I have MS Office 97. Should I upgrade to 2007.

[twocows]

You might also want to look at Abiword as well as Open Office 3, which is also Free Open Source Software; FOSS.

Just as he said. Abiword works great on older or underpowered hardware without sacrificing the new features in most word processors. You won't get a full office suite with it, though.

 

[pocketst]

Upgrade upgrade upgrade. Office 2007 is an excellent product.

 

[zerwey]

I suggest that you wait until Office 2010 comes out, then buy that.

Or if you really want Office 2007, go ahead, but it's really complicated. (2010 will be even more complicated, unless Microsoft has learned that not all its customers are techies).

 

[Gerri Shin]

Also, it's a stupid idea to, in a Microsoft Office-established world, suggest that someone do the switch to OpenOffice.org, methinks. Most businesses and education facilities rely on compatibility most times.

Actually it is a good idea for those on a strict budget, because OpenOffice.org can read, write, and save in the same file format as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, so there really isn't a problem compatibility-wise there. (It's not like we're suggesting they switch to something like Abiword or Notepad++)

 

[twocows]

The idea that Office 2007 is "cluttered" etc. is pretty silly.

It's cluttered and it's poorly designed. The current way most interfaces are designed has prevailed for so many years not just because everyone knows where everything is by now, but because everything is exactly where you would think it would be. File-related tasks are in the "file" menu, help-related tasks are in the "help" menu, and editing tasks are in the "edit" menu. In Office 2007's wonderful interface, file-related tasks are in a picture of the logo, help-related stuff is in a picture of a circle with a "?," and some of the file editing tasks are in "home," while some are in other menus. Microsoft forgot that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," and ended up messing up something good.

Also, it's a stupid idea to, in a Microsoft Office-established world, suggest that someone do the switch to OpenOffice.org, methinks. Most businesses and education facilities rely on compatibility most times.

OpenOffice has support for every Office format that exists, as well as many other formats, including the ODF format, which is used by many governments and educational institutions (source). Its support for older Office formats is pretty good; it'll even read some files that Office refuses to read and labels "corrupt." Office, on the other hand, has never supported ODF until a few days ago, when Office 2007 SP2 launched with "support" for ODF. I put that in quotes because Office won't read ODF spreadsheets from any other application, and its ODF spreadsheets can only be read by the "CleverAge" plugin, a Microsoft-sponsored Add-in for Office to view ODF (source, source).

I suggest that you wait until Office 2010 comes out, then buy that. Or if you really want Office 2007, go ahead, but it's really complicated. (2010 will be even more complicated, unless Microsoft has learned that not all its customers are techies).

A better idea would just be to use OpenOffice.org or Office XP. Both have the classic interface you're looking for, though Office XP is, AFAIK, no longer supported by MS.

 

[Chibi-chan]

No. Don't. Stay with what you know. When it comes to printing assignments on other computers (such as through a flashdrive/CD), a 2007 format is not reverse compatible. So...at the last minute, you'll find yourself with a 2007 doc and not a computer with a 2007 Word to view it on! You can make it so that your files save as 97, but still...

I also believe navigating through the new Word is difficult...graphics are also a bit 'simpler' when you don't want them to be. I say stick with what you know.

 

[extramaster]

97 !!!! Lol :) !!!! No offence but that type of office is outdated !!! A 2007 microsoft office is way easier too use because of the "ribbon" and a 2003 is kind of easy to use. So seriously upgrade now !!!! (P.s. if your computer is slow don't use microsoft office 2007)