-
"Probably OK for newbies, but a big step backwards for experienced users" on by richlane
Pros: Prettier graphics, sometimes easier to navigate
Cons: Loss of menus and customizations made me uninstall and go back to Office 2003
Summary: I've always kept up with the latest Microsoft Office releases, but this one is an exception, as it slows down my work significantly. I spend 4-8 hours a day crunching numbers in Excel, and tnere are certain procedures and commands that I use constantly. I have customized the toolbars of Excel 2003 to the point where 90% of the operations I do are launched by a single click on an icon. In Office 2007, it is not possible to create toolbars specific to my tasks and my way of working; instead I am forced to use the ever-changing ribbon. The result is horrible--many things that took one click before now take 5 or 6, as I go through the relevant parts of the ribbon structure. Even when I know where to look, I spend much more time getting things done in this new version. After a few days, I uninstalled the whole thing and went back to Office 2003.
A new user that doesn't really know just what to do might find the new interface easier to use, as most of the features are eventually accessible through the ribbon, and there is some guidance provided. However, for me, I know what I want to do, and Excel 2007 slows me down enormously.
Possibly some clever soul will come up with an add-in that will allow me to regain my customization in the future, and then I will probably try again, for for the moment, no thanks! -
"Really lost the plot with this 'upgrade'" on by Kilo 6 1
Pros: Attractive and fresh layout. Made some good graphical improvements.
Cons: Everything has moved, Drop down menus have vanished, Seems to run much slower that older versions. Some suppossed upgrades in Powerpoint are a major step back.
Summary: Bought it, hate it. It's like i've purchased a totally different product. The entire interface mechanism has changed, no more drop down menus, now everything is lost in a collection of tabs literally put you back to square 1. Unlike the 2003 upgrade where good improvements where made, this is a real step backwards in terms of ease of use, speed of access, simplicity, and sheer ease of upgrade usability. In short, had i know how different and unpleasant this would be to use i would never have purchased it.
The bundling is also very odd. You can get multiple version (combinations) but trying to get one with outlook in at a basic level is just not an option. I can see no legitimate reason why anyone would want to go through the additional expense of upgrading to this, nor having to face feeling like a total 'Office' beginner because you cannot find a darn thing, which means it takes more than twice as long to do basic tasks. In short, for the few graphical enhancements this offers the cost of having to learn all the new icons and try to fathom the new tab structure means Office 2007 is a complete waste of time - sorry Mr Gates, but you really got it wrong this time. Office 2007 is a major mistake. -
"Love Office 2007, but..." on by m-r3111
Pros: the ribbon
Cons: serious corruption problems
Summary: Word 2007 just went mad: clicking on the 'references' tab in the ribbon menu (wanting to continue adding footnotes to an on-going document) suddenly started to open Windows Installer and then require crashing out of the program! And now I find that I CANNOT UNINSTALL the program because of the corruption. I bought a Uni student version (full) of Office 2007, which I used very happily for six months. Now it's corrupted itself and there's nothing I can do (and I'm not alone with this problem, either)! Microsoft are truly vile when things like this happen, and expect you to PAY to have them solve their own problem.
-
"Wow MS another product I won't recommend my clients buy!" on by Venture
Pros: Total lack of worthwhile updates
Cons: Didn't bother fixing any issues with previous office
Summary: MS is really bombing out as of late. I make my living installing servers, and workstations. Along with new installations I spend a great deal of time maintaining and updating systems. I have to say I can't in good conscience recommend Office 2007 to any of my clients.
My clients already know how to use Word, Excel and Outlook. Learning the new interface will only set them back in productivity.
Access doesn't have any new way of handling pictures for their catalogues as far as I could tell - should be much easier to link to a picture or import a picture.
Many of my clients want more than one outlook profile for their exchange server - e.g. resumes@widgets.com or sales@widgets.com and want them completely seperate from their normal outlook mailbox. Being able to open two SEPERATE profiles, (not just two accounts in the same profile) should have been a feature in the new version. PS Outlook still doesn't close any more reliably than it did in any previous version making switching between profiles a pain.
As another post stated - why the heck isn't BCM more integrated with Exchange. If you can't remote access BCM through OWA or WM5 it really has very little value.
An utter waste of 3 years. The time would have been much better spent releasing Office 2003 REV 2 "the missing features version"
I typically make my money when a good upgrade comes out, looks like earnings will be slim for both of us. Thanks MS my clients will be stuck with Office 2003 because your developers seem to be more of FLASH web page designers than programmers. Who the heck is in charge of MS these days - where is the accountability? -
"Maybe I'm just not cool enough..." on by Joe M
Pros: Cheaper home edition no longer has academic requirement.
Cons: high overhead, slow, new user interface is a train wreck
Summary: I guess I'm old fashioned, but the new user interface is awful. Context menus, awkward placement of toolbars and icons... mostly a mess. I know they say it is the product of a lot of research and testing, but so was "New Coke"...
My PC is admittedly not the latest or greatest, but Office 2003 Pro loads and runs quickly on it. By contrast, Office 2007 is sluggish and slow. Conversion between the new OOXML and legacy binary formats is slow too, and not always completely accurate. Some Word 2003 were converted with their graphics and footnotes altered. Not good.
Worse is that, even after a two month trial, I was never able to find anything new in actual functionality. Not anything that I want or need, anyway. Everything I need to do, I can do with Office 2003, and do it faster and easier.
I'm not one of those anything-but-Microsoft types. I've used Office at work for a dozen years or more. At home, I've owned Office 97, 2000, and 2003. I will not, however, be buying Office 2007.
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 user reviews (complete package, 79G-00871)
%20-%20Software%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/software/microsoft-office-home-and/4852-3513_7-32143052.html&x_breadcrumb=3513&x_arw_bkts=MAD:high_wireless_switcher){kind=small}