May I use Office 2003 pro instead of Office 2007 pro?

[Sults]

I bought MS Office 2007 Professional full version (not an OEM or OLP) for my
new computer recently. Unfortunately it turns up, that Microsoft has
introduced some sort of new crappy interface that drastically cuts down my
performance, especially in Excel. I have used MS Office already almost 15
years and I liked previous versions very much. Because of long experience
with the software and upgrades I did not suspect that Microsoft could create
such a big disappointment. The ribbon system sucks totally! It wastes lot of
space on my screen (text labels on tabs and near the buttons are completely
unnecessary, but cannot be turned off), ribbons are inflexible (I used my own
custom button layout with previous versions, and it was nice feature that
allowed to make routine tasks much easier) and they often force to make
several clicks instead of single click like it was in previous versions. It
seems that the new GUI is made for children or occasional home users, not for
professionals.
I want to know if Microsoft will solve the ribbon issue or not, and if not,
then I’d like to switch on my newest computer to Office 2003 Professional. Is
it allowed to use Office 2003 pro instead of Office 2007 pro without buying a
new license?

 

[Gordon]

I bought MS Office 2007 Professional full version (not an OEM or OLP) for
my
new computer recently. Unfortunately it turns up, that Microsoft has
introduced some sort of new crappy interface that drastically cuts down my
performance, especially in Excel. I have used MS Office already almost 15
years and I liked previous versions very much. Because of long experience
with the software and upgrades I did not suspect that Microsoft could
create
such a big disappointment. The ribbon system sucks totally! It wastes lot
of
space on my screen (text labels on tabs and near the buttons are
completely
unnecessary, but cannot be turned off),

Then minimize the ribbon.

ribbons are inflexible (I used my own
custom button layout with previous versions, and it was nice feature that
allowed to make routine tasks much easier) and they often force to make
several clicks instead of single click like it was in previous versions.
It
seems that the new GUI is made for children or occasional home users, not
for
professionals.

Put all the commands that you use a LOT on the QAT.

 

[DL]

If you have a retail Office 2003 cd, uninstall 2007 then install 2003.

 

[Gordon]

I bought MS Office 2007 Professional full version (not an OEM or OLP) for
my
new computer recently. Unfortunately it turns up, that Microsoft has
introduced some sort of new crappy interface that drastically cuts down my
performance, especially in Excel. I have used MS Office already almost 15
years and I liked previous versions very much. Because of long experience
with the software and upgrades I did not suspect that Microsoft could
create
such a big disappointment. The ribbon system sucks totally! It wastes lot
of
space on my screen (text labels on tabs and near the buttons are
completely
unnecessary, but cannot be turned off), ribbons are inflexible (I used my
own
custom button layout with previous versions, and it was nice feature that
allowed to make routine tasks much easier) and they often force to make
several clicks instead of single click like it was in previous versions.
It
seems that the new GUI is made for children or occasional home users, not
for
professionals.
I want to know if Microsoft will solve the ribbon issue or not, and if
not,
then I’d like to switch on my newest computer to Office 2003 Professional.
Is
it allowed to use Office 2003 pro instead of Office 2007 pro without
buying a
new license?

In addition, I have used Excel and Lotus 123 professionally too, for
probably about twenty years, and I find the transition to 2007 pretty easy,
actually. If you LOOK at the ribbon, you will find that the various commands
and functions are much more visible than the old system of digging down
through menus, sub-menus and sub-sub-menus....

 

[Sults]

Then minimize the ribbon.

This is not a solution, because of productivity reasons I need quick access
to commands.

Put all the commands that you use a LOT on the QAT.

The QAT will not fit all my commands. I usually have 2 or 3 full rows of
buttons in Office 2003. It seems, that Office 2007 allowes only 2 rows and
the second activates only when you click on expand button. If there is lot of
buttons, then you must scroll the second toolbar. What a stupid idea!
Besides, I can not find some command at all. For instance, the command that
changes language in Excel document.

Anyway, the new GUI looks so discusting for me, that I think I will abandon
it completely. All I need to know if I am allowed to use Office 2003 or not.
If not, I will most probably switch to OpenOffice.org, that is unfortunately
not so nice, smooth and flexible than Office 2003, but still much better than
the nef Office.

 

[Gordon]

This is not a solution, because of productivity reasons I need quick
access
to commands.



The QAT will not fit all my commands. I usually have 2 or 3 full rows of
buttons in Office 2003. It seems, that Office 2007 allowes only 2 rows and
the second activates only when you click on expand button. If there is lot
of
buttons, then you must scroll the second toolbar. What a stupid idea!
Besides, I can not find some command at all. For instance, the command
that
changes language in Excel document.

Anyway, the new GUI looks so discusting for me, that I think I will
abandon
it completely. All I need to know if I am allowed to use Office 2003 or
not.
If not, I will most probably switch to OpenOffice.org, that is
unfortunately
not so nice, smooth and flexible than Office 2003, but still much better
than
the nef Office.

Well I should go back to Multiplan then if I were you.
As a Group management accountant for several large publicly-quoted companies
in the UK I have NEVER found it necessary to do any customising at all. I
have not come across many who do either.

 

[Sults]

If you have a retail Office 2003 cd, uninstall 2007 then install 2003.

I only have Office 2003 SBE OEM CD. But as far I know, it is possible to buy
installation media separatedly. So if the retail version of Office 2007 Pro
grants right to install Office 2003 Pro, when the newest version is removed
first, then I can buy CD-s and install the good old version.

 

[Gordon]

The QAT will not fit all my commands. I usually have 2 or 3 full rows of
buttons in Office 2003.

And that would be no smaller than the ribbon?

 

[Sults]

In addition, I have used Excel and Lotus 123 professionally too, for
probably about twenty years, and I find the transition to 2007 pretty easy,
actually. If you LOOK at the ribbon, you will find that the various commands
and functions are much more visible than the old system of digging down
through menus, sub-menus and sub-sub-menus....

The problem is, that unlike previous versions the 2007 does not let you
customize controls. With previous versions I was able to create my own custom
toolbars that fit perfectly my needs. The new on is stupid and inflexible
like something that is meant for amateurs.

 

[Sults]

And that would be no smaller than the ribbon?

Of cource it is smaller than the ribbon! Look at the ribbon! Tere are text
labels duplicating the icons on buttons everywhere! If you compare the ribbon
with the toolbars of previous Offices, then you'll see what I mean. If you
mentioned surfing submenus and sub-submenus, then this is exactly what I
dislike at the ribbon system. Old button bars let activate most commands with
a single click.

 

[Gordon]

Of cource it is smaller than the ribbon! Look at the ribbon! Tere are text
labels duplicating the icons on buttons everywhere! If you compare the
ribbon
with the toolbars of previous Offices, then you'll see what I mean. If you
mentioned surfing submenus and sub-submenus, then this is exactly what I
dislike at the ribbon system. Old button bars let activate most commands
with
a single click.

Well I reckon that the Ribbon on my machine (a laptop with a 15.5" screen)
is NO LARGER than three rows of buttons on previous versions of Excel...

 

[Gordon]

Of cource it is smaller than the ribbon! Look at the ribbon! Tere are text
labels duplicating the icons on buttons everywhere! If you compare the
ribbon
with the toolbars of previous Offices, then you'll see what I mean. If you
mentioned surfing submenus and sub-submenus, then this is exactly what I
dislike at the ribbon system. Old button bars let activate most commands
with
a single click.

You obviously have never worked in IT support, have you? One of the MAJOR
problems supporting Office in a large organisation was the ability of users
to customise to their hearts' content....Support staff never knew what each
user had done....

 

[DL]

It doesnt grant you rights for an earlier edition
Your OEM edition is tied to the origonal PC
If you want 2003 you'll have to try & find it from an online source and
purchase it, in edition to the 2007 you have allready purchased

 

[Sults]

You obviously have never worked in IT support, have you? One of the MAJOR
problems supporting Office in a large organisation was the ability of users
to customise to their hearts' content....Support staff never knew what each
user had done....

You are wrong! I worked in IT support in nationwide organisation for several
years.
And had only few issues with users who messed something up with customizing
the software. Actually, MS Office was pretty foolproof. Most of issues were
related with Windows OS and drivers.

 

[Alias]

I only have Office 2003 SBE OEM CD. But as far I know, it is possible to buy
installation media separatedly. So if the retail version of Office 2007 Pro
grants right to install Office 2003 Pro, when the newest version is removed
first, then I can buy CD-s and install the good old version.

If it's been over 120 days since the last activation, your copy of
Office 03 will activate on line and become "genuine" when you go for
updates. Nuke 07 and install 03 unless, of course, you want to search
from hell to back for a copy of 03 and spend money for something you
already have.

Alias

 

[Sults]

It doesnt grant you rights for an earlier edition
Your OEM edition is tied to the origonal PC
If you want 2003 you'll have to try & find it from an online source and
purchase it, in edition to the 2007 you have allready purchased

Did I understand you correctly, that retail version of Office 2007 Pro does
not grant any rights to use some previous version instead of 2007?
I have heard, that instead of Vista Business 64 bit I am entitled to use XP
Professional 64 bit, if I want. I know, that license of my OEM version is
tied to certain piece of hardware, but as much as I knew, installation media
can be used with other computers too if separate license is bought for every
computer.

 

[Sults]

Well I reckon that the Ribbon on my machine (a laptop with a 15.5" screen)
is NO LARGER than three rows of buttons on previous versions of Excel...

Then you maybe see only one dimension of things.

Small example:
In the new ribbon I have a button for conditional sum. I know, what tthis
command does, I know how to use it and have used it maybe 10-15 times during
my 15 years of Excel experience. Now, the size of the button is of 8 regular
buttons, and with nonsense label under the ribbon block it takes place for 12
regular buttons. Do you follow me? One seldomly used button in new ribbon
system takes place of 12 regular buttons of old toolbar. How your ribbon can
fit the same amount of quickly acessible buttons as the old version did?

 

[Sults]

Then you maybe see only one dimension of things.

Small example:
In the new ribbon I have a button for conditional sum. I know, what tthis
command does, I know how to use it and have used it maybe 10-15 times during
my 15 years of Excel experience. Now, the size of the button is of 8 regular
buttons, and with nonsense label under the ribbon block it takes place for 12
regular buttons. Do you follow me? One seldomly used button in new ribbon
system takes place of 12 regular buttons of old toolbar. How your ribbon can
fit the same amount of quickly acessible buttons as the old version did?

Actually I mean the conditional formatting button.

 

[Sults]

If it's been over 120 days since the last activation, your copy of
Office 03 will activate on line and become "genuine" when you go for
updates. Nuke 07 and install 03 unless, of course, you want to search
from hell to back for a copy of 03 and spend money for something you
already have.

Alias

The only reason why I think I need Office 2003 Pro CD is that SBE version
does not contain MS Access. I don't have Access since I switched from Office
97 Pro to Office 2000 Std (there was period when I did not use MS Access at
all, so I thought that Pro was waste of money. Now I have met occasional need
for Access again, and so I decided to buy a Pro version. Unfortunately the
GUI is disaster. The SBE version of 2003 runs on my laptop. But I like mostly
to work with my desktop computer, primarily because of lot bigger screen. I
work often with big tables and don't want to waste any cm2 of the screen.

 

[Alias]

The only reason why I think I need Office 2003 Pro CD is that SBE version
does not contain MS Access. I don't have Access since I switched from Office
97 Pro to Office 2000 Std (there was period when I did not use MS Access at
all, so I thought that Pro was waste of money. Now I have met occasional need
for Access again, and so I decided to buy a Pro version. Unfortunately the
GUI is disaster. The SBE version of 2003 runs on my laptop. But I like mostly
to work with my desktop computer, primarily because of lot bigger screen. I
work often with big tables and don't want to waste any cm2 of the screen.

You can get 03 Pro or Access at amazon.com. It will be second hand.
Unlike Vista Business and Ultimate, Office 07 has no downgrade rights.

You might want to try Open Office from www.openoffice.org and see if the
spreadsheet that comes with that meets your needs. It's free.

Alias