Quote:
Originally Posted by The Sand
So do you mean if you install 64 bit Office on your 64 bit machine and Microsoft upgrades Office (to like 2012 or whatever in the future) you have to "uninstall"all of Office before an upgrade?
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If you upgrade from, for example, Windows Vista 32 to Windows 7 32, it is an upgrade in place. You do not have to delete your existing version of Vista and then install Windows 7. Rather, it is the typical upgrade we have been used to, which preserves some or most of your Windows settings. (It may also preserve some things you don't like/want, but it is an easier process.) If you move from, for example, Windows Vista 32 to Windows 7 64, you must start over and reinstall everything (including all programs, etc.) Windows 7 does offer a process that allows you to save the existing files and settings for some programs, but this is not universal and you must reinstall the programs themselves in the 64 bit environment. That is the Windows 7 64 install, not the Office 64 install.
If you install Office 64 during that process, it is basically like reinstalling the other programs. If you do not install Office 64 at that time, but install Office 32 and wait until later to install Office 64, you will most likely have to completely uninstall Office 32 and reinstall Office 64. There is presently no MS upgrade program, of which I am aware, that allows you to upgrade Office 64 in place (with all settings, etc. from Office 32). If someone is aware of some other information from MS on this, I would be interested to know.
This is one reason why people may be inclined to do this all at once. Since the future is 64 and the next iteration of Office and Windows will likely be 64 only, doing it now has attractions in saving from hassles later. The problem is the hassles it presents, which is lack of compatibility with the add-in programs of companies like RIM, which have elected not to upgrade those programs at this time, to the surprise and dismay of customers like myself, while companies like CompanionLink have rushed in to provide this service, for a fee, that RIM has not, as of yet.
I personally see RIM, in this regard, as behaving like something of an arrogant company with a widely used and entrenched product, which feels it is not compelled to serve the needs and desires of smaller segments of its customers to maintain general market dominance. (RIM has a huge share of the smartphone market.) This is risky for RIM, because their market share is eroding and may continue to erode as small segments of its customer based drop off.