What's the difference, practically speaking? I'm assuming the 64-bit version runs a bit faster, but is it noticeable?
The reason I ask is that I recently installed the 32-bit version of Office 2010 on my dad's new PC (it's the only legitimate copy I had access to), and I'm wondering if it comes with any particular disadvantages when compared to its 64-bit alternative.
This post is somewhat dated (we are on to Office Cloud 2013), but this post is middle of Google's first page for the Microsoft inspired question of the century: "32-bit or 64-bit version of Office?"
First up, you did not mention if your father was using 32-bit or 64-bit Windows, Mac or Linux (all or which are Office 2013 friendly). Assume your father is running a 64-bit OS.
For every 64-bit system, 64-bit Office will run much faster.
Memory-hog Office 32-bit apps latch onto the breast of the OS and attempt to force out contenders for a rigidly fixed mere 2.37 GB memory limit. 32-bit circus apps even squabble with each other! As everyone knows, be careful you work one app at a time running old 32-bit Suites of anything, especially of Microsoft Office. Expect daily system crashes.
64-bit apps are not hog-nipple suckers. Microsoft Office 64-bit apps on today's standard 16 GB to 32 GB laptops and desktops have plenty of memory that they interactively cache. Say no more there!
Now comes the REAL PROBLEM: MICROSOFT (no comment on grunt camp D.O.D. "anti-terror interventions" here). Microsoft Corporation has invested billions of dollars of revenue stream in a now outdated and increasingly finite 32-bit fish puddle. To the effect that brazen programmers in TechNet boasted of 64-bit Office release, that they have no problem writing SharePoint apps to intercept 64-bit transactions and "nail them down, ha-ha-ha" with force-fed 32-bit Access and Excel runtimes. While you are enjoying your 64-bit efficiency, NEVER ENJOY clicking on one of those COM popups that insist you click to continue. Task Manager is always awake on my home desktop!
Microsoft has no intention to contain the delinquents it harbors, for now. Microsoft wants to "save money". For large corporations, this is really no problem. For example, our Region 3 Health Care node enables state and provincial Health Authorities to run backbone background Microsoft ("Thug") supported 32-bit mainframes to host 64-bit user terminals. This is critical! Nobody wants their father to die because a nursing station terminal was in crash mode again, so doctors guessed at the wrong medication...
For kids setting up Office on father's home computer, the 32-bit vs 64-bit question is easily answered, and its answer depends on your father's computer sophistication. "Thug" is the term shared with me by a Senior Systems Administrator round Node 3 healthcare: Microsoft will seriously be "working" through various billion dollar reservoirs of redundancy, be working hard to Thug you out on Office 64-bit platforms. No problems, if you know how to dodge redundant popups, including WINDOWS UPDATE popups! Otherwise, okay 'safe': do what the Thug says, and install 32-bit Office... until the lost cow (pig, or whatever you want to call it, as it struggles to remain competitive and ...) makes its way
home.
:whiste: ...I run 64-bit Office Cloud 2013 at home. Microsoft is "using" my "experience": popup interventions get steadily more creative, weekdays. Chew on that! We luv u Microsoft. LOL