Microsoft has stated that Windows Server 2008 will be their last 32 bit OS.

As for time frames, look at Win95 to XP because that's where the 32 bit available to 64 bit available line is at. That was 6 years. If you look at XP to no 32 bit, you have 7 years. My guess is another 5-7 years from release of Windows Server 2008, now set for February, you will see 32 bit compatability dropped.

>Define 'rapidly'
>
>There was a long time between the emergence if XP1 and Vista1.
>Also most of todays computers are 32 bit and should have a life span of at least 5 years
>
>And where are the advantages of 64bit. Besides more memory.
>If I have 16 GB of stuff in memory and windows crashes (as it does from time to time) there is more to loose!<s>
>
>Peter