Vista and Word 2007...

[AsylumSeeker]

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it... But must conform, especially since my work is going to that platform soon. As I suspected they would, which is why I upgraded first and bought Office 2007, which is my livelihood, to try and get used to the interface, which I'm still struggling with.

Anyway, this isn't a bitch thread... exactly. I did want to let you know that with Word 2007 the file extension is .docx, just in case you're wondering if you encounter this. It's easy to "SAVE AS..." in many other formats, but new writers with new computers with Vista and Word 2007 may not know any better.

Just a heads-up to save on delays and confusion later.

 

[CopyCarver]

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it... But must conform, especially since my work is going to that platform soon. As I suspected they would, which is why I upgraded first and bought Office 2007, which is my livelihood, to try and get used to the interface, which I'm still struggling with.

Anyway, this isn't a bitch thread... exactly. I did want to let you know that with Word 2007 the file extension is .docx, just in case you're wondering if you encounter this. It's easy to "SAVE AS..." in many other formats, but new writers with new computers with Vista and Word 2007 may not know any better.

Just a heads-up to save on delays and confusion later.

I'll vote that ticket. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to forget to "save as" when you're more focused on the message than the mechanics, and end up with .docx files that an enormous numberof people can't open--or even identify. And all of them will need to be converted to .doc files if, as I did, you throw Vista in the trash.

 

[snooper]

I'll let you techie experts struggle with it and stick to XP (bad though it is) and Word 2003 with its default <save> set to Word97.

Anyway in the UK an upgrade to the software costs as much as buying a whole new machine!

Vista Home Upgrade £149.99
Office 2007 £119.99
Extra Memory £90.00 (needed to run the monster)
Total £359.98

Which is, at today's exchange rates, $730.76

 

[RogueLurker]

My laptop has both Vista and Word 2007 - they take quite a bit to get used to. (I'm still working on it)

What I dislike most about the new Word is that the removed all the top menus and rearranged functions into "menus". I spend half my time thinking "If I was a Microsoft programmer, where would I put "Page break" (pick a command, any command - then god have mercy on your soul when you try to find it). It's the relearning excercise which I object to. Everybody knew where to find things on the old versions, why completely change everything? Inuitive my ass - I think the programmers were being cruel bastards when they designed the new version. I do like the "ghost" menu that appears when you hover your cursor over text - it gives you common basic commands that you can activate without having to use hot keys or going up to the menu and searching for the right folder and command. It is handy for editing.

I definitely agree that saving in a different version is a bitch though.

 

[Alex De Kok]

Why not try Open Office?

Open Office is free, will load Word .doc files (not .docx yet - but I believe they're working on it) and can be customised to save in .doc format (Tools/Options/Load-Save/General) as a default if you wish. It will even open WordPerfect .wpd files (but not save as .wpd)

I use it all of the time, partly because I have both Windows and Linux PCs on my desk - switching between them with a KVM switch - and it's a default in Ubuntu Linux, mainly because I'm a tight-fisted miser and free software is where it's at! I have Windows XP Pro/Word 2000 on the Windows PC and absolutely no intention of 'upgrading' to Vista/Word 2007. In fact I'm trying hard to migrate all of my work to Linux, but my lords and masters use Windows/Word so needs must.

Alex

PS: www.openoffice.org

 

[Foxee Browne]

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it... But must conform, especially since my work is going to that platform soon. As I suspected they would, which is why I upgraded first and bought Office 2007, which is my livelihood, to try and get used to the interface, which I'm still struggling with.

Anyway, this isn't a bitch thread... exactly. I did want to let you know that with Word 2007 the file extension is .docx, just in case you're wondering if you encounter this. It's easy to "SAVE AS..." in many other formats, but new writers with new computers with Vista and Word 2007 may not know any better.

Just a heads-up to save on delays and confusion later.

I have been using word 07 for a few months now. Yes they default saves the document as a docx. file. BUT, when you click 'save as' there is a setting to save your document as word 97-03 document. This makes it completely compatible with older versions of M$ word. Yes I have word 2000 and it does work. I have e-mailed the 07 doc to a friend who uses word2000 and they have no troubles opening it.

As for vista, I don't like it. I was forced to use it @ work, but when I upgraded my laptop last spring I bought xp pro. When vista get rid of it's issues ... I'll upgrade. Until then I refuse to buy it.

Linux is fun, but I can never network the darn thing correctly!

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I really don't have too much good to say about Vista at this point. I set up one system in my boss's home with it. The set up went pretty smoothly. However, there are so many errors in the system that the computer manufacturer enclosed an update disk with in the box. After I got it running, I went to the update site and got thirty five more patches.

The word I heard on the street is, Vista will be working fine in about 2 years.

Looking on the inside of Vista, I don't see a whole lot of difference between it and XP. Vista handles files the same, uses the same NTFS file system and so on. The look of the screens really means nothing. They are different, but that has nothing to do with what's happening inside the box.

The one thing I really hated was the idea that Microsoft built into Vista an automatic on-line operating system check against their registered data base. This means that you cannot have a stand alone machine without an internet connection. And what happens if your connection is broken? I hope you like a frozen machine.

The other thing I didn't like was Vista loads .COM files at a different location. This is the same thing they did with XP. It means that older programs will not work unless you can find a way to correct the offset for .EXE files. Files written for XP seem to work generally, but programs written for 98 and 95 are a serious problem. XP gave you a utility that did this. I couldn't find it in Vista.

For the time being, I'm sticking with my XP Pro and Word 97.

 

[cloudy]

Vista sucks, and not in a good way.

Like Jenny says, in a couple of years it might be okay, but not now. I dumped it from my laptop, and went back to XP Pro.

 

[snooper]

The one thing I really hated was the idea that Microsoft built into Vista an automatic on-line operating system check against their registered data base. This means that you cannot have a stand alone machine without an internet connection.

I can't believe that laptop Vista machines can't be used without an internet connection. What about in the park at lunch time? What about on the train? Have Micro$oft shot themselves in the foot to that extent?

Some of the work I do HAS to be done (customer's rules) stand-alone with an air gap from the internet. So that would stop us using Vista completely. Also the junior staff are not allowed internet connections; only senior staff can read Lit Forum online in working hours.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I was there at a good time...

I'll let you techie experts struggle with it and stick to XP (bad though it is) and Word 2003 with its default <save> set to Word97.

Anyway in the UK an upgrade to the software costs as much as buying a whole new machine!

Vista Home Upgrade £149.99
Office 2007 £119.99
Extra Memory £90.00 (needed to run the monster)
Total £359.98

Which is, at today's exchange rates, $730.76

I was statioed in Germany when (telling age) Reagan was President. The exchange rate was grand, $1.10 for a pound. Man, had a GREAT vacation! Sorry, reminiscing. Sorry things are bad now.

 

[cloudy]

I can't believe that laptop Vista machines can't be used without an internet connection. What about in the park at lunch time? What about on the train? Have Micro$oft shot themselves in the foot to that extent?

Some of the work I do HAS to be done (customer's rules) stand-alone with an air gap from the internet. So that would stop us using Vista completely. Also the junior staff are not allowed internet connections; only senior staff can read Lit Forum online in working hours.

Yes, they can be used without an internet connection. I used mine fine without a connection, I just didn't like Vista.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Had some extra money burning a hole in my pocket...

Yes, they can be used without an internet connection. I used mine fine without a connection, I just didn't like Vista.

I had no idea at the time that loading Vista woul render all of my peripherals...printer, scanner, etc., useless. Worst step I made, and all because the interface looked cool.

I was fucked once... and her name was MS-Vista.

'Nuf said!

 

[CopyCarver]

I had no idea at the time that loading Vista woul render all of my peripherals...printer, scanner, etc., useless. Worst step I made, and all because the interface looked cool.

I was fucked once... and her name was MS-Vista.

'Nuf said!

It's possible--though far from guaranteed--that you can get your peripherals back into harness by downloading different device drivers.

Unfortunately, however, there's no cure for Vista itself.

 

[Foxee Browne]

It's possible--though far from guaranteed--that you can get your peripherals back into harness by downloading different device drivers.

Unfortunately, however, there's no cure for Vista itself.

It all depends on the age of the devices. Check the manufacutors websites for support.

Ms Vista's hubby Mr. Gates sure had a brain fart didn't he?

 

[Eluard]

Why aren't you folks using Macs?

This is only partly rhetorical. Are publishers now moving entirely to using pc's? I'm just curious why you don't have the choice to use a Mac — if you don't.

 

[CopyCarver]

It all depends on the age of the devices. Check the manufacutors websites for support.

Ms Vista's hubby Mr. Gates sure had a brain fart didn't he?

Oh, yeah! This has to be the work of the same geniuses that decided Windows 98 should crash 98 times per minute

 

[Foxee Browne]

Oh, yeah! This has to be the work of the same geniuses that decided Windows 98 should crash 98 times per minute

LOL ... well it was named aptly!

I don't use a mac b/c where I work sells windoze ... so, perhaps I should know a little bit about them, since I work in the tech dept. I do however dabble with linux.

 

[SCcreampieLvr]

vista

It amazes me you folks put up with that shit.

 

[snooper]

Messages In Windows 98.

1. Smash forehead on keyboard to continue
2. Enter any 11-digit prime number to continue.
3. Press any key to continue or any other key to quit.
4. Press any key except..... no, No, NO, NOT THAT ONE!
5. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del now for IQ test.
6. Close your eyes and press escape three times.
7. Bad command or file name! Go stand in the corner.
8. This will end your Windows session. Do you want to play another game?
9. Windows message: "Error saving file! Format drive now? (Y/Y)"
10. This is a message from God Gates: "Rebooting the world. Please log off."
11. To "shut down" your system, type "WIN".
12. BREAKFAST.SYS halted... Cereal port not responding.
13. COFFEE.SYS missing... Insert cup in cup holder and press any key.
14. CONGRESS. SYS corrupted... Re-boot Washington D.C.? (Y/Y).
15. File not found. Should I fake it? (Y/N)
16. Bad or missing mouse. Spank the cat? (Y/N)
17. Runtime Error 6D at 417A:32CF: Incompetent User.
18. Error reading FAT record: Try the SKINNY one? (Y/N)
19. WinErr 16547:LPT1 not found. Use backup. (PENCIL & PAPER.SYS)
20. User Error: Replace user.
21. Windows VirusScan 1.0 - Windows found: Remove it? (Y/N)
22. Welcome to Microsoft's world - Your Mortgage is Past Due....
23. If you are an artist, you should know that Bill Gates owns you and all you future creations. Doesn't it feel nice to have security?
24. Your hard drive has been scanned and all stolen software titles have been deleted. The police are on the way.