Benefits?  I have a buddy I will be putting together a machine for.  He's by no means a power user.  Does anyone see a huge benefit to Win 64 in the next few years that will really set it apart for a non-power user? 

You can run a shit-ton more ram.  Isn't 32 bit limited to 3.xx GB of ram?

No.

This is what I thought.   

Working with general home users - 64-bit is the standard.

32-bit is only used when there's a specific need for some app or driver that's not yet been updated and is known to NOT work with 64-bit OS's.

Yes, a 32-bit numbering system maxes out at right about 3.3(billion?) as the highest number that can be counted, thus an ~3.3GB max ram limitation. Now, for most general home users, 3GB is sufficient, but unless there's a specific need for 32-bit, just go 64 and kick in 4GB (or if the price is right 6, or 8GB) and call it done.

I'm going with 64 bit.  Should be fine.

We had to go with 32 bit for all the computers where I work because we have some legacy printers we couldn't find 64 bit drivers for.
That was a couple years ago an we haven't had any problems with JUST 4Gb ram.

32 bit will soon be obsolete.  Remember 16 bit?  Probably not.

Remember 16 bit? 

Yes, I do.

Do not purchase a 16 bit machine.


;-}

I saw one of these yesterday at a customer's place.
It still runs, too.