I would put it this way: Microsoft OFFICE 2007 is a all-that-you-need package. But no matter how cool the features are, there are always pros and cons to anything that is called a SOFTWARE! So here is my review after working on it for my homework’s at Speed School and everything else.

The good: Previously hard-to-find features now easier to explore; Word embraces basic desktop publishing tools; Excel formulas are easier to reference; PowerPoint presentations are more attractive; Outlook improves task and time management; improved integration throughout the applications; smaller application and file sizes; new file formats are easier to salvage if corrupted; document security is more straightforward.

The bad: Drastic design changes demand a steep learning curve if you’re upgrading; new interface isn’t always intuitive; contextual tabs and style galleries can be distracting; users of Office 2000 through 2003 must install converters to open Office 2007 files; no easy way to save work to the Web.

Office 2007 also stores documents in a new format — one more compact and safer than before. Colleagues who haven’t upgraded must download a free converter program to open the files. You also can save files in the older formats with Office 2007 — important because the converter isn’t available yet for Apple Inc.’s Mac computers. NOT A GOOD THING!!

I study at UofL and am sure by the time the University decides to get Office 2007, Office 2011 would release. This means though i can use the cool features of ver 2007, without the converter installed on the university PC’s, i would have to carry my laptop around! Now, im not a big fan of doing that!

Most of the suite’s applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access — have done away with the old, familiar menus and toolbars. In their place is the Ribbon — a horizontal strip of screen real estate populated with tabs and icons grouped by function.
There are some potential end-user stumbling blocks, though.

Office 2007 introduces a new interface, including a ribbon comprising a combination of toolbars that changes depending on the task a user is working on and the Office button, which replaces the old File menu. It may be difficult for end users to get used to the new elements, but we found the interface intuitive and eventually grew comfortable working with it.

The features that i like?
Creating a complex formula in Excel? Click on “Formulas” and pick your poison — all broken down by type.

It’s also dynamic: When handling a photo in Word, the Ribbon presents the tools suitable for that task. No more clicking on the “View” menu, choosing “Toolbars” and then figuring out which of the tiny icons might be of use.

The bottom line: Overall, Microsoft Office Standard 2007 is a worthy upgrade if you need to make sleeker-looking documents and presentations to share with others, and Outlook is better than ever, but you can stick to your current software if you don’t feel that it lacks anything.

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