Rating: 
Summary: Another significant Microsoft improvement
Review: I really like this new version of Microsoft Office. Like previous upgrades, there isn't too much of a difference in Excel and Word other than a few things, it is Outlook which has the largest improvements. I really like the new look as it uses "screen real-estate" much more efficiently. The Junk E-Mail filters are better than in previous editions (much better!) and I had no problems working with my previous PST files. Also, the ability to send busy and free times to people not on Exchange is really nice.However, I do like the changes in Word and Excel, especially as it comes to sharing with other users. It is nice to have control over what is shared and what isn't shared. The improved digital signature is a fantastic benefit as well. And Access. I use Access all the time for my personal databases. I was really concerned that this might be an upgrade like how 2000 was to 97 where you would need to convert everything over and it wouldn't be backwards compatible. Thank goodness everything is backwards compatible. That is a real life saver. The backup feature is excellent as well!! My hats off to Microsoft for another great product!!
Rating: 
Summary: Dont By 2003 if you want to use the Arabic Typesetting font
Review: I recently bought Microsoft Office 2003 hoping to see how good the new Microsoft transliteration font really is.
Needless to say, Microsoft provides neither documentation (that I can find) on what the name of what this transliteration font is (though I am guessing it is the one named "Traditional Arabic") nor how to actually use the diacritical marks for transliteration purposes. In the meantime I just spent the last 4 hours uninstalling Office/Word 2003 from my computer and reinstalling the old Word tweaking it to work properly. Also I would warn anyone away from buying Microsoft Office 2003 for Students/Teachers as there does not seem to be anything of any value in it. The same for Word 2003, especially until someone figures out how to get this transliteration font to work.
Rating:
Summary: university conspiracy
Review: I think it's awful that universities are helping the Microsoft conspiracy to take over the world. Blackboard only accepts Microsoft documents. I feel like a traitor after using WordPerfect (a more flexible and friendlier word processing program) for 15 years and now I HAVE to use MS in order to take some college classes. YUK. Can't somebody sue somebody?
Rating: 
Summary: Open Office Working Great For Me...
Review: I use Open Office at home and MSFT Office at work. I can't tell the difference anymore - except I can't bear to pay out the wazoo for the moderate increase in functionality.
Rating: 
Summary: Of marginal value
Review: I write professionally. This package is fine for a Microsoft product, but I have found MS Word to be bloated and slow and not very intuitive. It gets in the way of the work at times. The Help function is not very helpful - unless you know the specific term Word uses for a function or feature, you can search endlessly to correct something. WordPerfect is easier to use and less in the way. Excel is a good spreadsheet and may be the best part of the package. PowerPoint presentations are fast becoming the bane of working in institutions - the actual usefulness of PowerPoint is less than it appears and the tendency is to produce massive numbers of slides. This is more of a critique of users than the tool, of course; as a product, I would rate PowerPoint above Word though not quite as easy to use as Excel. In some environments, Microsoft is mandated. For everyone else, I would recommend seriously considering alternatives.
Rating:
Summary: At least it's more affordable than the standard...
Review: I'm waiting for the day when software becomes more expensive than the actual hardware to run it (it should happen soon, considering the trend in computer prices these days, right??). In the meantime, I'm happy that Microsoft at least offers a lower-priced version of their software for those pursuing academic endeavors. The Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition 2003 is basically identical to their standard Microsoft Office 2003. It contains:
- Excel 2003
- Outlook 2003
- Powerpoint 2003
- Word 2003 What it does NOT contain (compared with the professional and small business versions) is Access 2003, Publisher 2003 and the Outlook 2003 version that has a Business Contact Manager - none of which would be particularly necessary for students. Microsoft stresses that this version of their Office 2003 is only for non-commercial use. You qualify for this edition so long as you are 1) a full- or part-time student enrolled in a K-12 institution, 2) home-schooled, 3) taking at least 6 credits at an accredited college/university, or 4) a full- or part-time faculty member and work 20+ hours at a school. It retails at the amazon price, which seems like a lot until you remember that the Standard version is sold for over two hundred dollars more. There is no discounted upgrade price for the academic version, but this is still probably the best price you can get. AND you can use the software on up to three computers, so long as someone in your household qualifies (for instance, if you have a child who qualifies for this version, you can upload it onto your computer as well and use the software even if you do not qualify for the discount). If you are a college/university student, I would suggest visiting your school bookstore before purchasing this software. Microsoft offers academic volume licensing through a lot of colleges/universities, where you can get the same software for up to 70% off if you qualify. Check out [microsoft website] for more information.
Rating:
Summary: What the...?
Review: I've installed the suite, and have had no end of troubles. Word 2003 will not open any of my old Word documents. My PC locks up, I can't access older files, and when I try to get updates from Microsoft, Internet Exolorer ceases to function. Not recommended, if you have an older version of Office.
Rating: 
Summary: MS Office Deal
Review: If anyone in your family is a student or teacher, this is a great deal. You can install on three computers, which makes it even better.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific upgrade for those still using Office '97
Review: If you are in school (full time or part time, student or teacher or professor, or staff member), if you have a parent who's in school, if you have a child who's in school, if you have a sibling who's in school, if your boyfriend or girlfriend is in school, you qualify for this edition, dude! Each copy you buy can be installed on 3 home PCs. No gimmick!
I was using Office '97 all these years. When a member of my household went back to school, we bought this new version from amazon, and we've all been very happy with the software. Do beware that you should have Windows XP, or else stick with Office '97 or '00. Office '03 runs fast and never crashes on Windows XP, and everything I loved about Office (on-the-fly spell- and grammer-checking, easy mail merge, powerful spreadsheet, lots of presentation options and features, so on) is only improved. I'm also taking my time to learn Outlook 2003. It's one sophisticated program, but it's waaaayyy better than Lotus Notes which my company uses at work. (Lotus Notes stinks!)
To be honest, the "standard" edition costs more than twice as much and I wouldn't have upgraded if I couldn't get it for this cheap. But for a hundred bucks, this is totally worth it. I got almost 10 years use out of Office '97, and I think i'll be set for the next 20 years with Office '03. So that comes out to about $2 a year per computer. Not bad.
Rating:
Summary: Use Open Office - It's Free!!!!
Review: If you want an alternative to MS Office, that is also compatible with MS Office, use Open Office. You can find it under the Google search term Open Office. It's a free download, and just as good as Office 2003. You get a Word application, a spreadsheet application, and a PowerPoint application. All are compatible with Office 2003.
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