Buying OneNote 2007 to use with Office 2003 Pro

[Craig]

I currently use Office 2003 Pro, and am not (at the moment) interested in
upgrading to Office 2007. I am interested in using OneNote 2007, and
understand that it would work just fine with Office 2003. In researching
prices on the internet, it looks like the price for Home and Student edition
(which contains One Note) is only about $30 more than OneNote purchased as a
stand alone product. Since I might be interested in upgrading to Office
2007 in the future, I wonder whether it would be better to spend the extra
$30 to get One Note as part of a suite, rather than purchasing it alone.

According to an MS support document I've seen (Article ID: 928091), two
versions of office can coexist (with the exception of Outlook 2003), but such
installations are not recommended.

I am wondering if installing just One Note from the 2007 suite produces any
different result than installing the standalone product, when the intent is
to use this in conjunction with Office 2003 (Pro).

Can anyone explain the pro's and con's of going with the suite product
versus the stand alone product?

 

[Wickiup]

OneNote 2007 will load and work just fine with the 2003 version of Office
and even retains the sensible menus.
During install the option is given as to what you wish to install.
On my machine it installs the 2007 stuff in Office 12 folder as opposed to
the Office 11 folder for the '03 stuff.
All worked seamlessly.

-*-
Jim Curts

 

[Rainald Taesler]

I currently use Office 2003 Pro, and am not (at the moment)
interested in upgrading to Office 2007.

Why not?
All of the Office apps have tremendously been improved in v. 12 (Office
2007).
I have been using Office2007 since the early Beta exclusively and dumb
Me can't see any reason for staying with it's predecessor.

I am interested in using
OneNote 2007, and understand that it would work just fine with Office
2003.

OneNote2007 does pretty well co-exist with Office 2003. There are no
compatibility issues whatsoever.
But - there always is a "but" <g> - there are serious drawbacks:
The features for the co-operation of OneNote and Outlook (Tasks, Events,
Contacts etc.) were rather limited in Office 2003. They were
tremendously improved in v. 12. Although the connection ON-OL is not yet
perfect and does not fulfill all requirements I'd need, I for one would
not want to miss what's possible in so far right now.

Therefore you should at least upgrade Outlook.

In researching prices on the internet, it looks like the
price for Home and Student edition (which contains One Note) is only
about $30 more than OneNote purchased as a stand alone product.
Since I might be interested in upgrading to Office 2007 in the
future, I wonder whether it would be better to spend the extra $30 to
get One Note as part of a suite, rather than purchasing it alone.

The difference of the prices is that small that IMHO it would be
anything but wise not to buy the whole bundle.
Even if you would only use the new version of Outlook you would be well
off.
And you could upgrade the rest anytime - the next version (Office14)
will only appear sometime in 2010 (as said Steve Balmer recently), so
that you'd have enough time for decision making.

According to an MS support document I've seen (Article ID: 928091),
two versions of office can coexist (with the exception of Outlook
2003), but such installations are not recommended.

As to my experience this is correct.
But I would not run two different versions simultaneously, however.
And - honestly speaking - I can not see *any*reason* for doing so.

Just curious: How come that you are afraid of making the move?

Could it be that it's just the changed UI (the so-called "Ribbon")
intimidating you?
As to my experience it's just getting accustomed to it and that won't
take long. Although at first sight crying out loud (remembering
Melanie's hit "What have they done to my song"?? <g>) I got very
comfortable with it pretty soon. And today I really won't miss it!!
Far more logical the way things work now.
And: It's easy enough to switch off the "Ribbon";-)

Apart from the interface issue I can not see any reason for resisting to
upgrading.

I am wondering if installing just One Note from the 2007 suite
produces any different result than installing the standalone product,
when the intent is to use this in conjunction with Office 2003 (Pro).

No, no problem at all, no difference.
But - as said above - upgrading at least Outlook would be essential to
get all of ON's features to work.

All on all: You would be well advised to pay the $$ 30.- to get the
whole bundle of Office12.

HTH
If any further questions, pls ask them.

Rainald