here and growing.  The last real CPU Intel or AMD made that wasn't 64-bit was the Core Duo (not to be confused with the Core 2 Duo, mind you), which for all intents and purposes was merely a rebranded Pentium M.  This is not to say that the Core Duo was useless, as it was essentially a necessary stepping stone for Intel at that point in time, but the point still stands.

Not only is 64-bit the future, but it is here now and it is here to stay.

Which makes me even angrier at MS for not having 7 be 64-bit only.

(Note to VIA fanboys: VIA doesn't count.  Sorry.)

[/rant]

Actually, Vista is the equivalent of Windows ME.  It is the transitional version between major upgrades.  Vista was always going to be an interim between XP and Windows 7.

They did the same for Windows ME in that it was transition from Windows 98 to XP.

Vista is pretty good now, but you MUST have service pack 1.  Otherwise you're stuck with all the horid mess it was at release.

You might want to recheck.  Intel Atom and Xeon come in x86 & x86-64 lines (32 and 64 bit).  AMD is still making Athlons which come in x86 & x86-64 lines too.

I was unaware that AMD was making any 32-bit Athlons...or that Intel was making any 32-bit Xeons.

I wouldn't call the Atom a "real" processor, though, so it doesn't conflict with my post.

In any case, the situation is still much the same.

Some of us had to anyway, and we're going to be cranky for a while after Win7 comes out if Vista doesn't get some service packs that give us some functional parity and spare us the further Mac OS-wannabe UI changes.

Me, I'm hoping the luck of my work situation means that I can both afford and justify a 64-bit box within the first couple of quarters after the Elemental beta ends. I would never have bought Vista myself if work did not demand it, still hate Office 12 for destroying my hard-won poweruser skills, and am just frakkin' tired of upgrading for upgrading's sake. Maybe, just maybe, Win7 will give me a few years' peace at the OS level...