Office 2007?? Why?

[Alex]

Hello,

One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so different from
the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think such a
change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word and Excel
become such standards? When I was in high school and college such
programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets, and most
Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats, so
anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.

The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what it offers
is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with so much
new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To simply have
the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying $679 is
outragous?

Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this topic --

Alex

 

[Jay]

One word: Monopoly.

 

[John Jay Smith]

try www.openoffice.org that is free

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use Works or
Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't upgrade until I
want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a little while.
My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I really don't
want to reformat it.

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

I usually don't upgrade for quite a while and only after following the ngs
for problems.
It amazes me when reading posts by obvious noobies (not meaning this OP)
that so many are downloading beta software. Scary.


| If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use Works or
| Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't upgrade until
I
| want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a little
while.
| My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I really
don't
| want to reformat it.
|
| --
|
| JoAnn Paules
| MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
|
|
|
| | > Hello,
| >
| > One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so different from
| > the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think such a
| > change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word and Excel
| > become such standards? When I was in high school and college such
| > programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets, and most
| > Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats, so
| > anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.
| >
| > The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what it offers
| > is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with so much
| > new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To simply have
| > the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying $679 is
| > outragous?
| >
| > Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this topic --
| >
| > Alex
| >
|
|

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only person who felt that way. You know
they aren't really "beta testing" it. They see it as free Office.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Just to answer your question "why upgrade", I would just say it is
fashion these days to support MS achieve its ambition! On a serious
note, new users of office products haven't got the choice but to buy the
new versions. Their machines might come with MS Works but they need
Office so they go out and buy the newest version available. Old
versions can sometimes become a collectors item!

For people who are using Office for general correspondence and emails,
they don't need state of the art software unless they need to exchange
files with other people in which case compatibility issues may be in
point. Newer versions avoids this problems.

hth

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Some of us have to prepare course notes for new users and so we start as
early as posible using beta products and the course notes also states
beta version!!! We haven't put Office 2007 docs online yet.

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ccs/docs/docs.html

Most documents are now for students and staff because we need to limit
the traffic on our website. We don't have unlimited resources!

THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only person who felt that way. You know
they aren't really "beta testing" it. They see it as free Office.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

I usually don't upgrade for quite a while and only after following the ngs
for problems.
It amazes me when reading posts by obvious noobies (not meaning this OP)
that so many are downloading beta software. Scary.


| If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use Works
or
| Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't upgrade
until
I
| want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a little
while.
| My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I really
don't
| want to reformat it.
|
| --
|
| JoAnn Paules
| MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
|
|
|
| | > Hello,
| >
| > One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so different from
| > the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think such a
| > change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word and Excel
| > become such standards? When I was in high school and college such
| > programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets, and most
| > Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats, so
| > anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.
| >
| > The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what it
offers
| > is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with so much
| > new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To simply
have
| > the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying $679 is
| > outragous?
| >
| > Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this topic --
| >
| > Alex
| >
|
|

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

That's a great reason to download it but I still maintain that there are
many people out there downloading it willy-nilly for no reason other than
the thought of free software.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Some of us have to prepare course notes for new users and so we start as
early as posible using beta products and the course notes also states
beta version!!! We haven't put Office 2007 docs online yet.

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ccs/docs/docs.html

Most documents are now for students and staff because we need to limit
the traffic on our website. We don't have unlimited resources!

THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only person who felt that way. You know
they aren't really "beta testing" it. They see it as free Office.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

I usually don't upgrade for quite a while and only after following the
ngs
for problems.
It amazes me when reading posts by obvious noobies (not meaning this
OP)
that so many are downloading beta software. Scary.


| If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use
Works
or
| Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't upgrade
until
I
| want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a little
while.
| My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I really
don't
| want to reformat it.
|
| --
|
| JoAnn Paules
| MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
|
|
|
| | > Hello,
| >
| > One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so different
from
| > the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think such a
| > change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word and
Excel
| > become such standards? When I was in high school and college such
| > programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets, and
most
| > Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats, so
| > anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.
| >
| > The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what it
offers
| > is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with so
much
| > new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To simply
have
| > the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying $679
is
| > outragous?
| >
| > Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this topic --
| >
| > Alex
| >
|
|

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

"They see it as free Office."

Even worse if the beta expires!



| THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only person who felt that way. You know
| they aren't really "beta testing" it.
|
| --
|
| JoAnn Paules
| MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
|
|
|
| | >I usually don't upgrade for quite a while and only after following the
ngs
| > for problems.
| > It amazes me when reading posts by obvious noobies (not meaning this OP)
| > that so many are downloading beta software. Scary.
| >
| >
| > | > | If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use Works
| > or
| > | Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't upgrade
| > until
| > I
| > | want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a little
| > while.
| > | My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I really
| > don't
| > | want to reformat it.
| > |
| > | --
| > |
| > | JoAnn Paules
| > | MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | | > | > Hello,
| > | >
| > | > One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so different
from
| > | > the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think such a
| > | > change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word and
Excel
| > | > become such standards? When I was in high school and college such
| > | > programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets, and
most
| > | > Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats, so
| > | > anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.
| > | >
| > | > The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what it
| > offers
| > | > is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with so
much
| > | > new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To simply
| > have
| > | > the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying $679
is
| > | > outragous?
| > | >
| > | > Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this topic --
| > | >
| > | > Alex
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Even worse *when* the beta expires, not if ;-)

Tom

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I've already said I'm unplugging my computer that week.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Even worse *when* the beta expires, not if ;-)

Tom

"They see it as free Office."

Even worse if the beta expires!



| THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only person who felt that way. You
know
| they aren't really "beta testing" it.
|
| --
|
| JoAnn Paules
| MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
|
|
|
message
| | >I usually don't upgrade for quite a while and only after following
the
ngs
| > for problems.
| > It amazes me when reading posts by obvious noobies (not meaning this
OP)
| > that so many are downloading beta software. Scary.
| >
| >
| > | > | If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use
Works
| > or
| > | Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't
upgrade
| > until
| > I
| > | want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a
little
| > while.
| > | My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I
really
| > don't
| > | want to reformat it.
| > |
| > | --
| > |
| > | JoAnn Paules
| > | MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | | > | > Hello,
| > | >
| > | > One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so different
from
| > | > the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think such a
| > | > change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word and
Excel
| > | > become such standards? When I was in high school and college
such
| > | > programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets, and
most
| > | > Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats, so
| > | > anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.
| > | >
| > | > The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what it
| > offers
| > | > is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with so
much
| > | > new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To
simply
| > have
| > | > the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying
$679
is
| > | > outragous?
| > | >
| > | > Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this topic --
| > | >
| > | > Alex
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[LVTravel]

Come on, JoAnn, you don't really think there's going to be a lot of problems
that week do you? Lets see, Only 982 messages so far with 2007 in the title
and about 7 of them were from 2005/06 asking about Daylight Savings time in
07.

I want to turn mine off now if you know what I mean. Don't even plan on
downloading the Beta until 2 months from now to install on my test box.

I really do pity the people that have gotten their "free" software when the
beta period expires.

I've already said I'm unplugging my computer that week.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Even worse *when* the beta expires, not if ;-)

Tom

"They see it as free Office."

Even worse if the beta expires!



| THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only person who felt that way. You
know
| they aren't really "beta testing" it.
|
| --
|
| JoAnn Paules
| MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
|
|
|
message
| | >I usually don't upgrade for quite a while and only after following
the
ngs
| > for problems.
| > It amazes me when reading posts by obvious noobies (not meaning this
OP)
| > that so many are downloading beta software. Scary.
| >
| >
| > | > | If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use
Works
| > or
| > | Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't
upgrade
| > until
| > I
| > | want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a
little
| > while.
| > | My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I
really
| > don't
| > | want to reformat it.
| > |
| > | --
| > |
| > | JoAnn Paules
| > | MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | | > | > Hello,
| > | >
| > | > One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so different
from
| > | > the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think such
a
| > | > change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word and
Excel
| > | > become such standards? When I was in high school and college
such
| > | > programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets, and
most
| > | > Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats,
so
| > | > anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.
| > | >
| > | > The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what it
| > offers
| > | > is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with so
much
| > | > new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To
simply
| > have
| > | > the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying
$679
is
| > | > outragous?
| > | >
| > | > Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this topic --
| > | >
| > | > Alex
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Nigel Greensitt]

Alex,

I would have agreed with you about usage sometime ago, but we as a company
have purchased a case management system, which uses office as its front end.
There are a large number of developers of such and similar packages taking
the same approach. So you have to look at the wider picture and consider that
these developers are building there applications using office as the engine,
rather than simply just using it as the end tool ( I have used a product
which does the latter, and I know which approach I prefare). So if any users
are using packages, like the ones I have just described, they will be using a
large proportion of office functionality even though they may not realise it.

I do however argree with you on the training, as I have previously posted in
"2007 Beta first impressions"

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

OY! I'm worried about you - you're keeping score. Turn that computer off now
and go spend time with your wife, children, grandchildren, pet fish,
whoever! Now! Before it's too late!!

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Come on, JoAnn, you don't really think there's going to be a lot of
problems that week do you? Lets see, Only 982 messages so far with 2007
in the title and about 7 of them were from 2005/06 asking about Daylight
Savings time in 07.

I want to turn mine off now if you know what I mean. Don't even plan on
downloading the Beta until 2 months from now to install on my test box.

I really do pity the people that have gotten their "free" software when
the beta period expires.

I've already said I'm unplugging my computer that week.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Even worse *when* the beta expires, not if ;-)

Tom

message "They see it as free Office."

Even worse if the beta expires!



| THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only person who felt that way. You
know
| they aren't really "beta testing" it.
|
| --
|
| JoAnn Paules
| MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
|
|
|
message
| | >I usually don't upgrade for quite a while and only after following
the
ngs
| > for problems.
| > It amazes me when reading posts by obvious noobies (not meaning
this OP)
| > that so many are downloading beta software. Scary.
| >
| >
| > | > | If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use
Works
| > or
| > | Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't
upgrade
| > until
| > I
| > | want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a
little
| > while.
| > | My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I
really
| > don't
| > | want to reformat it.
| > |
| > | --
| > |
| > | JoAnn Paules
| > | MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | | > | > Hello,
| > | >
| > | > One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so
different
from
| > | > the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think such
a
| > | > change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word and
Excel
| > | > become such standards? When I was in high school and college
such
| > | > programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets,
and
most
| > | > Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats,
so
| > | > anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.
| > | >
| > | > The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what
it
| > offers
| > | > is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with
so
much
| > | > new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To
simply
| > have
| > | > the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying
$679
is
| > | > outragous?
| > | >
| > | > Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this topic --
| > | >
| > | > Alex
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Bob I]

As the saying goes, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch!" ;-)

Come on, JoAnn, you don't really think there's going to be a lot of problems
that week do you? Lets see, Only 982 messages so far with 2007 in the title
and about 7 of them were from 2005/06 asking about Daylight Savings time in
07.

I want to turn mine off now if you know what I mean. Don't even plan on
downloading the Beta until 2 months from now to install on my test box.

I really do pity the people that have gotten their "free" software when the
beta period expires.

I've already said I'm unplugging my computer that week.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Even worse *when* the beta expires, not if ;-)

Tom


"They see it as free Office."

Even worse if the beta expires!



| THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only person who felt that way. You
know
| they aren't really "beta testing" it.
|
| --
|
| JoAnn Paules
| MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
|
|
|
message
| | >I usually don't upgrade for quite a while and only after following
the
ngs
| > for problems.
| > It amazes me when reading posts by obvious noobies (not meaning this
OP)
| > that so many are downloading beta software. Scary.
| >
| >
| > | > | If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use
Works
| > or
| > | Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't
upgrade
| > until
| > I
| > | want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a
little
| > while.
| > | My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I
really
| > don't
| > | want to reformat it.
| > |
| > | --
| > |
| > | JoAnn Paules
| > | MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | | > | > Hello,
| > | >
| > | > One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so different
from
| > | > the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think such
a
| > | > change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word and
Excel
| > | > become such standards? When I was in high school and college
such
| > | > programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets, and
most
| > | > Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats,
so
| > | > anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.
| > | >
| > | > The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what it
| > offers
| > | > is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with so
much
| > | > new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To
simply
| > have
| > | > the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying
$679
is
| > | > outragous?
| > | >
| > | > Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this topic --
| > | >
| > | > Alex
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[LVTravel]

Scary isn't it. Really simple when you use the right news reader, unlike
many who post here . . . they haven't a clue!

OY! I'm worried about you - you're keeping score. Turn that computer off
now and go spend time with your wife, children, grandchildren, pet fish,
whoever! Now! Before it's too late!!

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Come on, JoAnn, you don't really think there's going to be a lot of
problems that week do you? Lets see, Only 982 messages so far with 2007
in the title and about 7 of them were from 2005/06 asking about Daylight
Savings time in 07.

I want to turn mine off now if you know what I mean. Don't even plan
on downloading the Beta until 2 months from now to install on my test
box.

I really do pity the people that have gotten their "free" software when
the beta period expires.

I've already said I'm unplugging my computer that week.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



Even worse *when* the beta expires, not if ;-)

Tom

message "They see it as free Office."

Even worse if the beta expires!



| THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was the only person who felt that way. You
know
| they aren't really "beta testing" it.
|
| --
|
| JoAnn Paules
| MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
|
|
|
message
| | >I usually don't upgrade for quite a while and only after following
the
ngs
| > for problems.
| > It amazes me when reading posts by obvious noobies (not meaning
this OP)
| > that so many are downloading beta software. Scary.
| >
| >
message
| > | > | If you have no need for all of the fancy bells and whistles, use
Works
| > or
| > | Works Suite. No one is being forced to upgrade. Even I won't
upgrade
| > until
| > I
| > | want to - and that's not going to be after it's been out for a
little
| > while.
| > | My computer is too important to me to risk its stability and I
really
| > don't
| > | want to reformat it.
| > |
| > | --
| > |
| > | JoAnn Paules
| > | MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | | > | > Hello,
| > | >
| > | > One huge question... why move to Office 2007? It's so
different
from
| > | > the versions of the last 15 years of Office, and I'd think
such a
| > | > change would be a training nightmare. Also why has MS Word
and
Excel
| > | > become such standards? When I was in high school and college
such
| > | > programs were called simply Word Processors or Spreadsheets,
and
most
| > | > Desktop Publishing appliations could open competitors formats,
so
| > | > anyone could use any app they wanted with no problem.
| > | >
| > | > The verbage that 95% of the users of MS Office use 5% of what
it
| > offers
| > | > is still true, or I'd venture to say 99% use 3% now'days with
so
much
| > | > new in Office XP and 2007, so I say again, why upgrade? To
simply
| > have
| > | > the latest and greatest isn't always a good answer, and paying
$679
is
| > | > outragous?
| > | >
| > | > Just would like to hear the thoughts of others on this
topic --
| > | >
| > | > Alex
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|