Running Office 2000, Do I need 2007?

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Uncletoad · #1 Post by **Uncletoad** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 3:48 am

I've been using Office 2000 for quite awhile. Considering 2007 but I don't know that I need it and can't answer that question simply on Microsoft's sprawling website.

I use Outlook (email, notes, and tasks), Word, PP, Excell on occasion, Publisher rarely.

#2 Post by **carbon_unit** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:59 am

If you are not having compatibility problems with someone else and it suits your needs, you don't need office 2007. Now if you want it, that is different.
I know a lot of people still using office 2000 and doing fine.

#3 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:21 am

Both Office 2000 and 2003 work great.
Unless you are a masochist and want all sorts of INcompatibilities, and re-learn Office (2007), I would advise to stick with what you have.

pianowizard · #4 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:27 am

This thread is somewhat relevant.

I've been using Office 2007 for several months and still find it very awkward to use. Office 2003 remains my favorite. If you can get a copy of Office 2003 for free from work or school (so that it's legal), I highly recommend upgrading to it. It's very similar to 2000 so you won't have to relearn how to use it.

Uncletoad · #5 Post by **Uncletoad** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:02 am

pianowizard wrote:This thread is somewhat relevant.

I was searching for a thread like that and couldn't find it. Thanks for the link and thanks for the advice.

Uncletoad · #6 Post by **Uncletoad** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:34 am

My initial attraction to Office 2007 is one note 2007. I just don't know if it's worth everything else. I don't imagine it would integrate with 2000 in the same way if I just bought it a la carte.

All the same 2007 sounds like a pig and I'm sure don't want it to be slow as some have found.

I don't know if One Note 2003 has as good an integration with the rest of office and I don't think it syncs with a smartphone which is in part why I'm intrigued by it.

Thoughts?

The Spirit of X21 · #7 Post by **The Spirit of X21** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 11:08 pm

The idea is that if it suits your needs, you don't need to upgrade. My father uses Office 97 on his X30 without any issues at all...

pianowizard · #8 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:18 am

The Spirit of X21 wrote:The idea is that if it suits your needs, you don't need to upgrade.

But sooner or later, the OP will receive an Office 2007 document. That's why if he can upgrade to 2003 (which can open 2007 documents with a free update from Microsoft) for cheap or free, it's a good idea to upgrade now. I believe Office XP and earlier versions can't open 2007 documents.

Uncletoad · #9 Post by **Uncletoad** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:50 am

pianowizard wrote:
The Spirit of X21 wrote:The idea is that if it suits your needs, you don't need to upgrade.
But sooner or later, the OP will receive an Office 2007 document. That's why if he can upgrade to 2003 (which can open 2007 documents with a free update from Microsoft) for cheap or free, it's a good idea to upgrade now. I believe Office XP and earlier versions can't open 2007 documents.

This is a consideration. I ran across something I can't open just this week already and had to find other ways to do that work.

All the same I have little time for learning curves these days.

It's been many decades since I've been in school and I run my own small business. It looks like the 2003 software is the same cost still as the 2007 version.

Any thoughts on finding a better deal?

pianowizard · #10 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:11 am

Uncletoad wrote:Any thoughts on finding a better deal?

Have you tried eBay? Also, have you looked at the upgrade version rather than the full version? I am not sure whether it allows you to upgrade from Office 97 though, i.e. it might not let you skip so many generations.

Uncletoad · #11 Post by **Uncletoad** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:31 am

pianowizard wrote:
Uncletoad wrote:Any thoughts on finding a better deal?
Have you tried eBay? Also, have you looked at the upgrade version rather than the full version? I am not sure whether it allows you to upgrade from Office 97 though, i.e. it might not let you skip so many generations.

Coming from Office 2000 so it's upgradeable to 2003 I'd think. Can you buy non grey market software on Evilbay? How do you know it's authentic?

like this: Link

MOD EDIT: Link modified for better scrolling.

#12 Post by **ryengineer** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:19 pm

Uncletoad wrote:snip.....How do you know it's authentic?......snip

How to tell

Counterfeit Galleries

Uncletoad · #13 Post by **Uncletoad** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:12 am

ryengineer wrote:
Uncletoad wrote:snip.....How do you know it's authentic?......snip
How to tell

Counterfeit Galleries

Nice, thank you.

And also thanks to all that have responded. This has been a great resource for me for stuff that is way over my head. I wish I could contribute better.

Uncletoad · #14 Post by **Uncletoad** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:41 pm

Evilbay has a bunch of stuff on it. Of the ones with COA hologram tags on them there are boxed, unregistered versions and these OEM versions (that I assume are unregistered). Should I avoid the OEM stuff? Is that stuff that comes with computers that isn't installed? Is that stuff legal? I guess it must be with ebay....

I'm not used to buying software on ebay. I've only bought it from computer stores and office supply places.

#15 Post by **Kyocera** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:51 pm

I have 2000 and 2003 running on various desktops and laptops at my house. Having seen and only briefly used 2007 I would prefer (as long as humanly possible {subliminal Micro$ reference here}) to stick with the former to and leave the latter for those gluttens for punishment.

Uncletoad · #16 Post by **Uncletoad** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 11:42 pm

Uncletoad wrote:Evilbay has a bunch of stuff on it. Of the ones with COA hologram tags on them there are boxed, unregistered versions and these OEM versions (that I assume are unregistered). Should I avoid the OEM stuff? Is that stuff that comes with computers that isn't installed? Is that stuff legal? I guess it must be with ebay....

I'm not used to buying software on ebay. I've only bought it from computer stores and office supply places.

Thoughts?

#17 Post by **ryengineer** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:32 pm

Software & Information Industry Association Anti-Piracy FAQ:

Q. Is it legal to install an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) version of software on a computer other than the one on which the software came?
A. OEM software is only distributed when sold with specified accompanying hardware. When these programs are copied and/or sold separately from the hardware, it is a violation of the license with the software publisher, and therefore illegal.

Companies ought to keep compliant with this policy by bundling OEM versions with a token piece of hardware like a mouse, cable, keyboard etc.

ebay policy.

Some ABC of oem license, for Windows but you'll get the picture.

Uncletoad · #18 Post by **Uncletoad** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:08 am

Got it!

Learn something new everyday. Thanks.

ashleys · #19 Post by **ashleys** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 7:26 am

I believe Office XP and earlier versions can't open 2007 documents.

Not true, the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for 2007 file formats can be applied to Office 2000 as well.
With the compatibility pack applied you can open, edit, and save documents, workbooks, and presentations in the file formats new to Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007.

In fact, Windows Update even recognises the fact and you get any fixes that are related to the comptaiblity code that also exists in 2007.

I'm planning to stay with Office 2000 and already have the compatibility fix applied.

Uncletoad · #20 Post by **Uncletoad** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 11:04 pm

ashleys wrote:

Unfortunately that does not open files created on office 2003.

Microsoft is not doing a good enough job of backward compatibility.

#21 Post by **ryengineer** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:38 am

Uncletoad wrote:
ashleys wrote:
Unfortunately that does not open files created on office 2003.........snip

I haven't tried myself but Microsoft says the opposite.

Uncletoad · #22 Post by **Uncletoad** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:16 am

ryengineer wrote:
Uncletoad wrote:Unfortunately that does not open files created on office 2003.........snip
I haven't tried myself but Microsoft says the opposite.

Perhaps they'll come to my house and show me how that works. I tried it today and got nothing but gibberish.

....I'll bet it will open 2007 Office docs with 2000 but I can't get 2003 docs open with 2000.

ashleys · #23 Post by **ashleys** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:51 am

Is the Office 2003 document a standard .doc type file or is it a filetype that would require the Office File Converter fix to be applied ?

See here for details on the File Converter pack,
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork20 ... 81033.aspx

The Compatibility Pack for 2007 only provides support for the new 2007 file formats.

#24 Post by **jdhurst** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:32 am

Uncletoad wrote: Unfortunately that does not open files created on office 2003.

Microsoft is not doing a good enough job of backward compatibility.

I send out documents to various people with various versions, and vanilla documents I create with Word 2003 and Excel 2003 are backward compatible to Office 97 and all in between. I tend to install Office with all possible features including converters and only excluding languages. That seems to help, and I do not experience any difficulty with recipients. ... JDH

Uncletoad · #25 Post by **Uncletoad** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:38 pm

jdhurst wrote:
Uncletoad wrote: Unfortunately that does not open files created on office 2003.

Microsoft is not doing a good enough job of backward compatibility.
I send out documents to various people with various versions, and vanilla documents I create with Word 2003 and Excel 2003 are backward compatible to Office 97 and all in between. I tend to install Office with all possible features including converters and only excluding languages. That seems to help, and I do not experience any difficulty with recipients. ... JDH

I'll have to look deeper into that. So far I haven't had much luck there.

On another aside, I won and auction for Office 2003 from a seller that I now think is running a scam.

I really hate ebay.

Running Office 2000, Do I need 2007?

Running Office 2000, Do I need 2007?

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