Customer Reviews

Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 FULL VERSION [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Having used the Office programs for some time, I was a bit put off by the new ribbons which replace the old menus. I guess that Office needed a new look, but I am not sure if I buy the advertising that the ribbon will make my work more productive.

Some things that you should know about Office 2007 and Ultimate in general. The licensing agreement allows you to install Office 2007 Ultimate on two computers, one of them being a laptop. I found this clause in the legal agreement and even called Microsoft Legal to confirm.

If you make modifications to the Quick Access Toolbar (and who won't do that?) and you want to take these changes with you to another computer, the files for the toolbars are located at:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Office

Where username is your username. Something I have found handy when working with my two computers.

One thing that I don't like is that the file name extensions have changed. Gone is the familiar .doc for Word documents. Now the file extension is .docx. If you want to create a document that can still be opened by prior versions of Word, you must purposefully choose to create a .doc file, but you lose some of the functionality of the new files. The .docx file This format is not the same as the OpenDocument standard. Microsoft promises that older versions of Word can still open the .docx files, but I have not tried it and I don't buy into everything that Microsoft promises until I see it happen. Why couldn't Microsoft just leave the files the same as they have always been?

Office 2007 does look slick and I anticipate that I will warm up to it in the future as I get used to the new command structure.

The new ribbon design is supposed to make it easier to learn and use. It may be for some new users but for experienced users, it isn't. This version takes away some critical nuts & bolts customization features and many tasks now take longer to perform. This is not due to the learning curve, it is the inherent nature of the way the ribbon works. Once you are familiar with the program, nothing is faster than the old menu structure. If Microsoft added an option to allow users to choose between menus and ribbons, it would be the best of both worlds, satisfying the needs of both new and experienced users. The new version does not run macros as fast however. My recommedation for existing users: keep Office 2003 for as long as you can and consider going to Open Office when Microsoft no longer supports 2003 (unless they restore the functionality in a newer release of 2007).

I chose Office Ultimate 2007 as it seemed to not only have everything I could possibly need to run a business, but also easy functionality that would keep me from pulling my hair out because of software or design issues.

Ultimate 2007 certainly doesn't disappoint!

- Set up was fairly easy: two disks came with the package. Disk One contains most of the software and Disk Two contains applications that guarantee that you are the owner of the software and have the right to all of the Accounting and key business functions.

- Ribbon technology removes the old "hunt and find" menu method (although for those of us that took the time to memorize and learn the location of every buttom and drop-down it did take a day or two to get used to the new set up).

- Integration with the web and other programs is virtually seemless.

- Excel is no longer the chore it once was because of the above mentioned ribbon.

- Accounting software is included.

- Ink and Crossword. I'm not one for games on my business pc, but for anyone that likes to doodle or zone out with crosswords, ULTIMATE lives up to its name by including an art program designed for pen users and excellent crosswords.

- OneNote. I like post-its (perhaps a little too much *L*) and always used the Post-It Note software on my business computer to keep notes. I used OneNote 2003 sparingly because I simply found the Post-It Note software easier to use on my desktop, BUT...with my Tablet PC One Note 2007 added a new dimension to my notetaking that I feel will work well with my business: the earlier mentioned web and application integration and handwriting to text functionality. I may still use Post-It now and then for quick notes or perhaps the Windows "Stickys," but the long note pages, pasting of images and other web info, and pen to paper note taking makes this product invaluable.

- Word. What can I say? This is my primary software tool and I use it on a tablet pc. The 2007 applications were made for my computer type. I can easily click on formatting tools with the touch of my Wacom pen and I don't have to stop mid-thought to make a change or wait until I finish the document to then make my edits.

- PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Groove, InfoPath et cetera (also included): I am still delving into these, but they appear to have all of the perks of the other programs.

So, did I have any dislikes?

1. The INK program doesn't respond to my Wacom pen as well as the Windows journal or Microsoft OneNote. It also doesn't have easy to use tools within the software. Since it was an "extra" and will not be my primary desktop publishing, design, or art tool - I'll probably remove it at some point from my tablet.
2. Microsoft does not include an instruction manual or reference book with this program. As a result, after installation of the first disk and Microsoft's statement that all of my programs were installed, I couldn't find my Accounting software, had no idea that the Accounting software was on the second disk (the second disk, when loaded, doesn't mention that the software is on the disk until AFTER the software installation is complete and instead mentions other business applications), and wasted over an hour trying to find it. Also, I'm a "hands on" person and although I have access to the internet whenever I need it, I enjoy having an actual book in my hands from time-to-time while learning. Ultimate is made with enough simplicity that a manual isn't really necessary (i.e. most questions can be answered by the "Help" window), BUT...for the hefty price tag, I don't think it would have been too much to ask Microsoft to include a basic "this is how you install the programs and this is what to expect" booklet. Also note: athough Microsoft, through their downloads e-mail updates, provided a "Getting Started" tab with a "how-to" for each major software applications, the tabs had to be added "after the fact" and many of you might find yourselves frustrated with the lack of upfront instructions on how to use the software.

Beside those few quirks, I fully stand behind my 5 star rating of this product and purchasing this product through Amazon (i.e. Amazon's pricing was less than the big boy retailers or online vendors).

Shipping turnaround with Super Saver: 2 days.

For the first time in several versions Microsoft has changed the file format. However, it is for the better. The new files are all compressed using the ZIP compression format so files are MUCH smaller (old files are 3-4 times larger than new files). The new file formats are supposed to be compatible with a cross platform specification (i.e. Linux geeks can open Office documents).

The new interface is RADICALLY different. Do not install this if you have a large project to complete. The interface is SO different you will not complete on time. However, after a month of so you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

I read the review centering on the box the DVD comes in and must admit that I was stumped as well. It was "different" but I don't foresee this as being a problem overall.

The new Office Ultimate 2007 loaded quickly. How quickly? Well, I had to check my new Vista HP notebook because I couldn't believe that it packed all of the programs onto the system in such a short amount of time. It asked for the Product Key and one or two other bits of data but that was it. Out of all the Office suites I have owned, this one loaded so quickly I was sure there was a problem. Nope. Access, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, OneNote, Excel, Groove and a host of others were there ready to be activated (don't worry; you only do it once, not for each separate program. Naturally, if you are like me and totally dependent upon email, you'll activate Outlook first).

The new Office "feels" different. The ribbons are OK but I would suggest that they allow us the option to retain the Classic (XP) view. I rely quite a bit on the RESEARCH task pane and I don't mind telling you that it was difficult to find. The menu bar is a bit on the thin side and having so many icons on the top added clutter and confusion, at least for me. Of course, finding the research task pane could have been quickly resolved if Microsoft had put a product manual in the box (yes, the online HELP is nifty but sometimes a man just needs to read about it from a manual instead of printing it out).

All in all you will find all of your old favorites. And, true to the Office legacy, they really have not changed enough to warrant a major release but I'm willing to bet that after all is said and done, Office Ultimatae 2007 will become the industry standard.

Mostly, I want to address all the grumbling about the ribbon interface. First, however, I had no problem opening the box. I also knew better than to install it without first removing the previous version from the computer. This is to address some of the other criticisms.

Now, for the interface: It's terrific. I am an experienced user of both Office XP and 2003, and I had no problem adjusting to the ribbon. After hunting down the first couple of tools, I find myself able to predict where the others will be. It's much more intuitive than the old toolbar system. The major stuff is under the medallion and you can customize the top bar menu any way you like. I can do everything I need in 1 or 2 clicks.

It's also more polite than 2003, which was always making assumptions about what I was doing. 2003 kept trying to change things and "help" me with everything, particularly in Word. I could never figure out how to turn that off. I appreciate this change a lot.

Access still has me a little baffled, but I haven't spent much time with it either. It runs all of my current Access 2000 databases without a hitch.

I recommend the product without reservation. Don't be intimidated by the interface. It's a tremendous improvement.

I have been wanting to upgrade to Office 2007 for a long time but I kept putting it off becasue of the people who said that it was hard to use. Many said they were sorry that they had upgraded. I finally "bit the bullet" and bought MS Office Ultimate 2007. I have been using it about a month now and I love it. It was easy to install and, as others have pointed out, installed quickly. One of the complaints I keep reading about is the ribbon versus the old menu style. I think the ribbon is more intuitive. I admit to having to search at first for the features/menu items I wanted but once I figured out the pattern, the rest is easy.

Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook are the main pieces I use and I find them much improved over the 2003 versions. I find it easier to do a mail merge in Word (and I do a lot of them). Outlook has added features such as color coding the appointments on the calendar so you can tell at a glance whether or not it is a doctor appointment or a meeting. I am still working my way through the new features but I sure like what I see so far.

I use Access but sparingly - I haven't used it to develope any new databases to find out what new features it contains. I am happy that I upgraded - only wish I had done it sooner.

Great product!! I have used Office Ultimate 2007 for over a year now. I've also used Office Professional versions at least since Office version '97, which were actually all I really needed, that is until I discovered OneNote 2007. I use that product ALL the time to file receipts, to print interesting pieces off the internet to file (it has a OneNote printer driver), to scan a little article from the newspaper on a gardening idea that i want to file, or whatever. What a great way to "file cabinet" so many things!! The Office Professional does NOT have OneNote. If you look around Amazon, you can pay about the same price for Ultimate as you do for Professional (or even less). As to the other two programs included with Ultimate (Groove and InfoPath), I don't find them helpful for the typical home user as they require accessing a server). I use all the other programs, though other home users may not use Access (a great database program that I program in and use for my medical database). With each new version of Office, there are some great new features, though this version took some getting used to in the beginning!!!! But the change and getting used to it were really worth it.

It is well worth spending the time it takes to adapt to the different concept of the presentation. It is fun trying to find out how to do things that in the previous version were done automatically. When you find the solution, you see that the options the new version puts at your disposal are much greater than were available in the 2003 version

I have been using the new office suite since it was in the beta 2 stage. the entire suite has been revamped and redone. Word, powerpoint, excel, and the write email window of outlook, all received the new user interface, which includes the new "ribbon." This ribbon streamlines the way that you use the program. It allows you to make your documents look truly great in minutes. The new office includes a new file format, which makes the documents significantly smaller in size. the only downside to this format, is that if someone does not have the new office system, or the free compatibility pack from Microsoft, they will not be able to read the file.

Although this package is expensive, it is definatley worth buying, as long as you use them! If in doubt, go to microsoft's site, where you can get a free 60 day trial of the new office. Also, you can do an online trial of the new office, also available on microsoft's site (look for the test drive). Office ultimate includes word, outlook with business contact manager, powerpoint, excel, access, publisher, infopath, groove, one note, and accounting express (which is available as a free download from microsoft).