Office 2004 compatibility with new Intel iMac?

[paul]

What's the story behind compatibility of Office 2004 with the new Intel
Duo iMacs announced today? I'm assuming this is NOT binary compatible -
am I wrong?

Thanks
Paul

 

[Michel Bintener]

Hi,

no, Office 2004 still requires the PowerPC architecture, which means that it
will not run *natively* on the new Intel Macs. However, thanks to Apple's
Rosetta technology (think of it as some kind of emulator), Intel Mac users
will be able to run PowerPC software on their Intel architecture in the same
way that for instance today's users can run Classic software in Mac OS X.

The next version of Mac Office will be distributed as a universal binary,
meaning that it will run natively on both processor architectures.

 

[dfritzin]

Hi,

no, Office 2004 still requires the PowerPC architecture, which means that it
will not run *natively* on the new Intel Macs. However, thanks to Apple's
Rosetta technology (think of it as some kind of emulator), Intel Mac users
will be able to run PowerPC software on their Intel architecture in the same
way that for instance today's users can run Classic software in Mac OS X.

The next version of Mac Office will be distributed as a universal binary,
meaning that it will run natively on both processor architectures.

From the keynote, it sounds as if there may be universal binaries of

Office 2004, free, in March. This is from the SchwarzTech.com site
covering the keynote:
" 1:21 PM EST MS BU update...rep talks about being on track for
universal binaries of Office and Messenger (who uses that?), shipping
several updates very soon to provide additional support for current
Apple technology, all updates will be available for free on web site in
March
1:20 PM EST Rosetta on iMac - Office runs great, other developers have
universal binaries (or will soon)...Quark universal ships today"

HTH

 

[mmmmark]

In fact, during the keynote today Roz Ho, head of the Mac BU at Microsoft
confirmed that her group has been working with Apple ensuring that Office
2004 works seamlessly in OS X 10.4.4 on the new Intelimacs.

Not all software will run perfectly, however. Some may not run at
all--particularly those apps that were coded specifically for the G5's
Altivec vector unit. Apple's own pro apps fall into this category. Apple
is promising compatible pro apps by March, I believe.

-Mark

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Hmm, Dave. I don't read your quotation that way at all. I read it as "next
version on track" and updates will help support Rosetta and other things.
The notes here agree, I think, assuming the bullet points are in the correct
places:

http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/wlg/8970

? Brings out Roz Ho, the GM of MacBU
? Microsoft is on track to bring Universal Binaries of Office and
Messenger for the Mac.
? Has worked with Apple to ensure that Office runs well under Rosetta.
MS will ship updates to the Office suite soon so they run well on Intel Macs.
Adding sync services, Spotlight services, and an update to Messenger 5. These
will be available as a free download from MS's web site in March

But I don't believe in getting my hopes up for things like a free universal
binary of a major application.