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No iPhone For 64-Bit Windows

Mizled writes "After buying a new iPhone yesterday and bringing it home to sync and activate it, I found out that Windows 64-bit is not supported. Neither XP 64-bit nor Vista 64-bit works with the iPhone. I called the Apple support line and the rep said I needed to downgrade my computer from a 64-bit operating system. I also posted about my concerns on the Apple iPhone discussion forums, but my post was quickly removed."

18 of 762 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Look on the bright side... by tsa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah, whatever. The customer should not have to worry that his/her computer is 'compatible' with the iPhone in any way, as long as it's fairly modern and mainstream. Isn't one of Apples 'soundbites' "It just works?"

    --

    -- Cheers!

  2. Re:Look on the bright side... by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The rep should have said "Stop whining. Noone supports desktop 64 bit windows"

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    There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
  3. virtualize man! by wwmedia · · Score: 5, Insightful

    install xp in a virtual machine! virtual pc + windows xp FREE from microsoft!

    or install your legal 32bit copy of windows in vmware

    or google for running osx in vmware like im doing

    1. Re:virtualize man! by dreamchaser · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Or buy a phone that doesn't make you jump through hoops to use it? I can't believe you're actually saying people should use kludges just to use a phone. Amazing.

    2. Re:virtualize man! by weave · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I can't believe you're actually saying people should use kludges just to use a phone. Amazing.

      Kind of like how I had to install XP inside a Parallels VM to use my Nokia smartphone on my Mac?

      Mac users have to live with that kind of crap all the time, and we hear it's because Mac OS is not mainstream enough. Well guess what, 64 bit Windows is not mainstream either.

  4. Re:Look on the bright side... by Odiumjunkie · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It "just works" with *our* hardware and *our* software.

    Come on, who'd buy a first-gen iPod without checking to see if it would work with their XP box? Or a Newton without checking to see if it could data transfer with Windows 3.1?

  5. Apple lists this problem in fine print by ragingmime · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...on this page.

    Apple's hardware is generally very well-designed, and their software is solid on Macs, but they can't seem to write a decent Windows program to save their lives. For example: why does iTunes run the iPod service even when iTunes isn't running and even though I've never used an iPod? Why does Quicktime automatically have your browser open MP3s in Quicktime instead of downloading them (and not give you the option of turning this "feature" off?) Why do Apple programs "break" the usual look and feel of Windows programs? Honestly, this isn't rocket science here. How hard would it have been to recompile the iPhone software for a 64-bit machine?

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  6. Why do I need a computer to run my phone anyway? by C+R+Johnson · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I am required to have a computer to use the phone?

    Huh?

    You would think that with the supposed capabilities, you would it could be your computer.

    --
    The alternative to limited government is unlimited government.
  7. Re:Look on the bright side... by Kohath · · Score: 5, Insightful

    64-bit Windows isn't mainstream.

    Linux is more mainstream than 64-bit Windows. iTunes doesn't support Linux either. But if you complain about that on the Apple forums, no one will listen to you. Why should it be different with 64-bit Windows?

  8. Re:Locking down by Kohath · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think you're confusing a "manic desire to maintain total control over their hardware and software" with Apple just not doing what you wish they would do. (You haven't specifically said what that is though.) I'm not sure why Apple should want to make you happy with their actions. They're offering some products. Your choice is to take them or leave them.

    Apple doesn't owe each individual person their dream product -- specifically tailored to your personal individual desires and biases. No one owes you that. And it's not "arrogance" when folks don't focus on what you want.

    If you don't like their products, you're probably outside their target market.

  9. Re:Look on the bright side... by DrXym · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Apple would address linux before 64 bit windows. With that said, the manual says it in quite a few places that it's not supported.

    Building software for 64-bit windows would usually be a matter of a few compiler switches and using the proper types and macros. Or just building a 32-bit app that runs properly in 64-bit. Apple might have some crazy in-house cross-platform environment or a lack of QA resources which prevents doing either but that isn't much of an excuse.

    They could be doing it for political reasons of course which isn't forgiveable either.

    Considering Apple's reputation for software which "just works", their recent offerings on Windows seem to be doing anything but.

  10. Cheer up. by jrq · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At least if you downgrade you can run Google Desktop, and a whole host of other programs and utilities that don't properly support XP 64bit.

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    My UID is prime!
  11. 64 Bit Support is new to everyone by nurb432 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You can count the number of apps that currently support 64 bit windows on one hand.. ( ok, not quite that bad, but close ).

    Hell, not all of micrsoft apps dont even support it yet, and its THEIR OS.

    By the time this matters to their target market, it will have been taken care of.

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    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  12. Re:Look on the bright side... by timeOday · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Come on, who'd buy a first-gen iPod without checking to see if it would work with their XP box? Or a Newton without checking to see if it could data transfer with Windows 3.1?
    I'm surprised to hear that the iPhone needs a computer at all. Why would it? The thing is a computer... the "real internet" on your phone. Especially if it's locked to a single provider (AT&T) anyways, it ought to be able to connect to that provider to activate itself without a computer.
  13. Re:Look on the bright side... by dosquatch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    the manual says it in quite a few places

    You're suggesting people should RTFM for products they haven't even bought yet? BWAAHAHAHAHAhahaha.. heh... hooooo... oh, you're serious, aren't you?

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  14. Troll Feeding Time ... by SteveM · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Customer service, security, and quality are at best an afterthought at Apple."

    Curious, Business Week would seem to differ, at least on the customer service ranking.

    I'm just wondering, how many iPods do they need to sell before it's "more than a happy accident"?

    SteveM

  15. Now you know by theolein · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "After buying a new iPhone yesterday and bringing it home to sync and activate it, I found out that Windows 64-bit is not supported. Neither XP 64-bit nor Vista 64-bit works with the iPhone. I called the Apple support line and the rep said I needed to downgrade my computer from a 64-bit operating system. I also posted about my concerns on the Apple iPhone discussion forums, but my post was quickly removed."

    Now you know what it's like to be a Mac or a Linux user.

  16. Re:Technical technicalities, techincally by Dogtanian · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Are you honestly claiming that "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" isn't being sold as a particular version of "Windows XP Professsional"? I'm actually saying that when you're reading a particular product's requirements you should make sure that the actual product name is actually listed. Yes, but your argument only holds water if "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" can't reasonably be considered a version of "Windows XP Professsional".

    MS's naming/marketing clearly implies that it *is* being sold as such (regardless of the actual underpinnings), so it's disingenuous to suggest that Apple didn't imply compatibility when they listed "Windows XP Professional" without qualifying that in any way.
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