amd64 or i386

[neocortex]

Hello and sorry for English (my German is awful)!
I just (probe) installed Debian testing amd64 on my machine. I plan to play a bit and then to install final, clean system, for my work environment. My question is should I go for amd64 or i 386? People have different opinions about this issue. Although amd64 should be "native" choice for my laptop, some are saying that I shall se no difference, some things are not working under 64-bits (like Skype, which I need), and that, basically, i386 is still most worked on. Please, help me advice. I need Debian for work, not to play, and when I decide one I would like that our "marriage" lasts for many years...

Best,
PM

[Aliquando]

Hello,

well, it is your choice if you prefer i386 or amd64. As you already mentioned i386 works perfectly although amd64 would be the "native" architecture. And it is true, Skype and some other programs are available as i386 builds only. But (maybe you do not know) there is the posibility to run i386 software on amd64, for this I think you will need the ia32-libs. I have never tested this but it should work.
But in daily work you will not experience a difference between i386 and amd64 - I use both and amd64 is not faster than i386. On amd64 you may have the advantage that you can use lots of RAM in an easier way (if you have more than 3 GB).
So I guess the choice is up to you.

[GoKi]

You can get skype running on amd64.It may require some manual intervention due to 546281. See the bug report for the workaround. I verified (using Squeeze), that adding the 32bit libs as suggested in the discussion gives a working Skype on amd64.

[neocortex]

Thanks guys so much! I think this German Debian page is much more active than English. My bad is that my German is so rusty. (My grandmother and grandfather turn upside down in graves, being Donauschwaben! ) But, I hope you all won't mind few English lines.

Best,
PM

[feltel]

No Problem at all wrt english content here.

BTW: Welcome at debianforum.de

[neocortex]

Thanks guys! You are very kind!

Vielen Dank!

PM