2003 Basic Edition vs the rest

[Opinicus]

I'm putting together a new computer for the daughter of a
friend. It's being built from components and is going to
have WinXP Home and an Office 2003 package installed on it.
Our Office options are:

Microsoft Office 2003 Professional Academic 175.00

Microsoft Office 2003 Basic Edition OEM @ USD 210.00

Microsoft Office 2003 Standard @ 419.00

Microsoft Office 2003 Professional @ 509.00



Since she's a student, she qualifies for the Academic
package but she has no need of Access, Outlook, or
PowerPoint: just Word and Excel. (Well maybe PowerPoint.)



This being so, I'm wondering if it might not be more
cost-effective to go for the Basic package, which has just
Word and Excel, since that will qualify for future upgrades
whereas the Academic package won't.



Are there any other features, auxiliary programs etc that
are in the Professional or Standard packages but not in the
Basic package that would make them preferable in her case?

 

[Don MI]

I'm putting together a new computer for the daughter of a friend. It's
being built from components and is going to have WinXP Home and an Office
2003 package installed on it. Our Office options are:

Microsoft Office 2003 Professional Academic 175.00

Microsoft Office 2003 Basic Edition OEM @ USD 210.00

Microsoft Office 2003 Standard @ 419.00

Microsoft Office 2003 Professional @ 509.00



Since she's a student, she qualifies for the Academic package but she has
no need of Access, Outlook, or PowerPoint: just Word and Excel. (Well
maybe PowerPoint.)



This being so, I'm wondering if it might not be more cost-effective to go
for the Basic package, which has just Word and Excel, since that will
qualify for future upgrades whereas the Academic package won't.



Are there any other features, auxiliary programs etc that are in the
Professional or Standard packages but not in the Basic package that would
make them preferable in her case?


--
Bob

Kanyak's Doghouse
http://www.kanyak.com

You may want to review:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/editions/howtobuy/compare.mspx

An Academic is also available for the Standard Edition or your daughter may
qualify for the less expensive Students and Teachers Edition with the same
applications as Standard.

I would avoid the OEM editions due to the restriction on transfer to another
computer.

You should review the products qualifying for upgrade versions of Office
2003 Professional and Standard. Academic and S&T editions have not in the
past been a qualifying product for a new version of Office. Note: Works is
generally available for US $50 and Works Suite for US $90 at stores in US.

Don