Hi Friends,
I finally have my new laptop connected to internet, and starting to load all the stuff I want on it. (This is my 1st laptop.) Just getting ready to download Inkscape, and don't see a 64 bit version. Is there not one? My general impression is that one cannot run a 64 bit program on a 32 bit computer, but that a 32 bit program can be run on 64 bit machine. Is that correct?

So I can go ahead an install the 32 bit Inkscape on my 64 bit laptop? Is there anything I need to do differently than I would on my desktop (like save/install in a special location or something)?

Maybe a question to ask somewhere else, but if 32 bit programs can be run without limitation on 64 bit computer, then why do some programs have 32 bit and 64 bit versions?

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it

Why?

If you have more then 3GB memory, virtual and ram including, (Win) you must have 64bit CPU and 64 bitOS.

If your computer has more than 4Gb of memory, virtual and ram including, (Linux), then you need
to install the 64bit CPU and 64 bitOS in order to use all the installed memory.

So if you have a plan to buy more ram memory later for your computer...install 64 bit OS.

If you working a lot with video, HDD recording, 3D rendering and you can do that with 64 bit program you need 64 bit OS, in this cases it's faster, and if you render 3D you need a lot of ram memory and virtual memory, and speed for the processes.

If you are a ordinary user, Gimp, Inkscape, Web....32 or 64 bit, you probably don't "experience" any differences.

Ah, ok thanks, hjalle
Sorry I didn't mention Os - it's Windows7. I didn't realize the OS matters, that some might be different. For the most part, I'm an ordinary user. Although I do hope to dabble in Blender one of these days. I have what for me seems like a "butt-load" of RAM -- 4gb at 1066 mhz. Don't think that makes me a "power user", but it's a lot for me

If you have more then 3GB memory, virtual and ram including, (Win) you must have 64bit CPU and 64 bitOS.

I was asking about programs or applications, rather than OS. I've seen applications that come in both 32 and 64 bit versions, and just curious why some can be run on either type of machine, while others can only run on one or the other? But as I said, it's probably a question for another forum.

Anyway, thanks again. Off to fire up laptop and install Inkscape