I have a question regarding Publisher which is included in this package. I recently completed my first newsletter in publisher and I am able to print it off without any problems, but I tried to send my newsletter in a few emails to friends and family, but they were not able to open it. After reading your comment to Diana, I decided it might be a compatibility issue so I clicked onto the link you provided for Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack and it provides the download for Word, Excel, and Power Point, but I do not see a download for Publisher.

I wanted to ask you if the recipient of your email does not have Publisher, I guess a download wouldn’t help anyway, right?

I was thinking that Microsoft Office 2007 is one software because it all comes together, but I guess it is not. There are many versions of Microsoft Office 2007 with different software within each one. The Professional version has about 7 different kinds of software within it.

Microsoft^® Office 2000 was the predecessor to Office XP which was the predecessor to Office 2003 which was the predecessor to Office 2007 which is the current version and which runs on both the Windows^® XP and Windows^® Vista operating systems (OS). Wow! I haven’t seen that many whiches since Halloween.

First of all, let’s not confuse operating systems with productivity software. The Vista and XP operating systems (OS) are as different as night and day and I wouldn’t try and install Vista on a 4-year old computer. Wait until you buy a new one. Vista is a darn good OS when it’s on a computer with plenty of power and its service-packed up. Most of the earlier complaints came from users who were running it (or trying to) on computers that really weren’t up to the task.

If you’re running an older computer with the Windows XP OS and are getting along fine with an earlier version of Office there’s no reason to upgrade until you buy a new computer, at which point you’ll be forced to do so. Office XP generally contains the 2002 versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Office 2003 has the 2003 versions of those same programs and Office 2007 the 2007 versions.

The big difference between Office 2007 and prior versions is not just the “ribbon.” Office 2007 uses the new Office Open XML file format as its default format. When you save a Word document in Word 2007 it will be saved with a .docx extension instead of the good old-fashioned .doc extension (likewise it’s now .pptx and .xlsx too).

Users with older versions of Word need to download and install the free Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack to allow those versions to open, edit and save documents with the .docx extension. If you’re a Word 2007 user, you can “down-save” documents into the old .doc format so users with older versions of Word can still open, edit and save them. This is also true for PowerPoint and Excel. There are any number of attorneys (and even large law firms) who haven’t made the jump to Office 2007 so the ability to down-save has been a life-saver for me.

In terms of usefulness – it’s best to upgrade your computer when:

• Your everyday software (Word) runs so slow it’s making you nutty;
• Everyone you work with is on a later version of the software (i.e. when all your clients have gone to Office 2007 or beyond);
• Your hard drive is over 90% full;
• Your computer is 4 years old or older or your children won’t use it;
• You’re still using Windows 3.1, ‘95 or ‘98!

You may not have to buy a new computer. Adding a bigger hard drive or more RAM (memory) might do the trick and save some money.

I still haven’t purchased the Microsoft 2007 yet. There are still XPs, which is what I currently have, in stores. Now I am procrastinating because I am torn whether to buy the latest thing or stay with XP. I have had my computer since 2004 and it seems like the computer tech needs to come more often to add memory and do other computer tech things to keep it running efficiently. I have no interest in Vista computers. I have heard too much about negative experiences with Vista.

This can get very confusing for the average consumer who just wants computer access to be not confusing. I dread having to learn a new system and unlearn associations that made it possible to navigate the old system which really isn’t even old.

If I stick with XP, will it still be a good computer and compatible with Microsoft 2007? Will 2007 users be able to open my emails and attachments? Can I transfer my ACT PIM from XP to the Microsoft 2007? What is the reasonable life expectancy of a computer?

In the computer world it is hard to distinguish what is old and out-of-date and even if something is, it doesn’t mean that it needs to be retired. I will probably use both computers in my office and not totally retire the XP. I have been listening to your CD on networking computers. Your comments on this would be appreciated. Thanks