Microsoft Word 2007 Version Upgrade

As an instructor 4 a one credit hour class in Job Search Strategies, one of the primary goals of the course is 4 each student 2 develop resumes, cover letters, business cards, & references sheets.

I have a range of students with varying degrees of Microsoft Office proficiency, & this year's progress is significantly slower than previous classes. The new Word Command interface initially impresses the user with it's slick styling & sleek look, until you actually need 2 find a specific command, & then the user-hostile, maze-like nature of the interface becomes all 2 apparent.

Despite our school's policy of choosing which software packages we teach based on those that are most prevolent in industry, Word has proven 2 be such an exercise in frustration 4 students ranging from novices through experts, that all classes after this one will be using Openoffice.org Writer, which is not only more user friendly but completely free, & available 4 Windows, MacOSX, & Linux.

I have never had a problem with Microsoft Office software until this the 2007 latest incarnation. Word 2007 is an utter & complete waste of money & time.

It wasn't broken, so why did they "fix" it? It is a productivity killer. What was once 1 or 2 clicks away is now 3, 5 or 7 clicks away. The ribbon is a frustrating & unnecessary organizational concept. There are a few upgrades I like (e.g., SmartArt in PowerPoint), but the few true upgrades are not worth the complete reorganization of the toolbars / menu bars that business users have relied on 4 years.

If Vista wasn't bad enough, this is even worse.

The huge problem with this upgrade is the dire interface. The ribbon takes up far too much space & can't be customised. Forget all your keyboard shortcuts, they won't work in Word 2007 e.g. when using tables, ALT>I>R 2 insert a row becomes ALT>J>L>A. It's all like this. The menu structure is gone & there's no option 2 bring it back!

Instead of menus you get lots of tabs & a ribbon. You can't move the ribbon & it take up 30mm of your screen space. None of the commands is where you expect it 2 be & doing simple things like bullets & numbering has become tedious. You can only have a single row of custom buttons & this is practically limited 2 about 25 buttons which can be visible - if you want font or style on the quick access bar then this falls 2 about a dozen.

Microsoft have enforced a strict inteface that can only be changed by a programmer who can write XML apps 4 Word!!!

In summary, if you are an experienced user, you will hate & detest this software & wish you had not bothered. This upgrade is the best advert 4 Open Office that I can imagine. And Open Office is a free download from the Sun Website!

Microsoft shoots itself in the foot - again.

I'm a technical writer, so Word is a big part of my life. As Word 2003 is the defacto standard in most business environments, the tech writing community has come 2 accept its limitations & find ways 2 use Word as a professional documentation tool.

Honestly, MS did an outstanding job in the past 2 accommodate both professionals & home users with their Word products. I really took my hat off 2 MS in this regard. There were a few things that vexxed me, but I always knew that as a technical writer I was in a clear minority of MS Word users.

With Word 2007, all I can say is this... I want 2 find the Product Manager & strangle him or her. This person is responsible 4 making my working life a living nightmare. I'm so thankful that our IT Dept is reluctant 2 roll it out across our company & I can still use 2003 4 a little longer.

I know I'm probably not the end-user Microsoft had in mind when designing this ill-concieved experiment in 'usability', but I would like 2 warn anybody familiar with previous MS Word versions against 'upgrading'.

First of all - where the hell are my styles?! I open an existing 2003 document where I've defined styles 4 Heading 1, Heading 2, body text, tables etc. In Word 2007, they've disappeared! I can't see any styles beyond what Microsoft 'thinks' I should be using. None of them meet my needs, & any attempts 2 understand or customise them make me prefer a session with a rectal surgeon.

It took me over an hour 2 update a tiny entry in my _CV_ in Word 2007! And I'm not a newbie - this is after 3 months of trying 2 use this damn product, let alone understand it. I've never uttered so many swear words at a computer.

Other people have highlighted the other deficiencies, such as clicking every single ribbon 2 'discover' where previously familiar (and logically placed) items are now located. (After 3 months, I still don't know.) So I'm not going 2 reiterate these issues.

I could go on & on, but at the end of the day, things that I found fast & efficient are now cumbersome & slow. Being forced 2 use a mouse 2 click through more screens than I need rather than using familiar keyboard shortcuts frustrates me no end.

But honestly - unlike many people in the IT industry, I usually have a lot of respect 4 Microsoft products. They might not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but at least they're usually well designed & more than often do the job.

What I see in Microsoft 2007 is an attempt 2 make MS Word 2007 a 'user friendly consumer product' without understanding what made Word 2003 such an easy product 2 use. It's like the movie 'the Matrix' - the first one was great, but clearly the producers had no idea why because the sequels were such utter shash.

In summary, if you're a first time user, it will probably make things easier at first - at least until you understand word processing. After that, you'll find things unnecessarily cumbersome & frustrating. For people who have ever used an existing Microsoft Word version, I'd avoid this upgrade like the plague & stick with 2003.

There was a time when Microsoft Office Word's most recent incarnation was held as the Gold Standard of word-processing programs by most casual- & many professional-computer users. This "article of faith" was so ubiquitous that the pre-installed downgraded word-processing program, part of what is called Microsoft Works, was held in some contempt by most users & usually deleted right away & replaced with the most recent version of Word. No more.

Office Word 2007 is packed with things no one needs & wastes every user's time trying 2 figure it out.

Compared 2 the over written & unnecessarily complex Word 2007, the basic templates in Microsoft Works (version 8.5) are refreshingly appealing, simple 2 use & entirely adequate 4 most writing & word processing tasks.

Unlike the older versions of Word & the Works Word Processor, Office Word 2007 opens 2 seven separate template tabs - Each with its own full range of choices & each with own set of multiple & complex tool bars & options. These view pages include 1) Home, 2) Insert, 3) Page Layout, 4) References, 5) Mailings, 6) Review & 7) View. Without going into detail, suffice it 2 say that the truly necessary aspects of each were once contained on the two simple toolbars most commonly used in the earlier versions of Word, Editing & Navigation.

Navigating between these seven tabbed templates is like moving from room 2 room - or from house 2 house - 2 complete one meal or one conversation. It is simply a user-unfriendly, ill-conceived design. The multiplicity, design & inclusion of many useless options on the production default page ("Home") alone are distracting, delaying, complicated & yield no better product than the earlier, simpler versions.

Word processing should be straightforward, easily navigated & complete. The basic tools of spell-checking, formatting, cutting, pasting, highlighting, etc. should be positioned so as 2 make them immediately available while working. With Office Word 2007, Microsoft has abandoned these basic precepts & needs. Every time a different tab/template selection needs 2 be entered 2 accomplish a necessary task, the writer is distracted. Any writer - including many of you who are reading this, will agree that adding distraction reduces productivity & efficiency.

Microsoft's Office Word 2007 was appears 2 have not been designed by writers, but by software engineers rewarded 4 building bigger & more complex programs.

The same strategic error was made by Microsoft in its current operating system, Windows VISTA. Most users of the Microsoft XP system found it perfectly adequate. VISTA bloated a good operating system until it became a gargantuan program of gigabyte-guzzling proportions while adding little if any functional improvements. Yet another example of size & complexity winning out over necessary functionality. Office Word 2007 is a repetition of the self-same misjudgment.

Time is of the essence 2 most people when they write. It took me nearly ten minutes 2 figure out how 2 change a default that double spaced every line I wrote! The Style templates are simply bizarre & distracting, taking up fully half the toolbar space in the basic "Home" production tab. The more functional & necessary functions are squeezed into mini-size half icons making the necessary navigation all the more difficult.
Yes, there is a way 2 customize one's own toolbar - but why should we have 2 spend our own time 2 re-simplify what Microsoft Word 2007 has literally encrypted & hidden in a maze of overlapping separate templates, options & useless features!

There is talk of VISTA being replaced sooner rather than later & that, as heavily promoted as it was & with the talk of ceasing 2 provide support or updates 4 XP in the coming year, it will be piled atop the 'it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time' junk heap along with Windows Millennium. I expect Word 2007 2 wind up there, too.

In the meanwhile, there are good choices, even if you choose 2 stay within the Windows 'family' of word processing programs. Most simply (and inexpensively) the aforementioned Microsoft Works 8.5 actually turns out 2 be a pretty user friendly & functional package that includes a more familiar & easier 2 use word processing program, an Excel-like spread sheet as well as an Access-like database 4 keeping & sorting information.

Office Word 2003 & XP software is still out there & is getting pretty inexpensive - And it is far easier 2 use.

As a former admitted "Microsoft Word snob," I must confess that I have learned something from these experiences. Bigger is not necessarily better. The principle applies 2 software as well as 2 cars. Microsoft should not be rewarded 4 bringing this 'upgrade' 2 market any more than the developers & promoters of Hummers ought be acknowledged 4 their ecological contributions 2 the well being of the planet.

I have also learned that the earlier & simpler versions of Microsoft's word processing programs are far superior in ease of use & essential, efficient functionality than is its newest product, Office Word 2007. I encourage every new computer buyer 2 give Microsoft Works a try before automatically dumping it in favor of Word & its related programs. You might be in 4 a very pleasant & economically satisfying experience!

Upgrade only; previous installation required

Microsoft Office Word 2007 is a document authoring program that helps people create & share great-looking documents by combining a comprehensive set of writing tools with an easy-to-use interface. Rich review, commenting, & comparison capabilities help you quickly gather & manage feedback from colleagues. Advanced data integration helps ensure documents stay connected 2 important sources of business information. With Word 2007 you'll create professional-looking documents effortlessly. Spend more time writing, less time formatting -- while communicating more effectively than ever. Initiate, manage, & track document review & approval processes from within Office Word 2007, 2 accelerate review cycles across your organization Share documents in Portable Document Format file (PDF) & XML Paper Specification (XPS) format without using third-party tools XML support facilitates smaller, more robust documents & deep integration with information systems & external data sources Master Reduce file sizes & improve corruption recovery - Office Open XML Formats are compressed, segmented file formats that offer a dramatic reduction in file size & helps ensure damaged or corrupt files can be easily recovered Digital Signature signs your documents so the people who read them know it hasn't changed since it left your hands Create dynamic Smart Documents that update themselves by connecting 2 your back-end systems, using new document controls & data bindings Track your documents with the Document Information Panel; Add Windows SharePoint Services information or custom properties 2 your document templates Detect documents with embedded macros

Microsoft Office Word 2007 is a document authoring program that helps people create & share great-looking documents by combining a comprehensive set of writing tools with an easy-to-use interface. Thanks 2 a host of new tools, you can quickly construct documents from predefined parts & styles, as well as compose & publish blogs directly from within the Word. Advanced integration with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 & new XML-based file formats make Word 2007 the ideal choice 4 building integrated document management solutions. This version upgrade is available 2 those who have one of the following qualifying applications: Microsoft Word 2000-2002; Microsoft Office Word 2003; Microsoft Works 6.0-10; Microsoft Works Suite 2000-2006 or later; any 2000-2007 Microsoft Office suite; & any Microsoft Office XP suite.

Use Quick Styles in a Word document 2 easily choose & apply a new style. View larger.

The new tri-pane review panel of Office Word 2007 enables you 2 quickly compare or merge two versions of a document & helps identify moved text & tracked changes within tables. View larger.

You can use the Document Inspector 2 remove comments. View larger.

The new user interface of Office Word 2007 enables you 2 create documents more quickly than ever because it presents the right tools when you need them. View larger.

Office Word 2007 enables you 2 digitally sign your documents, so readers know they haven't changed since they left your hands. View larger.

Gather Information, Create Documents, & Communicate Effectively
Rich review, commenting, & comparison capabilities help you quickly gather & manage feedback from colleagues, & advanced data integration ensure documents stay connected 2 important sources of business information. With Word 2007 you can spend more time writing, less time formatting & communicate more effectively than ever. Initiate, manage, & track document review & approval processes from within Word 2007, & accelerate review cycles across your organization.

New Interface & Tools
Together with a new, streamlined, results-oriented interface, Word 2007 gives you the tools you need 2 create professional-looking content. You can add Building Blocks of predefined content & reduce the errors associated with copying & pasting frequently used content, while the Quick Styles function saves you time by helping you format text & tables throughout your document. And 2 make sure you documents are consistent, Document Themes apply the same colors, fonts, & effects.

Professional-Looking Documents
SmartArt diagrams & a new charting engine help you add a professional look 2 documents, while shared diagramming & charting with Microsoft Office Excel 2007 spreadsheet software & the Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 presentation graphics program help ensure a consistent look across your documents, spreadsheets, & presentations. You can even compose blogs directly from within Word, & complete your blog posts with pictures, rich formatting, spelling checker, & more. When it's time 2 publish your blogs you can do so directly from Word 2 many common blog services including Office SharePoint Server 2007, MSN Spaces, Blogger, TypePad, Community Server, & more.

Display Important Information
Word 2007 offers a variety of tools & functions 2 help you express & display important information. The Equation Builder helps you construct editable, in-line mathematical equations using real mathematical symbols, prebuilt equations, & automatic formatting. Live word count keeps track of the number of words in your document as you type, & is always in view in the new user interface. Typographic capabilities offer improved bulleted & numbered lists, numbered list styles, & new fonts designed 2 improve on-screen reading.

Add Building Blocks 2 an Office Word 2007 document 2 increase efficiency & reduce errors. View larger.

In addition, the Citation Manager & Reference Builder give you the ability 2 add references, footnotes, endnotes, tables of contents, tables of figures or tables of authorities. To save time, format your references automatically by selecting a predefined style guide, including APA, MLA, The Chicago Manual of Style, & others. There's even a Contextual Spelling Checker that helps you avoid common mistakes & misuse of similarly spelled words.

Editing & Reviewing Tools
Word 2007 provides editing & reviewing tools that help you create professional documents faster than ever before. Live visual previews, predefined style galleries, table formats, & other options are always at your fingertips. To help minimize time wasted re-typing, take advantage of new Building Blocks designed specifically 4 the addition of frequently used content 2 your documents. You can even create your own Building Blocks 2 simplify the addition of custom text, such as legal disclaimer text or other frequently used materials. For that professional touch, select from a predefined gallery of cover pages, pull quotes, headers, & footers.

High-Impact Graphics
Word 2007 helps you communicate more effectively with high-impact graphics. New charting & diagramming features that include 3-D shapes, transparency, drop shadows, & other effects help you create professional-looking graphics that result in more effective documents. Quickly apply a new look & feel 2 your documents using Quick Styles & Document Themes 2 change the appearance of text, tables, & graphics throughout your entire document 2 match your preferred style or color scheme.

Share Your Documents & Content Confidently
With Word 2007, you can share documents with colleagues 2 gather feedback efficiently. You can also help prevent unwanted distribution of your documents & even remove private comments or hidden text prior 2 publishing. Additionally, the tri-pane review panel makes it easy 2 compare & combine two versions of a Word document, so you can detect even the smallest differences when dealing with changes from reviewers.

Participate in Office SharePoint Server 2007
To help make users more efficient when working in a managed environment, participate in Office SharePoint Server 2007 workflows without leaving Word. You can start workflows, interact with workflow tasks, or get information about your documents from the new Document Alert Bar. Managed document repositories can also be accessed from within Word 2007, so you have greater control over document versions. For added peace of mind, information management policies consistently enforce the labeling, auditing, & expiration of documents stored in SharePoint Server 2007 managed document repositories. You can also choose 2 keep track of your documents with the Document Information Panel which can help add workflow & tracking information directly 2 your documents. And Word 2007 uses a separate file format (.docm) 4 macro-enabled documents, so you can quickly tell whether a file is capable of executing any embedded macros.

Keep Your Documents Safe & Secure
Word 2007 offers the Document Inspector feature 2 help you detect & remove unwanted comments, personally identifiable information, hidden text, or other information from documents so that private information stays that way. You can also add digital signatures 2 help others verify that content has not been changed since it was published. Another option is 2 add a new signature line 2 prompt other Word users 4 their signature, or 2 provide a visible digital signature within your documents. Additionally, the Reading Mode offers you an immersive, full-screen reading experience that makes online reading easier, reducing the need 2 print the document. And because quality editing depends on the ease of viewing text, new navigation controls & typography display improvements make the reading experience better than ever.

Convert Your Word Documents
With Word 2007, you can share documents in Portable Document Format file (PDF) & XML Paper Specification (XPS) format without using third-party tools. XML support facilitates smaller, more robust documents & deep integration with information systems & external data sources. Because Office Open XML Formats are compressed, segmented file formats, they offer a dramatic reduction in file size & help ensure damaged or corrupt files can be easily recovered.

Facilitate Important Business Processes
Word 2007 offers a host of integration points 2 enable organizations 2 build powerful solutions that are easy 4 users 2 utilize successfully. XML Formats give developers unprecedented access 2 the contents of your documents, enabling broad interoperability with a wide range of programs & solutions. The Document Information Panel means users enter correct metadata by making it possible 4 you link document properties 2 Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services or 2 other external data sources. Content Controls help you structure the document authoring process by requiring specific types of information or by adding sections of documents that may not be edited or reformatted.

Tools For Developers
Custom-defined schema support of the Office XML Formats enables developers 2 host their own content within Word documents, using their own custom XML vocabularies. Instead of expensive translations, custom XML content is hosted directly within the file. You can also take advantage of Data Bindings & provide developers with an easy way 2 link the contents of external data sources & custom-defined schemas 2 their word documents.