What to install, Office 2003 or office 2007 ? + Photos

[mazaltof]

Hey you guys, I’d like to hear your opinion on what version should I install on my little machine.
My OS will be XP pro + Sp2 and I was wondering what office version would be lighter when running on my x41.

The primary use of office is working with outlook using rpc over http, normal word ppt and excel use.

Is the new office version is heaver the the previous?
Can I feel it on my machine?

Thx for your help and I hope to hear from you....

btw, a few pictures of my little x41 bought on ebay for $385
added 1GB of ram for a total of 2GB and bluetooth card

Take care
omer


http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/8567/61917042re5.jpg

http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/4169/30957474qi1.jpg

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/7058/89355961tl9.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5605/44182688me0.jpg

Moderator edit: Welcome to thinkpads.com! Inline images in posts other than in the Pictures conference need to be <50KB and a warning needs to be included in the original subject line.

[j-dawg]

That's a nice-looking machine you've got there.

As for Office, I think 2007 is a little heavier but it is--in my opinion--totally worth it. It's much improved on Office 2003. I have it on my X24, and while it's usable, it's a bit slow. It would probably be fine on an X41.

A lot of people won't switch because they do not like adapting to changes. Many of these people also live in caves and eat raw meat.

[fixup]

I have no idea why people keep upgrading to the latest Office - they suck more and more after version 95.

For photo, the free Pixia is better than anything else including PhotoShop. Very efficient.

[mazaltof]

Hey, thx for the info, i'm assuimg i will stick with the "old" 2003 version due to lack of use and future performance issues.

Thx.

omer

[fasterbybike]

That's a tidy machine and a nice sleeve too. What is the brand of the sleeve ?

[mazaltof]

Hey, i have not idea what is the brand of the little sleeve but you can get it for $7 +shipping in here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0042819132

[fschwep]

Any new version of Office will be heavier than the older ones. It's like a natural law. Office 2007 writes its documents as XML files, .docx, .xlsx etc. These cannot be read by older versions unless you have the compatibility pack installed which is available from Microsoft. In your case I'd pick 2003 as it will certainly be smaller (or rather, less large), plus the compatibility pack.
Then again, if you can get your hands on WP Office X3...

[jtt3011]

Well ............ you might not like this, but I'd say that if you can get a copy of Office 97, that's the one to install. I recently upgraded to 2003 - what a mistake - never seen such a bloated and bewildering load of crap!

And .......... having uninstalled it, and reloaded '97, MS Access 97 doesn.t work, saying it's not licenced to run on my machine. It's a full and legal item. Microsoft can't help - s'just too old hat y'know. Office 2003, and its uninstall obviously leave some sort of crap in the registry which mucks up Access 97. PCTools reg mechanic doesn,t clear that either.

So ............. don't say nobody told you.

Me? ............. I'm going to have to reinstall XP, and all the rest, if I want to get Access 97 back. But at least, with XP SP3 now available, that won't be as painful as it was.

[fixup]

I actually prefer Office 95, but 97 is still acceptable. After that, frame has been replaced with object; you no longer have any control on where you want an image to be placed at.

No need to mention all the annoying "features" such as that office assistant clip.

For the last 10 years, programmers did not find a way to improve software; they just add annoying "features" to cheat the Wall Street. Vista is another good example, so are the PhotoShop, Acrobat...

Here is a list of the alternative software I use. They are free, efficient and do better jobs than the original:

Foxit Reader - Acrobat reader
doPDF - Acrobat
Pixia - PhotoShop
FireFox 2.0 (not 3.0, ADBlock+, FlashBlock, YesScript) - IE
ImgBurn - Nero
QuickTime Alternative (Widows Media Player Classic) - QT & WMP
7-ZIP - WinZip, WinARA...
WinAmp 2.91 Lite - all other audio players

Give them a try and I guarantee you'll like them all. Unfortunately I have not found better Office than MS Office 95/97, mainly due to compatibility as Word has become the industry standard when you publish your papers.

[Spimoles]

wow... no offense but you guys sound like sterotypical old people with the "good ol' days stories"

Haha, I recommend upgrading to office 2007. Its really amazing software and once you learn how to access everything you'll feel foolish about thinking otherwise. Its much easier to use than past versions and very robust. If you are worried about speed and space then I recommend going with Open Office.

[mini_g]

Lighter version of MSO? '03.

Smaller file format and more options to make the said file "pretty"? '07.

My opinion? '07 is really nice, but if '03 is cheaper by more than $30, get '03.

2007 puts what the John/Jane Smith would normally use up front in an easy, once you get used to it, layout. There are some initial aggravations, but that is to be expected when a drastic makeover is done to the UI.

I think that there is a trial version of '07 available that would allow you to feel for yourself as to what it feels like. Just keep in mind that the UI can not be reverted back to the old menu style.

Note: Upgrade to SP3 if possible, as there is a noticeable boost in speed from SP2.

[red.dot.fan]

the only office program I like better than 2007 is Open office...

[muscleflex]

just seen this one....
how did you manage to get your RAM to 2gig? the 512 is soldered, if i remember correctly! so you can only add a max of 1.5gig (which i have)

oh and i have vista business on mine and gonna install office 2007!

[no_man]

my X41 2525-E2U, is humming, WIN XP, SP3, and Open Office.

Recommend you go to a local bookstore, purchase $20.00 Dummy book for OPenOffice with a CD, and install it.
Enjoy the $$$ savings.

[Weogo]

Hi Muscleflex,

"how did you manage to get your RAM to 2gig?"

Simple, install a 2 gig card in the open slot.
XP will only recognize a max of 2 gigs, but it works fine.

Good health, Weogo

[faberryman]

A lot of people won't switch because they do not like adapting to changes. Many of these people also live in caves and eat raw meat.

Actually, I just don't want to have to learn to hunt all over again to catch the same meat.

[muscleflex]

Hi Muscleflex,

"how did you manage to get your RAM to 2gig?"

Simple, install a 2 gig card in the open slot.
XP will only recognize a max of 2 gigs, but it works fine.

Good health, Weogo

hi - thanks for that! i'm so getting a 2gig stick!!! lol

[denisky]

I suggest you to install Office 2003. It is very fast on my PIII-M machine. MS Word loads up in less than 3 seconds. Personally, I don't think I should upgrade to Office 2007 because I feel that Office 2003 is more than enough for basic document task.

I also have a bad experience with Office 2007. It almost screwed up my presentation yesterday. My team created a powerpoint file using Office 2007, while the file would be displayed in Office 2003 on my laptop. It couldn't be read by Office 2003. I had to use my friends' laptop with Office 2007 so that the file could be loaded up.

[KristianJ]

I also have a bad experience with Office 2007. It almost screwed up my presentation yesterday. My team created a powerpoint file using Office 2007, while the file would be displayed in Office 2003 on my laptop. It couldn't be read by Office 2003. I had to use my friends' laptop with Office 2007 so that the file could be loaded up.

Check what format the file was in. There's every chance that the file was saved in the .pptx format, which is the default for PP 2007. There is an option whereby files can be saved by default to a regular .ppt presentation, so if you're planning to have any more presentations done via 2007, get your friend to check whether he/she has the .pptx option as the default (Office button > PowerPoint Options > Save - it's up the top of the window that appears). If the options is .ppxt, change it to PowerPoint Presentation 97-2003 and you'll be fine.

As for me, I use Office 2007 and have gotten used to it. It' does all I need it to do and does it well, but I also have a copy of Office 2000 for whatever secondary machine I may have at a given time.

[faberryman]

XP will only recognize a max of 2 gigs, but it works fine.

Actually, it is the BIOS that will only recognize 2GB. Windows XP recognizes 3.24GB of the 4GB I have in my desktop computer.

[denisky]

I also have a bad experience with Office 2007. It almost screwed up my presentation yesterday. My team created a powerpoint file using Office 2007, while the file would be displayed in Office 2003 on my laptop. It couldn't be read by Office 2003. I had to use my friends' laptop with Office 2007 so that the file could be loaded up.

Check what format the file was in. There's every chance that the file was saved in the .pptx format, which is the default for PP 2007. There is an option whereby files can be saved by default to a regular .ppt presentation, so if you're planning to have any more presentations done via 2007, get your friend to check whether he/she has the .pptx option as the default (Office button > PowerPoint Options > Save - it's up the top of the window that appears). If the options is .ppxt, change it to PowerPoint Presentation 97-2003 and you'll be fine.

As for me, I use Office 2007 and have gotten used to it. It' does all I need it to do and does it well, but I also have a copy of Office 2000 for whatever secondary machine I may have at a given time.

Yes, KristianJ. From this experience, I can get a precious lesson that a communication between each member of a team is very important.

Does anybody know why Microsoft makes a new format as their default format? Is this their marketing strategy to "force" users to migrate to their Office 2007?

[jdhurst]

<snip>
Does anybody know why Microsoft makes a new format as their default format? Is this their marketing strategy to "force" users to migrate to their Office 2007?

It has been my experience that Microsoft always sets the default in Office to the new format. The last new format (IIRC) was Office 97. I am now using Office 2007 in production with my clients (none of whom yet use this new version). I just set the save formats to the earlier version. Since my home desktop continues to be XP/Office 2003, I tested back and forth and have no difficulties.
... JDH