Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Reviews

• The license covers three home machines

  
  By A2IMJ568SJ22UW on 2007-04-30
  The "Home and Student" license is for non-commercial use only. The product requires activation, which includes sending machine identification information to Microsoft.
  
  The good news is that the license allows installation on up to three machines and (over time) you can transfer the license to new systems.
  
  From the license: "You may install one copy of the software on three licensed devices in your household for use by people who reside there. ... During activation, the software will send information about the software and the device to Microsoft. ... You may reassign the license to a different device any number of times, but not more than one time every 90 days."
  
  
  
  

• Major upgrade for Office

  
  By AYWIO6OYAGFGQ on 2007-02-25
  While Office 2003 offered a refreshed look and some improvements in functionality, the basic structure remained the same. While veteran users were able to easily navigate the familiar menus, it had become increasingly difficult to locate some features (for instance, in Word, would you find "insert new rows" to a table in the "insert" or "table" menu?).
  
  With Office 2007, Microsoft offers the "ribbon", a new and more intuitive way to access features that we used to find in the menus. While the features are basically the same, they are now grouped together according to when and how you would normally use them. These groupings are accessed by clicking on tabs, which are organized in the order you'd use them. The best way to get a better understanding of this change is to check out the screenshots, or download a free trial version of Office from Microsoft. While Office 2007 was released at the same time as Vista, you do not need Vista in order to run it. The program ran fine on my Windows XP laptop, which only had 512 MB of RAM, and it runs even better on my Vista laptop with 2 GB of RAM.
  
  As for which version of Office to buy, this is the third time I've opted for the Home and Student version (which has had other names in previous releases, but is still being sold for $149). I need Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and this is the most cost-effective way to get those programs. I was disappointed that Microsoft dropped Outlook from the Home and Student version. In order to continue to use Outlook, I installed Outlook 2003 and haven't had any problems.
  
  Instead of Outlook, you get OneNote, a program that uses notebooks and tabs to save and organize all sorts of files and documents. I haven't had much time to play with OneNote yet, but the more I use it, the more impressed I am with it. It looks like one of those programs that you can personalize to meet your own needs and not have to fight with it to get it to do what you want.
  
  This is a significant upgrade and should allow all users, new and experienced, to work more efficiently and quickly.
  
  

• Helpful Tip .....

  
  By A3AJQ35RW7AOVY on 2007-02-24
  For those that use Outlook Express as an email program, be advised that Office 2007 will REMOVE the English spell check from OE, leaving only French as a default. (Why? The Proofing Tools of the new Office are not compatible with the older OE.)
  
  To prevent this problem, do not remove older versions of Office from your hard drive.
  
  If you already have, here is how to fix the problem:
  
  Use the CD to reinstall, selecting the Custom option. Uncheck all options Except the "Shared Features." Expand the branch and select "Proofing Tools." Select "English" and then "Run From My computer." Finish the installation. Reopen OE and the English spell check should be selected.
  
  Of note: If you no longer have a CD of the older version of Word, you can also use Front Page, Publisher, Word, Excel or Outlook. Or any other Office suite application CD.
  
  Hope this saves you some aggravation.
  
  

• Stay Away as long as you can!

  
  By A1TVZRQLR2I19T on 2007-04-16
  They changed everything! In an effort to make it more user friendly, they've rearranged most of the controls. Menus are replaced by headings. It is difficult to accomplish what were easy changes before. Some of this will likely improve with use.
  
  WORD 2007 is constantly trying to think for you, auto formatting as you type. However, it often isn't thinking what you are, and making it obey your commands is frustrated by the new headings. Particularly frustrating, when I "right-click" on a list to restart numbering at "A" (ie. after roman numeral II on an outline), WORD 2007 flatly refuses. My research paper is now formated:
  I. Heading
  A. subpoint
  B. subpoint
  C. subpoin
  II. Heading
  D. subpoint
  E. subpoint
  F. subpoint
  III. Heading
  G. subpoint etc....etc...
  This is ridiculous and inexcusable! I also had to individually superscript 130+ footnotes. Somehow, in changing the font from the Widows default "Calibri" back to "Time New Roman," the footnote setting was altered and I have yet to determine how to restore it. However, if I open a new document it is fine, but I really don't want to retype a 30+ page research paper.
  
  POWERPOINT 2007 works well enough, compared to the older version. They have added a few bell and whistles, but nothing that gets in the way.
  
  If you have to buy a new computer you're likely stuck with the new MS Office 2007. But don't buy it until you have to. It is NOT an upgrade from the previous two versions.
  
  

• hideous software

  
  By A1PVEZ4PEX3AA1 on 2007-04-16
  This is the worst thing since the Office Assistant animated paper clip. Forcing the "ribbon" on the user assumes that the user likes icons (I don't -- what's wrong with words??), and fills too much of the screen real estate. Nothing is where it should be. And what arrogance on the part of Microsoft to provide no alternate views, no "classic" view, just these piles and piles of inscrutable icons. Another oppressive, giant waste of my time and money at the hands of Microsoft.
  
  
• Finding really hard to relearn
  By A3NOBH42C7UI5M on 2007-03-29
  The new look of the software is really confusing. I'm not a computer expert by any means, but I am knowledgeable enough that my family and friends call me to help them fix their computers and software problems, so I'm not a newbie either. I understand the basic idea that some things are on the screen for you to see, the things they consider to be the most important; but the things I use the most, like frame or underlining are now several click away and you can't customize the menus to what you like. They've put up what they think is important and that's it. If you use other features, you're out of luck... it's hunt and peck every time. You also have to learn to think the way they think. If you want to find a feature, it might not be in the menu set of screens you think. They may consider it a different type of feature than you think of it being, so you have start searching all the different sets of menus to find the feature you're looking for. Also, I like to copy and paste from boxes like this, when writing on the internet, for spell checking... well you can't do that anymore because when you paste back your text it appears in HTML format with all the weird stuff that goes along with it. It might be that I'm just too set in my ways and don't feel I have the time to learn a completely new software to do a simple letter. Maybe if I had the time to relearn everything I might find it easier, but I just don't have the weeks it would take to devote to the study of each product (Word, Excel mainly). I got the software and tried it for several months and went back to my old Word and Excel.
  
  
• Avoid it if you can
  By ANP8TAQ78EK5U on 2007-10-31
  I will make this as short as I can. I am a long time user (~10yrs) of MS Office, many versions of both Word and Excel. When I started having some compatibility issues with my old version, I decided to upgrade. My advice to you is, at all costs, avoid upgrading if you can. If you can choose a different product (non-Office), do it.
  In Word especially, all the old interfaces have been completely redone, from the menus available right to the way help is (dis)organized. Many of the old usability features, such as templates (for letters), how you interact with colors/fonts/etc., and how you print, preview, and perform simple functions, are gone or changed.
  Microsoft apparently believes that manuals are a thing of the past, so finding out where my old options are, if they still exist, has been a chore of figuring out which of the dozens of help topics are actually relevant, and if they will help me (which they typically haven't).
  Even in Excel there have been interface and usability changes that have made it difficult for me to work with it, given my long history with previous versions.
  My only caveat is that brand new users may find it easier to work with than old ones, but again, the poor help system would hinder even that, I would think.
  Best of luck.
  
  
• Power users: don't buy this software!
  By A3JXOWC5AGNYOU on 2007-10-25
  Sure, this release has lots of "improvements". I'll focus on Excel. The biggest potential improvement is that the row and column maximums have been opened up.
  
  Beyond that, I've encountered nothing but problems.
  * Once a document is saved in the new .xlsx format, Excel would not save back to the older .xls format. Instead, it just hung.
  * The software refused to change the limits on a date x-axis of my charts. Instead it blithly reset the values back to the original values.
  * It is SLOW. Clicking on a curve in a chart could take 10-20 seconds to respond.
  * Occasionally, Excel would just crash for no obvious reason. The up side is that it would restart with opening the same workbooks.
  
  Also, as usual, I have been unable to find a place on the Microsoft web site to report such troubles. All I've been able to find are FAQs that answer queries unrelated to the problems I've had.
  
  Maybe you can work with that. I gave up and am just hoping that my new laptop is still functioning by the time that Microsoft gets around to noticing such glitches and releasing a service pack. Maybe next year?
  
  
• Incompatible with previous editions
  By A1EHZ0P4MAV9L5 on 2007-10-11
  Word documents created in Office 2007 now have the .docx extension which is incompatible with previous editions of Office and all 3rd party office applications such as Word Perfect, etc.
  
  If you load this on a couple work computers, you will have to go to every machine in the company and install a large "office compatibility pack" in order to read .docx files. I have not been able to get the compatibility pack to download for Macintosh and the word on the street has been that Microsoft is ending support of Apple products.
  
  So if you want a whole lot of frustration and angry end-users, purchase Office 2007. Otherwise stay with what you have or get OpenOffice (or NeoOffice for Macintosh).
  
  
• Looks like Microsoft hired a Disney Cartoonist for this one ...
  By A2PLNZAU8JVI80 on 2007-05-01
  I was looking forward to this newest version. As soon as it finished loading, I started in to get some work done in Word and Excel. Little did I know there was a nasty shock waiting for me! What was this cartoon-like gibberish all over the screen? Where were the menu bars? Icons! Icons! Everywhere icons! All I could think was I had accidentally received the Student Edition for Pre-schoolers.
  
  It is a nightmare to navigate. If you scroll over one of the cartoon icons; you get a pull-down menu that makes a Rubik's Cube look easy. I think MS forgot the most important rule of all - K.I.S.S.
  
  I have used Excel and Word almost every day for the last ten years. Like others who have commented on this new version, I make my own menu/tool bars and can navigate through the programs with no problems. There are always a few adjustments when a newer version arrives which is fine. But this? Forget it!
  
  I have removed 2007 and reloaded 2003. Back to the drawing board on this one Microsoft! Dump the cutesy and give us streamlined, neat, usable programs.
  
  
  
• Save your money and don't upgrade
  By A2J9XYLB9WWEF4 on 2007-02-07
  I seel lots of glowing reviews and discussion about the big new feature, "The Ribbon". I participated in the Beta of Office 2007 and found it to be a bit more interesting to use than previous versions. You have to learn a whole new approach to Word and Excel to effectively use the ribbon. For my way of working, the ribbon is not an improvement but more of a hindrance or annoyance. It also takes up lots and lots of space on your monitor. My preference is to use full screen mode where I see just the page I am working on with no menu distractions or tabs. Just a nice clean sheet. The office software is monstrously huge and with the exception of Excel, the programs run slow as molasses on my 3GHz DELL. Outlook 2007 is not included in this version, which may be a good thing. It was the slowest of the lot when I used it extensively at work. Message previews took forever to appear after changing folders.
  
  The problem seem to be that MS wants to keep adding feature after feature and "conveniences" as they deem necessary which bloats the software and makes it drastically over complicated. At the same time, they seem to have paid little attention to improving the user experience. Software needs to be smooth and responsive with a clean intuitive uncluttered interface to be a productivity enhancer.
  
  Office 2007 is just the opposite. I'm back to Office 2000 (uninstalling the yucky Beta wiped out my entire previous installation of office, thanks Microsoft), and you know what, Office 2000 may not have the bells and whistles of 2007, but it works just great and produces excellent documents and spreadsheets. I see no need to upgrade and it would probably be wiser to buy MS shares with your hundred odd dollars as you can guarantee the world plus dog will simply have to get this new stuff or they will feel like they are sooo behind the times.
  
  My parting advice: Let MS work through another one or two iterations of this new interface and it may then be worth spending hundreds to upgrade,m as long as they make it a pleasure to use. Say more ... iPod like?
  
  
• Incompatible with older versions!!!!
  By ATCHAUWF2X5E5 on 2007-02-09
  Office 2007 products are incompatible with older versions and it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to run Office 2007 suites or components and components from an older version, in my case Office 2003, on the same computer. Installation of Office 2007 is usually not possible until all earlier versions of Office suites or components are uninstalled. Reinstallations of older components are then blocked. For example, I had to uninstall Office 2003 Student & Teachers edition before Office 2007 Student & Teachers would install. Since Microsoft has eliminated Outlook from this suite in 2007, I thought I would just reinstall the 2003 version--the installation seemed to work, but the program will not run.
  
  
• Once you get used to it, you'll love Microsoft Office 07
  By AYFNXSPIYTI79 on 2007-02-03
  This student edition of Microsoft Office 07 comes with four programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Unless you specifically have a need for another Microsoft Office program, this will be more than enough for the average Office user. You've got all the essentials: a word processor (Word), a spreadsheet (Excel), a slide show creator (PowerPoint), and even a nice program to put all your notes (OneNote). Home and Student Office 07 version gives you the basic programs at a cheaper price than the other versions of Office.
  
  The main difference you'll find between this 07 version and the Microsoft Office 03 is that all the programs now have the "ribbon" instead of being menu-driven. The ribbon is a much more visual representation of all the features you can use. All the different tasks are grouped into ribbons; which are divided up into different tabs you can click on. For example, if you clicked on the "Insert" tab in Word you would find tasks such as "inserting" a header or "inserting" a table. What this means is that instead of being hidden in menus and submenus, most features now can be found simply by being in the right tab. This allows you to find some useful features that you might otherwise not have known existed.
  
  Everything from Microsoft 03 is there, it just might take awhile to get used to the new layout of things. There are also a lot of cool new features added in this version, such as easily being able to write complex math equations in Word (it was such a pain in Word 03) and being provided with an easy format to create a bibliography in APA, MLA, Chicago style etc.
  
  Perhaps the only drawback of Office 07 is that it's such a drastic change from Office 03 that it will take awhile to get used to. After years of knowing all the complex menus you'll have to learn where everything is all over again, which can be frustrating for vetrans of Office 03. However, if you just give it some time, you'll fall in love with just how well everything is set up and appreciate the new visual style this version implements.
  
  Pros:
  
  * The new visual style allows easy access to all the various features
  * You can still save files in Office 97-03 format (Example .doc)
  
  
  Cons:
  
  * You must relearn where everything is because of the Ribbon
  * Not all websites/ programs recognize the new 07 files
  
  Final Recommendation: Buy it, get used to it, and love it!
  
  
• Much improvement in Excel 2007
  By A3MGQCHM5D0B7T on 2007-01-31
  For years Microsoft has released upgrades of Excel 97 that have mostly been cosmetic. The underlying computation and memory limits have led to long calculations and instability in large spreadsheets.
  
  This 2007 version dramatically expands row and column capacity. In addition, it overcomes previous memory restrictions and uses dual core processors to speed calculation. One large sheet improved calculation time from over 2 minutes to under 40 seconds using an AMD dual core processor.
  
  This version fixes fundamental limitations for users of large sheets.
  
  I was afraid that the new user interface would be daunting, but after a few hours with it, I have found all of the functions I use.
  
  I only found one bug. The program hung up when I clicked the "error checking" button with the cursor in a conditionally formatted cell. I would imagine bug fixes will be coming since the program has only been recently released.
  
  This program is well worth the price.
  
  
• DO NOT BUY> Excel crashes, Word interface is a horrible mess
  By A2KDOTUF8SY23S on 2007-10-31
  Where to start....???? SO many things are messed up in Office 2007.
  Here are my top 3:
  #1: Word/Excel/PPt: The ribbon interface changes things around so drastically that doing what was once simple things in Office XP/2003 is now a frustrating exercise in lost time and productivity.
  #2: Excel: First, MS has a hotfix (a 32 MB download) for a math error (yes a math error). Very few users will ever be likely to hit that value range on a calculated result, but still unacceptable for a mainstream number crunching program. But if you are one of those unfortunates, and the error ocurrs in a very large, complex spreadsheet, then the error could cost a business a fortune if it's not caught.
  #3: Excel crashes if you try to specify a custom value range for chart error bars by selecting the appropriate row/columns from the worksheet (like you can in previous versions)... you have to enter them manually by typing the arcane "=Sheet1!$A$1:$Z$1". Even if you try to click over to the worksheet while the entry box is open Excel will crash and you lose everything since the last Save. This bug is probably lurking in other areas as many functions make the same calls to a common software modules where the bug really is located.
  
  There are many other bugs in this product too numerous to list here (goto the MS Discussion Groups on Office 2007 for more).
  
  Do not buy MS Office 2007 unless you like PAIN!!
  
  
  
• Hated the UI for a week--now I like it.
  By AN69X3452UW61 on 2007-02-01
  Yes, the user interface is different now, although all of the old features are in there somewhere.
  
  I was lost for much of the first week that I used Office 2007 (via the beta). Here's what made it usable for me:
  
  1. Building a custom quick access toolbar to include the things that I need. All I had to do was right click on any ribbon button that I wanted to add, and the option to put it in the quick access toolbar was right there. Nice.
  
  2. Seeing that the "recently used" file list can be as long as the screen, basically meaning that I didn't need toolbar buttons for frequently opened files any more.
  
  3. Realizing that I could find my old commands in "help."
  
  
  I do like the feature where in Word, after I highlight text, a floating dialog comes up with the most common things I'd want to do. And if I don't click any of them, the dialog goes away on its own.
  
  Regarding the lack of Outlook in the Home and Office Package, it's not a big deal to me. Why? I find Outlook is still clunky and tough to use. MSFT is coming out with a major upgrade to Outlook Express that I prefer over Outlook.
  
  On the downside there are new file formats, but I've thus far been able to mostly ignore them and use the old formats for all of my documents.
  
  There's a lot of nice "craftsmanship" in the Office 2007 UI--too many things to mention--I'm going to go for the upgrade.
  
  
• Different but great
  By AU777V4GGORSC on 2007-02-02
  Yes, the interface is different and it takes a little getting use to but overall it's a great product. One of the new features is using online options for templetes so new templetes can be downloaded. There are a lot of great new features and it's a fantastic upgrade from 03. I also think the price is excellent, overall well done Microsoft.
  
  
• Extremely Slow
  By A33NP124FT35WP on 2007-02-10
  After installing Office 2007, I found that the program is exceedingly slow. Whenever you need to save a file, it takes forever to list the contents of a directory, and fancy new features like the reference mangement in Word take multiple minutes to display dialogs.
  
  It seems like computers should be getting faster not slower, and Microsoft has managed to turn my $3000 Core 2 Duo desktop into a very very slow machine. Thanks for all the bloat Redmond.
  
  
• My 5th grader & I are finding it easy to learn how to use.
  By A1FH14TQSVDH1X on 2007-02-04
  I bought this update for my 5th grader and it will register for up to 3 computers in the home. I worried that the differences would take much time to learn, but in fact, the transition is fairly smooth.
  
  The new Word contains some features not previously or easily available. The language translation considers that we may email or receive documents with foreign words that will need this quick to use feature. A nicer feature is the availability of cover sheets. They are easy to access and eye catching.
  
  Word now presents the commands in straight categories, but this wasn't a real issue of concern for the old version. If you buy '07 just for Word, then I wouldn't recommend it. However, with further use, the new version may show its worth.
  
  The bigger plus is PowerPoint. My daughter is learning this program at school under the now older model. She is excited by the easier to use features.
  
  The slide designs are both much easier to view and gives instant preview for how your slides will change. You can flip through all the available formats without waiting for downloads, or viewing a small screen (as with the old version). In the same window, you can change the background, the font, add transition, and animation to each or all slides in a few clicks. These are much less cumbersome features. The new designs are certainly welcomed given how tiresome it has been to see the same old slides in presentations.
  
  I haven't looked at the Excel, so I cannot comment on this feature, but if presentations are most important to you, then 2007 is well worth obtaining either in the office bundle or separately.
  
  
• Endless Frustration
  By AALZOC9WBWEDU on 2007-06-24
  Excel 2007 will open my older documents into something called "compatability mode". This will work for a few minutes and then lock up requiring [ctrl][alt][delete] to get out. After that, my files are corrupted. When Excel 2007 opens again, it will give the option to try to repair which will also lock up requiring [ctrl][alt][delete] again.
  
  Bottom line: I am not be able to work with my older files without converting them to the 2007 format.
  
  When converting to the 2007 format, changes are made for which I have no detailed information and the new files cannot be opened in an older version of Excel without being converted back using another conversion program.
  
  I recommend office 2003 instead if it is still available.
  
  
• Not what I expected
  By A1MQ009QZXVR3O on 2007-06-02
  I'm a computer tech with a general disdain for Microsoft, although because I'm heavily invested in windows compatible software, my OS of choice is Windows XP. I bought this product on the recommendation of a friend and then only because the price was reasonable.
  
  I have to say Microsoft hit a home-run with this release. It's full-featured, easy on the eyes, and loaded with readily accessible templates. True, if you're used to older versions of Office, the orientation is different, but not displeasing.
  
  Maybe this is the beginning of a kinder, gentler Microsoft ?
  
  
• Where is Outlook 2007?
  By AH4YC7M2Z56GT on 2007-11-06
  MS Office Student & Teacher edition has always included MS Outlook. Microsoft replaced the useful Outlook with the useless Onenote?
  
  
• Microsoft will tell you you're not genuine... even if you are!
  By A15KAFL9PQDXIR on 2007-03-04
  I bought Office 2007 with my new computer, a laptop with Windows Vista installed. Everything seemed to be fine, until I tried to use the extra services that make the new Office appealing to me (e.g. creating PDF documents, desinging brochures with Word, etc.) These extra features require an authentication online. I followed the procedures indicated by Microsoft, but a message tells me that the operation cannot be completed because my software is not genuine. Something quite strange, since I bought my computer and my copy of Office 2007 at PC World, a mainstream computer retailer in the UK. Besides this, Vista seems to have some compatibility problems with Firefox and my printer (a Laser HP, a very mainstream computer, legally bought as well!). If you use Firefox as your default browser, almost everytime you click to anything that requires Microsoft authentication the page won't load. With my printer I have to ask it to print twice so that I can actually prints, and one of the habits of ecologically-minded people (printed on both sides of a page) cannot be practised. It seems that, as a first user, I'm finding all the bugs of these (I don't doubt it) marvellous applications. I would be grateful if Microsoft had done some basic testings before their massive launching. For some reason, the hurries have sacrificed quality. And the subtle blocking of Firefox is quite painful. A concern about counterfitting is affecting the law-abiding users, which is the worst-case scenario I can imagine.
  
  
• Office 2207 DO NOT BUY!
  By A1WNEVIRLVH12R on 2007-03-29
  Don't spend your money and time on Office 2007 (Word 2007, Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007, ect 2007) if you have Windows XP or Vista.
  
  I tried to install and use Office 2007 and it really messed up my Vista computer and now even older versions of Office (including Outlook, FrontPage, XML Editor 2007 along with a few games) don't run correctly even after Office 2007 was uninstalled due to damage caused in your Windows System Registry.
  
  I spent (listed below) on the phone (toll-free) with Microsoft's various techs to fix the problem and even then I had to contact a "Geek" to walk me through fully removing this software.
  
  MICROSOFT TECH SUPPORT ASSISTANCE
  * 4hrs. 23min with Microsoft Office 2007 Tech Support [Jitendra in India]
  * 2hrs. 16min with Microsoft Office 2007 Software Escalation Team Support [Jim Cameron in Canada]
  * 3hrs. 7min. with Microsoft Windows Vista Technical Support [Jagjit Aheer in India]
  * 2hrs. 48min. with Microsoft Windows Vista Senior Support [Shane Daley in Washington]
  * 2hrs. 12min. with Microsoft Software Research, Development & Programing [Paul Crawford in Washington]
  
  and the problem was still not fixed!
  
  I then contacted a tech friend of mine in Folsom who works for Geek Squad who informed I should have talked with him first before I ever thought of purchasing the "Office 2007 Nightmare" (as they call it) because it has some serious bugs, freezes and shut-down issues in the core of the program which effects many other software programs installed on your computer.
  
  He also told me that Office 2007 uses a whole new file extension ( .docm & .docx to name a few ) which can not be read or viewed on older versions of Office until Microsoft releases a plug-in that actually works.
  
  I was told that if I want a good, stable, reliable and multi-extension "Office-type" software suite for my Windows Vista OS I should purchase one of the current Windows Vista compatible versions like WordPerfect or most any software other then Office 2007!
  
  Just a word of warning.
  
  I returned this software to Amazon.com and went with Word Perfect Office X3 which came with more software for a lesser price and no headache.
  
  
• Avoid at all costs
  By A1D3MOJLSZZRKL on 2007-04-21
  As a teacher I use Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher when working with students AND engaging in professional activities (presentations to organizations, etc.) I have been using Office 2002, and thought I should upgrade. BIG mistake. The ribbons of icons are frustrating to scroll through, especially since I previously just customized the toolbar so everything I needed was immediately available. I'm still trying to figure out how to type in Chinese, although the Spanish and German are working fine. Additionally, they've come up with a truly ugly color scheme for their ribbons/icons/etc. As a previous commenter noted, making changes to the basic template creates extreme problems, and I also was unable to get the darn number bullets to renumber. It took me almost twice as long to write a test as usual, and I ended up doing manually what used to be done quite easily using the toolbar.
  
  The designs in Publisher are now very difficult to see and differentiate. In previous versions, you could see the stark differences between different designs. In the current options pages, everything is so soft, both in line and color, as well as being so small, that it's hard to tell what you're looking at.
  
  But the truly big disappointment is PowerPoint. Their new selection of slide designs has all the appeal of rotting road kill--I would be embarrassed to give a presentation to a professional group using what is available in 2007.
  
  I have reinstalled my 2002 programs. I feel like I just wasted all the money I spent on this suite. My suggestion? If you absolutely have to have a PC because you do a lot of word processing, stick with Word 2002 or 2003. If you need to do presentations/brochures/etc. for your business, get a Mac and avoid this problem altogether.
  
  
• beware of ridiculous window titles
  By AYKDGI91VADC3 on 2007-10-10
  Before you buy this edition, be aware that the title of every document you open with it will include the phrase "non-commercial use". Apparently, the bean-counters at Microsoft decided that we need this daily reminder that we bought the cheapskate edition.
  
  
• Do you need this software???
  By AF0517KMHXYHB on 2007-02-03
  Chances are NO - if you own versions 2003. But if you are thinking of buying this for first time then you are in luck! This is an outstanding software package that can be installed on up to (3) home computers. Yes that is right three none business computers. That should handle just about every house hold.
  What you get are the standards: Word 2007, Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007 and OneNote 2007, PowerPoint 2007 and OneNote 2007. You most likely now the first 3 programs but OneNote 2007 is not new but it has not been a pushed software by Microsoft. I have been using OneNote for a couple of years now and I just love it!
  OneNote is a place for all your NOTES. You can tab sections and keep all your subjects separated and organized. You can copy and paste pictures, links to web site or other files. If you have a Tablet PC you can hand write you note just as if you are writing on or in a note book.
  If you used an earlier version you may notice that Outlook is not is listed. That is because "Students" do not use Outlook they use web based email like yahoo hotmail, and gmail among others. Very smart since having Outlook would most likely be a waste.
  These new versions of Office 2007 are very different than the one you are used to. The tool bar is laid out in a more comprehensive manner. I can actually think logically and not think in and Office frame of mind. This will take some time to get used to.
  If you are installing this on Windows XP you should not have any problems. As always BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP, You should not experience any problems with a NEW install. But if you are thinking about upgrading to Windows Vista what and install the new Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 after you have upgraded to Vista.
  A real user of Office will see this new version as a much deserving upgrade and will just love it. New users will not understand what all the talk is about since they will not have known the joys of what we had to endure over the many versions of Office Suites. This is a version of office that will help students learn the skill that they will need in the office and class rooms. As more schools get technology more students will be learning the skills of Office.
  
  
  
• Great improvement over earlier versions.
  By A3FNFDKGF94O28 on 2007-02-06
  Office 2007 is the biggest meaningful upgrade since 1997. No more mere cosmetic enhancements, but a whole rebuild from the ground up. This not just a cosmetic change from Office 2003 as some reviewers state. It's a whole new interface on some office products.
  
  The ribbon command system is both a godsend and a frustrating feature. While some commands are at your finguretips, others leave you scrambling for the help section or an online community to see where an old Office 97-2003 command is. There is something that is called a quick access bar (on the top left corner where the undo arrows are) on each application where you can have the commands readily available.
  
  I use Excel the most and this is the most improved program, IMNSHO. After years of outcry, Microsoft increased the number of column from a mere 256 to more than 16,000. There are also over a million rows. Corel's Quatro Pro spreadsheet has had this number for years, so it's nothing Microsoft innovated.
  
  The graphs are much more modern looking on all the applications. I don't think Microsoft has made any improvements in their graph designs since the late 80's. Even Office 2003 had antiquated graphs.
  
  When formating documents, Office now have a live preview feature that allows you to know what the new format would look like by just point the mouse pointer over the format button.
  
  The one thing I feel should have been included with this is Outlook. Haven't gotten the feel for OneNote yet. Not alot of books available on how to use this.
  
  One thing about the ribbons, it's on Access, Exel, Powerpoint, and Word, but for a mysterious reason is missing from every other Microsoft Office 2007 product including out OneNote and Outlook (except when dealing with messages).
  
  
• You can make the change
  By A1RC6J8J80KA7M on 2007-08-04
  Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Word, appears to be confusing initially, especially for the experienced user like myself who is expecting to find the toolbar and tabs in the usual place as Word 2003. The new ribbon helps you to quickly find commands that are used to complete a task. Some tabs are shown only when needed, which helps to prevent clutter. The tabs are related to specific activity, for example, when you click on the page layout tab, everything you want to do on the page is shown; margins, indent, spacing etc. Initially I wished I had kept my Word 2003, however, the more I work with Word 2007, I began to like it. With patience you will find your most used tools and be pleased with your new purchase. I find the case for the software too clunky, although the case has nothing to do with the use of the software. if you don't mind change, and you don't mind spending some extra time learning the new interface of the program, it's worth it.
  
  
• Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
  By A3SODFO0UBXJN8 on 2007-08-23
  The only complaint I have about this product is that the Microsoft Word is not compatible with earlier versions of Word. (This may also be true of the Excel and PowerPoint). So, when I have to send a document to someone else, anyone who has an older version can't open it. If I would've known that before I bought it, I would've purchased an earlier version (probably 2003).
  
  

• Office 2007 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
• Special Edition Using Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
• 2007 Microsoft® Office System Plain & Simple (Plain & Simple Series)
• The Neat Company NeatScan To Office Scans to Excel Outlook Word and PowerPoint (White)
• PC World

• Microsoft Outlook 2007
• Office 2007 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
• Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 Step by Step
• Microsoft Publisher 2007
• Norton Internet Security 2008 up to 3 Users [OLD VERSION]