[southie]

If you have been around and can actually remember
Microsoft "Clippy" - the obnoxious Paper Clip that went
with the earliest version of Office; insomuch I had actually
made a .jpg image - it's bad, but shows to prove how
horrid or massive P.I.T.A. that Office Version was ...

Well, to emphasis the difference between Office 2007
and Office 2010...

NO OBNOXIOUS RIBBONS! IT IS GONE!

However, if you like Ribbons (*gag*) that much, it is
still there, you can always put that back as it is NOW
an "optional" feature ... which I doubt very seriously
that anyone is going to use it.

Yes, like with Windows Ultimate 7; I already have the
full version (complete Professional Edition) of MS Office
2010 after a prolonged period of time - I can emphasize
this (even if you had the C2R aka "Click To Run" to try it
out) - it is much different than that, far better as the
"Click To Run" or C2R (not the lovable C3PO - *laughing*)
as all the options are now functional.

One thing to keep in mind is this - there are no Pros and
Cons (except for that obnoxious Ribbon - I have not yet
decided which was worst - Clippy or Ribbon).

DO NOT DELETE MS OFFICE 2007 (regardless of what
version you have) WHEN YOU INSTALL MS OFFICE 2010,
KEEP IT - because BOTH WILL COME IN HANDY! You will
find yourself going back and forth.

There is a HUGE difference between the 2007 and 2010.

2010:

1) Layout is entirely remodeled, much easier on your eyes
(EYE CANDY!)

2) You can customize it - so whatever floats your boat
or suits you; set it up the way you want it, not the way
MS Office thinks you should have it

3) There are more FEATURES in 2010 - so play with it, you
won't break it - it is perfectly fine this time around to be
"Click Happy" - so go ahead and sing "Don't Worry, Be
Click Happy" instead of "Don't Worry - Be Happy".



4) For those with medical conditions, you might find it
easier to have the layout with the black background format
as it is easier on your eyes (just as in 2007)

5) 2010 - YIPES! Which one should I get? They do not have
as many options as 2007 Office had, however; if you only
want just Home and Student but uses Publisher - you can
obtain that and purchase Publisher by itself and it will join
itself with H&S 2010 without having to purchase the far more
expensive Professional and Business Editions.

6) I have a FULL Version of 2007 and now I don't want a
full version of 2010 .. that is perfectly fine; you can still have
both - as implied above, just make sure when you install it,
that you check mark to KEEP the original files (including any
other Microsoft Office, Works, etc - that you might have in
your OS, which means Operating System of your computer).
You can always go back and forth between 2007 and 2010,
for they are compatible with each other.

7) Does it work on XP? To be honest, if you are running on
XP or older computers; my advisory is - get a new computer
either 64 bit or 32 bit (aka x86 platform), even many are coming
with free MS Office 2010 with the purchase of the computer with
MS Office 2007 already installed - OR - a purchase of 2007 MS
Office at the store, retailer, or Microsoft (Sorry - buying it at
eBay, Amazon, etc - will make you unqualified; in fact, there are
many people currently very angry and furious right now finding
out that Win 7 that they had purchase (whether with the new
computer they had purchased or the Discs (which includes both
32 bit (x86) and 64 bit) are pirated copy and not validated copy
of Microsoft, insomuch they are now STUCK having to purchase
a GENUINE Microsoft copy! Don't become a victim!).
NOTE: This also applies to MS Office 2007 and MS Office 2010,
make sure you obtain them - GENUINE MICROSOFT!

*edit*

In addition:

Here are some secrets:

BOTH 2007 and 2010, in the configuration - in the SETTINGS,
Let us use MS WORD for example since it is so popular:

Click on OPTIONS
Click on ADVANCED
After you have everything set up accordingly, keep scrolling
down until you reach to the bottom - there is a tiny small
"LAYOUT OPTIONS"
Click on LAYOUT OPTIONS
Suddenly the whole expansion just blows out with a tirade
of options that you can choose from - read each one, some
individuals have preferences over the other (e.g. Some are
Word Perfect Maniacs, Others prefer Word 97/98 mode, Others
likes the way Office 95 worked, and much more...) TAKE
YOUR TIME!
CLICK OKAY WHEN YOU ARE DONE AND MAKE SURE THAT
IT APPLIES TO ALL DOCUMENTS (not just one Document
otherwise you would have to return back and configure this
every time you start a new Document).

MS OFFICE 2010 offers MORE than MS OFFICE 2007, if
you already are aware of this functionality - you would notice
that it had already been set in MS OFFICE 2010 for you.


ANOTHER SECRET:

ADD INS:

How do I get those Add Ins?

*edit*

In order for Add Ins to work, the TRUST CENTER must be
configured accordingly, by default, 2007 is disabled, you want
to enabled it but only by TRUSTED INSTALLERS ONLY in the
TRUST CENTER SETTINGS:

Are you Tired of seeing the message bar? You can disable that
in the Trust Center Settings and never more to see it again.

Macros, Active X, Add-Ins, Privacy, etc - are all found in there.


The only difference here between 2007 and 2010 is that 2007,
you have to affirm to Windows Updates, in 2010 - that is automatic.


So which is better? I use both - I prefer 2010 over 2007, I loathe
the 2007's ribbons, however, 2010 has far more functionality and
the ability to control the toolbar and everything else (customization)
over 2007 (which is limited) - plus you can save the document to
2007 Document. However, 2010 has not yet been completely all
out in full release ( as few of us are testing this Full Release presently )
so the Research Option is limited at this point ( but won't be later on
this year when it comes out ) so there are times one has to revert
back to Office 2007 where the research (I encourage you it is not
a 1st install option, so click it to run from computer) is very handy,
especially when one needs to look something up specifically or a
exact spelling - really handy .. without having to open up a browser
to look for it, it is there as it is a "Trusted Installer" and a "Reliable
Reputation". Which you can open on the side and view it and then
close it when completed.


Will it work on Windows Vista? YES
Will it work on Windows 7? YES
Will it work on MAC/Snow Leopard? It is in the works.


Hope this answers everyone's questions... *edit*

[Jomar]

And for those that want a free office program
{open source = free}
OpenOffice.org 3

[OpenOffice.org 3 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose. ]

http://why.openoffice.org/
http://why.openoffice.org/why_great.html

[ewizabeth]

They're still working on the sync features of Windows Office 2010 for some mobile devices so keep that in mind before you switch, or do as Southie suggested and keep both versions because that is one situation that the 2007 version comes in handy. I find that Outlook 2010 has less force closes than the 2007 version. I haven't done too much with the other parts since I've installed it several months ago (the beta version.)

[southie]

Unfortunately, OPEN OFFICE, from Sun Java, is not the same
as they used to be - regardless of what you are running on:
Mac/Apple, Windows, Linux, etc. For their latest revisions
actually contains "hidden" spyware and keyloggers.

Some people have become confused as why their desktop
now has Wi-Fi when they do not have such feature. While
for example Iprip - is a valid Widows file but IPRIP is not,
which is aka PRIRI which comes in various mutants and
trojans, more often than not are keylogger(s), just for an
example.

The problematic issue here is, it is not found under Open
Office as it installs a program hidden where it overrides
all securitys including Malware, Spyware, Adware, etc -
and enable itself. Getting rid of that is a major pain, some
thin that was not the case a year ago.

On top of this - MS Office does have PDF, XMS, XPS, Math,
and other add ins, plus securities which protects upi as well
as 203 which offers even more - securities plus encryption.

[Jomar]

I couldn't find any info about that, do you have some articles or links on it?

[Jomar]

Just got this in a newsletter-

[Office 2010's Web tools raise security questions

By Yardena Arar

Microsoft's newest Office adds some nifty Internet features, including easy access to shared documents via SkyDrive and PowerPoint Broadcast.

But putting personal and business information into the cloud opens up potential security risks that all Office 2010 users should be aware of.

Microsoft says it has done its best to balance conflicting demands of convenience and security. Still, security experts say Office 2010's Web-connectedness could present new opportunities for snoops and hackers.

This concern isn't about some obscure Office capability — these potential threats touch on at least two of the suite's coolest new features: SkyDrive and PowerPoint Broadcast. The former lets you easily share documents with colleagues, either via Office desktop apps or the new Office Web Apps. And with a simple Web link, anyone with a free Windows Live account can now run a PowerPoint 2010 slideshow, viewable by any remote user with a desktop browser.

At the very least, people who use these features should understand exactly what degree of security is and isn't provided.]
http://windowssecrets.com/comp/100701/