Microsoft warns users off 64-bit Office 2010
By Barry Collins
Posted on 8 Mar 2010 at 10:42
Microsoft is advising its customers to install the 32-bit, rather than the 64-bit, version of Office 2010.
The advice is tucked away in an FAQ about the Office 2010 Tech Guarantee programme, which will ensure that buyers of Office 2007 will get a free upgrade to the new Office suite when its launched.
"We strongly recommend most users install 32-bit version of Office 2010 on both 32 and 64-bit operating systems because currently many common add-ins for Office will not function in the 64-bit edition," Microsoft warns.
Complete Guide to Office 2010
Get details of every app and all the big changes in our comprehensive Office 2010 guide"The 64-bit installation of Microsoft Office 2010 products will be available for users who commonly use very large documents or data sets and need Excel 2010 programs to access greater than 2GB of memory.
"There may be technical issues with the 64-bit version and in order to install a 64-bit version of Office 2010 product users must have a 64-bit supported operating system on their PC," Microsoft adds.
Even some of Microsoft's own Office plugins are not yet compatible with the 64-bit software, including the Outlook Social Connector, which hooks the software into social networks such as Facebook. Third party plugins from LinkedIn and Symantec are also 32-bit only.
Microsoft's missive echoes the advice of PC Pro's Real World Computing expert Simon Jones, who has been advising readers to stick to the 32-bit version of Office 2010 for many months.
From around the web
How are we ever going to move into a completely 64bit world when Microsoft can't even ready 64bit compatible versions of their own Office plugins?
Tech firms as a whole need to pull their collective fingers out if 64bit is to ever take off en masse.
By judas6003 on 8 Mar 2010 
Very sensible advice
In other words: "If you need 64 bit functionality, get that one. Otherwise, you don't need 64 bit functionality"
I know we all like bigger numbers but we don't need 64 bit precision for Clippy to help us write a letter.
By steviesteveo on 8 Mar 2010
addins
"many common add-ins for Office"
What about an add-in that gives native support, at OS level, for importing of .pcx graphics and thumbnail viewing of .pcx in Windows Explorer?
By specious on 8 Mar 2010
Quote "Office plugins are not yet compatible with the 64-bit software, including the Outlook Social Connector, which hooks the software into social networks such as Facebook"
excellent, thats just what i want, looks like the 64bit version for me ;o)
By andy_fogg on 10 Mar 2010
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