Difference Between Internet Explorer & Internet Explorer 64 Bit
As 64-bit-compatible hardware becomes commonplace in most new computers, many software developers are releasing special 64-bit versions of their programs to take full advantage of the benefits that come with 64-bit systems. Microsoft is no different, and addition to having both a 32-bit and 64-bit version of Windows, they have released a 64-bit version of Internet Explorer. While it is essentially the same program as the 32-bit version, some key differences exist.
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Difference between 64-bit and 32-bit
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The main difference between all 32-bit and 64-bit programs is their potential performance. The inherit limitations of 32-bit hardware prevent it from using more than 4 GB of RAM, while a 64-bit system has no such limitation. This should translate to a faster system, but most programs and applications are still made with 32-bit systems in mind, and they do not take advantage of the potential that a 64-bit system offers. While a 64-bit system can run 32-bit programs most of the time, it may actually run them slower.
Compatibility Issues
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While both browsers support viewing regular content regardless of if whether it was made on a 64-bit or 32-bit system, some content is not cross-compatible. Anything created using Microsoft's Active X framework, a technology similar to Java that can allow Internet content to interact with Windows, is only compatible with the corresponding browser. This means that 32-bit Active X content only works on the 32-bit browser, while 64-bit content only works with the 64-bit browser.
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Active X Controls
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Although eventually all programs and hardware will be 64-bit, right now most programs are developed on 32-bit systems with 32-bit compatibility in mind. As of June 2010 many add-ons, such as Yahoo! Toolbar and the Google toolbar, are 32-bit only, so they will not work with the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer. Additionally, no version of Flash--the dominant web animation and video standard--is made for 64-bit systems. Any site running Flash will not display properly on the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer.
Similarities
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The 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Internet Explorer have far more in common than not. The 64-bit version is identical in terms of security settings, and both use the same basic settings. They both view basic web content the same way, and both are compatible with the 64-bit version of Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Uses
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Since most sites are not made with 64-bit systems in mind, and the compatibility of the 64-bit browser is lacking, most people still need to use the 32-bit version of Internet Explorer rather than the 64-bit. When developers begin to make more programs that take advantage of 64-bit system architecture, more pronounced differences will be seen between the two browsers. Until then, the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer is mostly useful for experimental purposes but not much else.
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