Why upgrade to Office 2003 if Office XP works? 1

[cam3r0n]

I have been asked to answer the above question from my "IT manger".

You would laugh even more if you knew where I worked. But that would be naughty of me. I will tell you that it is an important IT company that should be setting a good example to the rest of the world.


To be honest the question has left me speachless! Where do I start? Is it just me or does this guy live under a rock!


Could you guys help?


I know Microsoft stopped providing Calendar support for Office XP. But does this extend to any other areas?


Can you think of as many reasons to change as possible please. I guess I should really be objective and ask for any reason not to as well, but only if your really board.

 

[TonyJollans]

Microsoft does have a certain arrogance doesn't it (although they're not alone)? It won't cross their collective minds that any legitimate user might have a problem with the way they operate. Anything which changes my machine without my explicit permission, I consider malware and, yes, fully uninstalling is never as easy as installing - something for which there's really no excuse.

As I'm in charge of my own machines and firewall I don't notice many of the problems you may have, but I do sympathise - you can never be quite sure what the next requirement will be. Quite often I find MS websites don't work with Firefox which is, frankly, disgraceful. I wouldn't be surprised if signing on wrote a cookie (although I can't think of a good reason why it should and most cookies are unnecessary) but what else does it need choose to do? - I gave up the fight long ago and just use my id now.

I don't like the new UI - at all - I can't think of a single good thing to say about it but I reserve judgement on the whole package as it is almost a different product.

Enjoy,
Tony

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[attrofy]

Hmmm...I wonder if we are seeing the begining of MS taking the same fatal plunge that IBM took in the mid 80's??? You remember when IBM almost made themselves non-IBM compatible? The PS2 started the trend, and the PS2 Jr sealed their fate. From that point on, the "IBM clones" ruled the market. Aside from a few contracts with Tandy/Radio Shack, the IBM PS2 platform all but disappeared. Then the poor unfortunate souls that had the displeasure of working on/owning the Tandy behomoths had almost a 10 year period where they could not get out of their hardware.

It appears as if MS might be doing the same thing. They are forcing too many users across too many of their applications to conform to their "central" design - which many people don't like or don't use. The passport/ID is one, .Net framework is another, the lame almost obligatory revisions of major applications including OS is another. There is still a large percentage of Networks using W2K and implementing newer versions of Outlook, Office, etc. Of course, it can be a tough trick at times, and MS almost always has to issue a "patch", "plug-in", "upgrade", "Black beaded stick with a shrunken head", or some other "vodoo" before it really wokrs like it should.

The only saving grace MS has at this point is they are really the only kid on the block. For the majority of users, there are no alternatives - as most don't/can't run Linx due to application compatibility, or lack of technical know how. And Mac....welll....lets be real... However, from most of what I have read, the latest upcomming MS changes look like they may (at best) be recreating a scenario where we have another "Windows ME". Not in all cases, but even with the new Windows Vista, there seems to be enough "dumbing down" of the interface that it will drive most people nuts. Some of the features do seem like an improvement, but I wonder if it is enough to overcome the "lame" ones. It didn't happen with ME. It hasn't happend with a SEVERAL of the latest MS App revisions (including Office). It seems like MS is taking a "do or die" approach - historically, the end users often choose "die" - and it spells disastor for the company setting that ultimatum.

 

[fumei]

I don't like the new UI - at all - I can't think of a single good thing to say about it

Oh dear....coming from you Tony...that scares the crap out of me.

I have to see this thing somehow......Not that we will be going there any time soon. Yes, on our network....we still use W2K for our workstations OS. Although Office XP (2002) for the office stuff, and Outlook 2002 (we have a legally debundled install) with Exchange 2003. We are upgrading to Outlook 2003, but keeping Office 2002, as they are two completely independent contracts with Microsoft.

Fortunately Office 2002 runs perfectly fine on W2K. But Office 2007 will not run on W2K...so...there you go.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[firefytr]

I've been using the new UI quite a lot lately, more or less forcing myself to use it (I actually need to learn it for other reasons). I would say it's difficult to get used to, but it does grow on you somewhat. I'm liking it more and more all the time as I get more comfortable with it. I never did mind a paradigm shift. ;-)

As for the original question here, I agree with most of what's been said. The only real advantage of upgrading would be Outlook 2003 and some additional web capabilities. That's pretty much it, the rest is minute details.

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Regards,
Zack Barresse

 

[tf1]

I am in much the same position as Zack here in that I really need to use it in earnest except as hard as I try, I cannot see any logic or reason for the change.

I agree that the old interface needed improvement because there are far too many great commands completely hidden from everday users and some even hidden from power users! I bet there are hundreds that I don't know about

But customised toolbars let you pick these hidden commands and bring them to the fore. The selection of tools on the Standard and Formatting toolbars are ludicrous and mostl a waste of real estate!

Outlook has some simple but excellent enhancements. I personally like Excel improvements (but do Excel power users agree?)




Regards: tf1

 

[fumei]

Well I could just spit.

Against my better judgement, I DID sign up for Windows Live, just so I could try the test drive. What a pain, what a piece of s&%t. Answered their bloody questions - and excuse me, but why is "Do you manage projects to completion?" a REQUIRED question? Hmmmmmm?

Got the verification email. Followed its link. The "link is expired." Any attempts to try the test drive loops me back into trying to register. Three hours later? I still can not get to test drive it. They can go eff themselves.

Now I got all that Windows Live crap on my system.

I could just spit.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[fumei]

OK, well for some reason I still can not get the test drive to function. It keeps looping me back to the registration page for Windows Live - even though I HAVE registered and verified.

However, I persuaded someone to load those pluginsand I have now looked at 2007, but just Word so far.

I don't like it either. But, it must be said...people rarely do like new interfaces, especially power users.

As for our "normal" users.... Aaiiiiieeeeeeee! That will be (if we go there) a serious learning curve. That will add hundreds of thousands of dollars to any rollout. Probably closer to a million. It was $600,000 to do training going from Office 95 to 2002. This is much more of a serious change.

I do like the zoom via a slider. Or is that in 2003, which I have never seen. Other than that, I see very little (so far) that is simply anything but an interface change. Some of which seems change for change sake. I have found no functional change to the way documents are structured, or constructed. I doubt, seriously doubt, that the changes improve anything in terms of normal usage. But they sure change things for power users.

I fail to see why these things are called "upgrades". To me an upgrade means some significant imporvment. I don't yet see any improvement.

But as Tony said...it is coming whether we like it or not.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[TonyJollans]

I do like the zoom via a slider. Or is that in 2003, which I have never seen.

It is new in 2007. I would have liked it years ago before I got a wheel mouse. Now I see no use for it (for me) but can see it being good for those withut the wheel.

Enjoy,
Tony

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We want to help you; help us to do it by reading this: Before you ask a question.

Professional Office Developers Association

 

[fumei]

I use a graphics pen, so it is nice for me.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture