Office 2010, 32-bit vs. 64-bit.

[JMH]

Hardware and software incompatibility was perhaps the greatest barrier that contributed to pushing back the adoption of 64-bit platforms over the 32-bit versions. Microsoft’s x64 flavors of Windows XP and Windows Vista certainly smoothed out the past of x64 Windows 7, but the transition is in full swing, even with 64-bit systems and platforms becoming the norm. And the general market tendency to embrace 64-bit Windows doesn’t shield in any way other Microsoft technologies from dealing with the lack of support and incompatibility issues. Fact is that customers will need to think twice before opting for the 64-bit flavor of the next iteration of the Office System over the traditional 32-bit release.

Source -
Office 2010, 32-bit vs. 64-bit - Choose between more RAM and compatibility - Softpedia

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
You've forgotten other things -- like people will STILL be using 32 bit OS'es yet for a while.

Windows 2003 SERVER will still be around for at least another 3 to 4 years so people running Office via the server will need to use a 32 bit version of Office .

XP isn't by any manner of means dead yet either -- a lot of Corporate database systems still need XP or W2003 Server to run on.

Office 2012 (if there is such a thing after Office 2010) could be a 64 bit only OS but 2010 needs to have BOTH flavours.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Halfbaked]

Hi there
You've forgotten other things -- like people will STILL be using 32 bit OS'es yet for a while.

Windows 2003 SERVER will still be around for at least another 3 to 4 years so people running Office via the server will need to use a 32 bit version of Office .

XP isn't by any manner of means dead yet either -- a lot of Corporate database systems still need XP or W2003 Server to run on.

Office 2012 (if there is such a thing after Office 2010) could be a 64 bit only OS but 2010 needs to have BOTH flavours.

Cheers
jimbo

But will Office 2010 x32 be able to be used in Windows 7 x64?
That's going to be my biggest problem.

 

[darkassain]

...

But will Office 2010 x32 be able to be used in Windows 7 x64?
That's going to be my biggest problem.

Yes windows 7 x64 is compatible with most if not all 32 bit software...
case in point i have had office 2007 32 and then 2010 x32 and 64 bit on different windows 7 x64 installs and all work well...

 

[Halfbaked]

Thanks for your help.

 

[fseal]

It's always those pesky plugins!

Well it used to be "those drivers" (and still is somewhat) but luckily that situation is improving.

Now that there are FINALLY 64bit applications like office and photoshop, the third party people now need to step up. Such a LONG SLOW ROAD to 64 bit...

 

[Zirro]

Plugins

Yes. Plugins might prevent me using Office 2010 64-bit.

I have an iPhone (don't ask why), so I need a 64-bit iTunes plugin to sync to Outlook 64-bit.

I also need a 64-bit Toodledo sync tool to sync tasks with 64-bit Outlook.

I just hope Apple don't hold these up out of sheer obstinancy.