ZDNet.com.au has a fairly good article on 64bit architecture and what it means for the average punter.

If you’re planning to invest in new computers, it’s worth considering whether to make the move to 64-bit technology. Does the extra scalability justify the expense?

Most of the article is dedicated to describing what 64 bit is and why it’s good and will soon take over the world, but the most useful bit I think is the last section:

Should you upgrade now?
If this technology is out there, and the industry is moving towards a 64-bit takeover, does that mean you should buy only 64-bit computers as you add new systems or replace old ones? The answer is (as is so often the case): it depends.

They go on to give a fairly good strategy for how to upgrade, and conclude that in the end, office workstations really don’t need to bother, yet. 

tags: 64Bit, CPU, ZDNet, Hardware