Customer Reviews

Microsoft Word Home and Student 2007 [Old Version]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

There was a time when Microsoft Office Word's most recent incarnation was held as the Gold Standard of word-processing programs by most casual- and many professional-computer users. This "article of faith" was so ubiquitous that the pre-installed downgraded word-processing program, part of what is called Microsoft Works, was held in some contempt by most users and usually deleted right away and replaced with the most recent version of Word. No more.

Office Word 2007 is packed with things no one needs and wastes every user's time trying to figure it out.

Compared to the over written and unnecessarily complex Word 2007, the basic templates in Microsoft Works (version 8.5) are refreshingly appealing, simple to use and entirely adequate for most writing and word processing tasks.

Unlike the older versions of Word and the Works Word Processor, Office Word 2007 opens to seven separate template tabs - Each with its own full range of choices and each with own set of multiple and complex tool bars and options. These view pages include 1) Home, 2) Insert, 3) Page Layout, 4) References, 5) Mailings, 6) Review and 7) View. Without going into detail, suffice it to say that the truly necessary aspects of each were once contained on the two simple toolbars most commonly used in the earlier versions of Word, Editing and Navigation.

Navigating between these seven tabbed templates is like moving from room to room - or from house to house - to complete one meal or one conversation. It is simply a user-unfriendly, ill-conceived design. The multiplicity, design and inclusion of many useless options on the production default page ("Home") alone are distracting, delaying, complicated and yield no better product than the earlier, simpler versions.

Word processing should be straightforward, easily navigated and complete. The basic tools of spell-checking, formatting, cutting, pasting, highlighting, etc. should be positioned so as to make them immediately available while working. With Office Word 2007, Microsoft has abandoned these basic precepts and needs. Every time a different tab/template selection needs to be entered to accomplish a necessary task, the writer is distracted. Any writer - including many of you who are reading this, will agree that adding distraction reduces productivity and efficiency.

Microsoft's Office Word 2007 was appears to have not been designed by writers, but by software engineers rewarded for building bigger and more complex programs.

The same strategic error was made by Microsoft in its current operating system, Windows VISTA. Most users of the Microsoft XP system found it perfectly adequate. VISTA bloated a good operating system until it became a gargantuan program of gigabyte-guzzling proportions while adding little if any functional improvements. Yet another example of size and complexity winning out over necessary functionality. Office Word 2007 is a repetition of the self-same misjudgment.

Time is of the essence to most people when they write. It took me nearly ten minutes to figure out how to change a default that double spaced every line I wrote! The Style templates are simply bizarre and distracting, taking up fully half the toolbar space in the basic "Home" production tab. The more functional and necessary functions are squeezed into mini-size half icons making the necessary navigation all the more difficult.
Yes, there is a way to customize one's own toolbar - but why should we have to spend our own time to re-simplify what Microsoft Word 2007 has literally encrypted and hidden in a maze of overlapping separate templates, options and useless features!

There is talk of VISTA being replaced sooner rather than later and that, as heavily promoted as it was and with the talk of ceasing to provide support or updates for XP in the coming year, it will be piled atop the 'it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time' junk heap along with Windows Millennium. I expect Word 2007 to wind up there, too.

In the meanwhile, there are good choices, even if you choose to stay within the Windows 'family' of word processing programs. Most simply (and inexpensively) the aforementioned Microsoft Works 8.5 actually turns out to be a pretty user friendly and functional package that includes a more familiar and easier to use word processing program, an Excel-like spread sheet as well as an Access-like database for keeping and sorting information.

Office Word 2003 and XP software is still out there and is getting pretty inexpensive - And it is far easier to use.

As a former admitted "Microsoft Word snob," I must confess that I have learned something from these experiences. Bigger is not necessarily better. The principle applies to software as well as to cars. Microsoft should not be rewarded for bringing this 'upgrade' to market any more than the developers and promoters of Hummers ought be acknowledged for their ecological contributions to the well being of the planet.

I have also learned that the earlier and simpler versions of Microsoft's word processing programs are far superior in ease of use and essential, efficient functionality than is its newest product, Office Word 2007. I encourage every new computer buyer to give Microsoft Works a try before automatically dumping it in favor of Word and its related programs. You might be in for a very pleasant and economically satisfying experience!

I just got this and so far its been great. I have been using an older version of WordPerfect but needed to go to Word for work. In a review for the professional version, the reviewer stated that it probably is easier to learn this program if your new to Microsoft Word and it has been easy for me so far. I installed this version on both my home computer and work computer. My work computer had Office Works 2003 with Word and this had to be removed before Word 2007 could be installed. I didn't realize this and called Microsoft when it wouldn't install. I was amazed how quickly I got through and how helpful customer support was.

The program is great! They seemed to have been a bit more influenced by Apple and their software with the new 2007 Word. The toolbar is now about an inch thick and instead of scrolling down on "file" it's already up and it goes across the screen instead of down, which is smart because it doesn't block your view of your document. New features include: when you scroll over a premade font is changes the font you highlighted with out even having to click on it, this makes it easy to test which one you like.
The only thing that I found annoying, or I should say haven't found is the spell checker, and how to turn it off or on. It is set to be on, but sometimes I need to turn it off for job purposes and, well I can't find out how to.
Overall, it's all the same stuff, just much more user friendly-most of it. I don't regret one cent that I spent on it.

Word 2007 is a perfect example of why you shouldn't try to fix something that was never broken. Instead of improving Word, they made it ugly and just plain annoying. An experienced user can figure out how to use it...but the hunting and searching for functions that used to be a snap to find is a frustrating, time-consuming waste. The toolbar is now a "ribbon" cluttered with icons instead of quick, simple pull-down menus. I wish I'd done more research, and I'd have ordered an older version of Word with my new laptop. THIS SYSTEM SUCKS.

The license prevents you from using this product for any commercial use, even non-profit business use. Do not buy this product if you have any intention of ever using it to make money.

The way to create Headers/Footers in Word is illogical and with 20 years of software experience, it took 15 minutes to figure it out. MICROSOFT WORD is idiotic. I am going to wear a black arm band for WORDPERFECT. WORDPERFECT was so much better and SO MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY.

I recently ordered Microsoft Word and Home from Amazon. My intent was to review the product by clicking the "one click" order option. To my surprise, instead the item was ordered and sent without varification if that is what I wanted to do.

Actually, I wanted to order the Office package that includes other programs from Microsoft for only about $20 more, but Amazon would not allow me to change or cancel the order within one hour after I clicked. BE CAREFUL, AMAZON HAS DESIGNED THIS FEATURE SO YOU CAN'T UNDO IT !!!!
This is also a non returnable item !!!!
I am not happy with Amazon, although the software is excellent, I did not intend to order just the Word version and would have gladly paid the difference to get three more Microsoft programs.
Following the Amazon links for returning, they suggest I resell the item they hadn't even shipped yet!!!
I use many different on line ordering systems, but have never had a bad experience like this one.

I had to return this(and pay the price) because I thought I was ordering the Microsoft Office Home and Student version. This is only the Word portion. My fault but be carefull, make sure this is all you want.

Disappointing, this is not what I was looking for. The product just gave me Word. I wanted Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.

It was sent fast, in excellent shape, for an amazing price. Overall a great experience! Great doing bussiness with this seller! =o) I've had it for a lont time now and use it daily for many projects!