I'm a beginner: should I buy Office 2003 or Office 2007?

[David]

I am learning with tutorials in Office 2003. I want to buy an MS Office
program and don't know which one is more beneficial, in the long run.

 

[Sasha]

I am learning with tutorials in Office 2003. I want to buy an MS Office
program and don't know which one is more beneficial, in the long run.

2007 is definitely better. It's not much more difficult, but it will be
more useful later on.

 

[frustrated_lady]

I would definitely get the newer version, especially if you're just starting
out.

 

[Echo S]

I am learning with tutorials in Office 2003. I want to buy an MS Office
program and don't know which one is more beneficial, in the long run.

I think beginners especially will appreciate 2007 more than 2003. Features
aren't as "hidden" as they are in 2003, so you will probably become more
proficient more quickly.

It's us old farts who are strugglin' with 2007!

 

[Patrick Schmid [MVP]]

2007 is definitely easier to use for a beginner, so I would recommend
that ordinarily as well. However, you didn't tell us why you want to
learn Office in the first place. If you want to learn it because you
need it to get a job, then you are probably better off learning 2003.
Most companies will not use 2007 for quite some time to come, so you are
much more likely to see an Office you are familiar with if you learn
2003: a lot of the companies still use Office 2000 which is pretty
similar in usage to 2003. But there is a big break between 2003 and
2007. If you know just 2007, you are probably very lost with 2003 or
earlier.

Patrick Schmid [OneNote MVP]
--------------
http://pschmid.net
***
Office 2007 RTM Issues: http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/11/13/80
***
Customize Office 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/customize
RibbonCustomizer Add-In: http://pschmid.net/office2007/ribboncustomizer
OneNote 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/onenote
***
Subscribe to my Office 2007 blog: http://pschmid.net/blog/feed

 

[Echo S]

Good point!

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/

2007 is definitely easier to use for a beginner, so I would recommend that
ordinarily as well. However, you didn't tell us why you want to learn
Office in the first place. If you want to learn it because you need it to
get a job, then you are probably better off learning 2003. Most companies
will not use 2007 for quite some time to come, so you are much more likely
to see an Office you are familiar with if you learn 2003: a lot of the
companies still use Office 2000 which is pretty similar in usage to 2003.
But there is a big break between 2003 and 2007. If you know just 2007, you
are probably very lost with 2003 or earlier.

Patrick Schmid [OneNote MVP]
--------------
http://pschmid.net
***
Office 2007 RTM Issues: http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/11/13/80
***
Customize Office 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/customize
RibbonCustomizer Add-In: http://pschmid.net/office2007/ribboncustomizer
OneNote 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/onenote
***
Subscribe to my Office 2007 blog: http://pschmid.net/blog/feed

I am learning with tutorials in Office 2003. I want to buy an MS
Office
program and don't know which one is more beneficial, in the long run.

I think beginners especially will appreciate 2007 more than 2003.
Features
aren't as "hidden" as they are in 2003, so you will probably become more
proficient more quickly.

It's us old farts who are strugglin' with 2007!

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/