favorite word processing, etc program

[bhome83]

i need a word processing program for my computer and would like to get one of those packages with everything included like powerpt, excel etc. is microsoft the only one that works for this? its the only one ive used at school, so was just wondering what you guys use and recommend? if it is microsoft should i get the most up to date package of ms word, excel? whats it called? thansk.

[glc]

Want a good freebie?

http://www.openoffice.org/

That said, I use M$ Office 97 - it does everything I need. If you want the real thing, get the M$ Office 2003 Student and Teacher Edition - it has Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook, can be installed on 3 computers, and retails for $149, I've seen it for less. It's $126 at Sam's Club.

[IronMentality]

If your a student, go to NewEgg and pick up the Academic License for MS Office Professional 2003 for $160. Can be installed on a laptop and a desktop.

[doctorgonzo]

What do you need? If you are only going to be writing papers, then Open Office is great, and it is at the right price. If you need M$ programs in order to do M$-specific assignments on them, well, then that's your only choice.

[bhome83]

you mean the latest version of office is only the 2003 edition?

[bhome83]

whats the diff between office xp and office 2003?

[IronMentality]

Originally Posted by bhome83 you mean the latest version of office is only the 2003 edition?

The latest version of Office is 2003. If you want the Office programs to make PowerPoints, manage craploads of E-mail with Outlook, and you have to use Excel, I recommend Office 2003... especially if you can take advantage of the Academic Discount for the full Professional version for just $160.

If your just writing papers, go with OpenOffice.

[Statica]

Originally Posted by bhome83 whats the diff between office xp and office 2003?

http://www.microsoft.com/office/edit...dinfo/faq.mspx

[ZeratulsAvenger]

I use OpenOffice... Does everything I need for free, which is all I could ask

[foolishone]

The last time I checked there is a Microsoft Office XP. I know that my school runs it on all new machines.

^fo

EDIT: Microsoft Office XP

It been out so long they have a service pack for it.

[glc]

Office XP is Office 2002 - Office 2003 is the latest.

[foolishone]

Now I can say that I have learned something today.

^fo

[tomster2300]

I'll tell you what's funny. Our network at school has all of them installed on it: Windows 97, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003. Depending on which computer you're on, only certain ones will open. Now I know you're going to say "well gosh, of course Microsoft Word XP is only going to work on a computer with XP, duh", but take this for an example. A room in my school full of computers all have XP loaded on them. Five will only open 2003, a handful of others open XP, and the rest open 2000. It takes awhile when you log on to find out which Word opens. I dont get how our network is so messed up. It's something to behold how it runs every day.

[foolishone]

That's pretty bad organization on the part of the admin. How can efficiently and effectively control a network like that? They must have a pretty good reason. If it was my network, it would never be like that for a second.

^fo

[kram 2.0]

By what I do, I can say there is little difference between OfficeXP and Office 2003. Practically anything above and including Office 2000 will do many of the thing you need today.

kram

[glc]

For Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, there is backward compatibility from 2003 all the way back to 97. I have 97 and see no need to upgrade, nobody has sent me a file yet that it can't read. The only real reason to upgrade to 2003 is Outlook - M$ has made major improvements in Outlook with each new version of Office. If you are going to buy M$ Office, it only makes sense to get 2003, especially with the student and teachers deal - unless you are still running Win9x/ME - 2003 won't run on it.

If I were faced with having to *buy* a new office suite - I'd seriously consider saving my money and just download Open Office. I have it too, and I use it occasionally, but I'm familiar and comfortable with my Office 97, why should I learn something new when I don't need the new features?