Microsoft Office XP Standard [OLD VERSION]

I noticed improvements over the older versions of MS Office at several places - while the improvements may be minor to some people, the fact that the product runs without a glitch is enough for me to justify the purchase. Everything is very intuitive & straightforward, and without cumbersome handling and abundant variety of errors encountered in non-MS products.

If you want to get frustrated, do everything twice as long with numerous glitches appearing usually at the least convenient moments (like when you need to have something urgently done, save your work to the file, etc. ), get free Open Office or pay moderate fee for Star Office 6.0; if you want to work fast and effortlessly since the first minute following the ultra-smooth installation, do yourself a favor and purchase OfficeXP; if you're not in a hurry, you may want to wait for Office 2003, which should be out soon.

(Note: installed on Win2kPro-SP4 machine /P2.4GHz-1GB RAM/, absolutely smooth ride and I'm impressed with the software - reviewed version: OfficeXP(2002)SBE/DSP incl. Word, Excel, Outlook and Publisher)


If you're a regular user, DON'T USE IT   June 21, 2003
 3 out of 6 found this review helpful

Microsoft Office is an essential suite for computer users, because it lets you write documents, elaborate presentations, that sort of thing. And you thought there's nothing out there that can really replace it. Think again.
I absolutely have no problems against MS Office, except for two things: THE PRICE. I refuse myself to pay 400 dollars for this. Besides, I don't even have 400 dollars to spend.
THE ACTIVATION PROCESS. Microsoft can't kidnap my right of installing the program on the amount of computers I want to.
Yes, I know this is still a very good software package. But if you're a high school or college student who doesn't have a budget worthy of a Fortune 500 company, or just a regular Joe who wants to write neat stuff in his computer, you can try alternatives such as StarOffice or OpenOffice.org, which are very similar, the learning curve is nonexistant if you've already used MS Office, and the price is unbeatable (it can be even free). It even opens and saves stuff in MS Office formats. Ask one of your techie friends to download OpenOffice.org and burn it into a CD, and YOU WON'T BE BREAKING ANY LAWS. If you're a corporate user and you can pay this much for Microsoft support, go ahead. It's really not worth it anymore.


Too [much $], too much bloat.   February 8, 2003
 19 out of 24 found this review helpful

If you have followed Microsoft Office from version to version you may have noticed something: it gets BIGGER and BIGGER and BIGGER.

Office 95, office 97, Office 2000, and now Office XP, continue the trend towards larger, more complex software on each release. You have to keep upgrading your PC every year or two so the "Microsoft Office of the year" runs ok on your system.

I got a shrinkwrapped MS Office XP box with my last computer (it was a bundle at a special store price). Before opening the shinrwrap, I asked the store manager if I could use the demo system they had on display, which had Office XP installed. After seeing that there were no improvements from previous versions, and that disk space usage was higher than Office 97, I decided it was time to move on.

... Bottom line: StarOffice 6.0 costs a fraction of MS Office, uses a fraction of the hd space and ram of MS Office (which means StarOffice will run OK on systems where Microsoft Office XP is dog-slow), StarOffice 6.0 reads and writes all Microsoft office file formats, and lets you install LEGALLY, with NO ACTIVATION WHATSOEVER, your StarOffice suite on 5 machines, with no extra cost. To top all this, the look-and-feel is essentially the same, no re-learning curve!.

Oh, I almost forgot, I saved $.. more, because StarOffice 6.0 includes templates for all AVERY LABELS, no need to purchase "Avery LabelPro" software like I had planned to do.


Hey, It's the Best   January 18, 2003
 14 out of 22 found this review helpful

I am compelled the write this review only because so many have been so cold. I have used Lotus, Word Perfect and Office XP. I can honestly say that Microsoft offers a superior product. Without getting into boring details, it is fair to say that no office suite offers greater acceptability and versatility than Office XP. It is the standard by which all other office suites are judged. There can be no question about this.
Many will criticize XP Office for not being as good a value as their competitors. To this comment, I reply, that you get what you pay for in any office suite. Like it or not, Microsoft is king.
XP has some cool new features. The "detect and repair" feature creates a mini-restore program within XP Office. The variable Office Assistant makes Clippy vacant or replaced by a new face. Mostly, I like the improved integration between Outlook, Word and Excel. Then again, I just use the program. Hey, is'nt that the point.
If I still had 2000, I might wait for Office XML to be released later this year. Then again, I have been using XP for over a year now and have no regrets. Yeah, I'll probably upgrade again and pay some ridiculous upgrade price when XML is released. I guess I just like using the best office suite available.