Stupid Computer Question

[Broccoli]

This might seem pretty basic, but I figure I'll ask anyway.

So, I recently bought a new laptop. And I am installing the programs that I want on it and I realize that my version of MS Word is kinda old (Word 2000) and I feel the need to upgrade. Considering it further, I decided to get a complete MS Office package with the other programs besides Word (Excel, Publisher, etc).

After reading some very negative reviews about Office 2007, I settled on Office 2003. Sounds like that would work for me just fine.

When searching for a copy, I found one decently priced on E-Bay and being listed as "new". Cool, but being the paranoid type, I contacted the seller to make sure the product key comes with the CD. He promptly responded and said it does.

Now, here is my question: the seller also mentioned that the product is "Dell Branded". I have absolutely no idea what that means. I would assume that it would work on other computers besides Dell. Office is a pretty basic general program, but I don't want to throw down the money to learn I can't use it on my Compaq.

I emailed back the seller to get some clarification, but I want to get another opinion from the tech savvy people here. Would "Dell Branded" make a difference or not?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Marc]

Danger Will Robinson Danger.

Don't buy software from E-bay - especially when it requires product activation. There is no guarentee that the product will activate and as software (especailly OEM software) isn't supposed to be resold, it's very unlikely that Microsoft will allow activation.

The Dell branding means it's an OEM copy that was with a Dell system. In theory is would install (unlike the operating sytem which is coded to look for the Dell specific bios information and won't install if doesn't find it) but product activation as I said above is another matter.

 

[Broccoli]

Those are very good points. While the seller has a 100% rating and the product is listed as new, I get funny about large purchases over e-bay.

Thanks. I think I'll avoid it for now.

 

[sojourner]

You might try Openoffice.org. It's a free software package compatible with MS Office. Unless your doing visualbasic programming in Excel spreadsheets, it will most likely fit your needs.

 

[Amaris]

^ Open Office is quite good, yes.

J.

 

[Broccoli]

Hey, after reading about it on Wikipedia (the source of all that is good in the world), Open Office sounds pretty snazzy. I think I might download it to mess around to see if I like it. Plus, free is always better than not free.

 

[Brent]

There is nothing wrong with Office 2007, I've been using it since it came out and haven't had any major problems with it, I use Outlook '07 as my primary email program with a few POP3 accounts on it, no problems. Don't be scared of Office 2007.

 

[Amaris]

There is nothing wrong with Office 2007, I've been using it since it came out and haven't had any major problems with it, I use Outlook '07 as my primary email program with a few POP3 accounts on it, no problems. Don't be scared of Office 2007.

The downside is that it's ridiculously expensive and shouldn't be.


J.

 

[Brent]

There is nothing wrong with Office 2007, I've been using it since it came out and haven't had any major problems with it, I use Outlook '07 as my primary email program with a few POP3 accounts on it, no problems. Don't be scared of Office 2007.

The downside is that it's ridiculously expensive and shouldn't be.


J.

True, but its stable, there are a couple service packs for it, regular updates, issue wise, there isn't much, its just expensive.

 

[Broccoli]

There is nothing wrong with Office 2007, I've been using it since it came out and haven't had any major problems with it, I use Outlook '07 as my primary email program with a few POP3 accounts on it, no problems. Don't be scared of Office 2007.

The downside is that it's ridiculously expensive and shouldn't be.


J.

There is that.

But, a common criticism that I have heard is that MS Word (a program that I rely on more times than I would like to admit) is so radically different from previous versions that it is needlessly frustrating to get use to. And it also doesn't come with a manual, apparently, adding to the frustration (ie, if you want to look something up or find where something is, you are out of luck).

Plus, I don't need anything special and super up-to-date. I would be more than happy to continue to use my MS Word 2000 disc I still have. But, I feel the time is about right to upgrade at least a little.

I guess I should note that MS Office 2007 (trial version) is already pre-loaded on my computer. Haven't messed with it just yet. I guess I should.

 

[Amaris]

True, but its stable, there are a couple service packs for it, regular updates, issue wise, there isn't much, its just expensive.

I agree, it's stable but expensive. When there are other office programs out there for free that are very good, that's not the best way for them to go, but since businesses will buy it, they succeed.

There is that.

But, a common criticism that I have heard is that MS Word (a program that I rely on more times than I would like to admit) is so radically different from previous versions that it is needlessly frustrating to get use to. And it also doesn't come with a manual, apparently, adding to the frustration (ie, if you want to look something up or find where something is, you are out of luck).

Honestly, there's no need to go beyond 2003 for now. I still have 2000 lying around here somewhere. I have used 2003 since, well, 2004 , but it has done well for me. Unless you're a business or telecommute, the differences aren't really worth the upgrade.

Truthfully, Open Office can handle everything Microsoft Office 2007 can handle, and it's free. I use it on both my Mac and my PC partitions. I actually like it better than MS Office 2003. PLUS, you'd save a lot of money.

J.

 

[Brent]

There is a slight learning curve, the ribbon bar is very new and different, but it is setup to give you the buttons you need depending on what you want to do fairly easily.

And, there is an easy way to search for help, the "manual" is included in the program, click the question mark at the top right of the program and it loads an online help pulled directly from the internet, you just type in what you are searching for and it will find it, quite easy to use.

I really really like the auto preview feature of Office 2007, when you highlight a formatting feature, it auto previews it for you in the text, without having to apply the formatting, to preview what the changes will look like, I like this.

I should state though I got Office 2007 Professional for free, back when it was first released there was a convention near me that was holding some free seminars on Office 2007, and participants were handed a free full version copy of the software, so I went to the convention just to get my free copy

 

[PurpleBuddha]

OEM means the license lives and dies with the machine it is sold on. It is not valid on any other computer. Selling an OEM license like this is fraud. He should be reported to ebay.

Buying this license gives you no more legal right than downloading a pirated copy.


As to Open Office, my vote is there. I would use it, but I am lucky enough to have a full MSDN subscription and do not have to pay for any of my MS licenses.

 

[Broccoli]

I should state though I got Office 2007 Professional for free, back when it was first released there was a convention near me that was holding some free seminars on Office 2007, and participants were handed a free full version copy of the software, so I went to the convention just to get my free copy

You jerk. I should start going to these type of conventions.

OEM means the license lives and dies with the machine it is sold on. It is not valid on any other computer. Selling an OEM license like this is fraud. He should be reported to ebay.

Buying this license gives you no more legal right than downloading a pirated copy.

Erm...I don't know what to tell you. Here is the auction. Is it as wrong as you are suggesting?

 

[PurpleBuddha]

I should state though I got Office 2007 Professional for free, back when it was first released there was a convention near me that was holding some free seminars on Office 2007, and participants were handed a free full version copy of the software, so I went to the convention just to get my free copy

You jerk. I should start going to these type of conventions.

OEM means the license lives and dies with the machine it is sold on. It is not valid on any other computer. Selling an OEM license like this is fraud. He should be reported to ebay.

Buying this license gives you no more legal right than downloading a pirated copy.

Erm...I don't know what to tell you. Here is the auction. Is it as wrong as you are suggesting?

If it is Dell branded as the seller suggest than it is OEM.

Dell can sell three main license types. The first is a retail license. This one comes in the same box you would get at the store and is not Dell branded. The second would be from Microsoft's open license program where you buy five or more licenses and download the media (there are a few more in this category as well, but that is beside the point). This too is not Dell branded. Both of these types of licenses can be installed on whatever computer you want, but no more than one computer at a time per license. Dell is simply a reseller of the software.

The auction does not mention that it is Dell branded, but if it is as the seller suggests, than it is OEM.

You will be able to physically install it on your computer, just as you would be able to illegally install a pirated copy from the internet. Both are considered pirated and the odds that the key will be deactivated are pretty good.

 

[Deks]

Just use Open Office.
It's perfectly stable ... able to read practically all formats without issues, you can also export into Office readable formats as well.
But most of all, it's completely free.

 

[B.J.]

And, there is an easy way to search for help, the "manual" is included in the program, click the question mark at the top right of the program and it loads an online help pulled directly from the internet, you just type in what you are searching for and it will find it, quite easy to use.

That shouldn't be the case. Not all computers are constantly connected to the internet, or need to be. In my company, there are closed areas that cannot be connected to the outside world for security purposes. What do they do if they need help?

 

[Marc]

And, there is an easy way to search for help, the "manual" is included in the program, click the question mark at the top right of the program and it loads an online help pulled directly from the internet, you just type in what you are searching for and it will find it, quite easy to use.

That shouldn't be the case. Not all computers are constantly connected to the internet, or need to be. In my company, there are closed areas that cannot be connected to the outside world for security purposes. What do they do if they need help?

use the help that's included with the actual programs - it's fairly comprehensive. The net links just allow access to further information and if Microsoft updates the help information.

Office 2007 is probably the biggest revamp of the interface since Microsoft first started bring out Windows versions and it 20 years of a particular design.

One of the biggest issues that businesses face with new versions is retraining staff when programs add new features or they change the way things are done. Office 2007 does take some getting use to and when secretraries etc et who make use of the more advanced functions have to spend time hunting for things it's not good for productivity.

I will how ever admit that it took me several weeks to workout that the round button in the top left hand corner replaced the File menu (thought it was decorative).

As for manuals, I think the last time Microsoft provided manuals with Office was v6 just before Windows and Office 95 came out. You got huge box, better part of 20 floppies and a ton of comprehensive manuals. Then again on CD-ROM on a 486 system you could install Office in about 5 - 10 minutes.

 

[Broccoli]

Doesn't MS Office 2007 save in a default format that can't be read other than other computers with MS Office 2007 or a converter on it?

I read that educational institutions are kinda irked at that as it has presented problems for professors and students sending files back and forth.

Since I plan to use this for my graduate studies mostly, I don't want to piss off a professor because he/she can't read my homework! I have other ways I plan to piss them off!

 

[BriGuy]

I've never owned MS Office.

I had used Open Office, but I've found I like IBM Lotus Symphony better.

Check it out: http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.nsf/home