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    Office XP or 2010 in Winodws 7?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by boxxer13, Jun 15, 2012.

  1. boxxer13

    boxxer13 Notebook Geek

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    Okay, I'm getting a convertible laptop (laptop tablet combo, the Lenovo X230T) and it's running Windows 7. I have Office XP (the basic 4), but I can get Office Pro 2010 at the academic price ($100). I'm undecided if I should stay with Office XP or upgrade 2010.

    Questions: Are there compatibility issues with Office XP? I read there are some issues with Outlook 2002 and Windows 7. Also read that Office 2010 & Windows 7 are more tablet friendly. Is it unwise to run unsupported software or even software that is 8 years old, i.e. Office XP, on a laptop that was released a week ago?
     
    boxxer13, Jun 15, 2012
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  2. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Office XP is pretty outdated, it would be a nice upgrade to Office Pro 2010 at academic pricing.
     
    usapatriot, Jun 15, 2012
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  3. boxxer13

    boxxer13 Notebook Geek

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    Office XP might be outdated, but I only use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the contact function of Outlook. I don't know how Office Pro 2010 (or rather the academic version which is Office University) is an improvement on it, other than adding OneNote, Access, and Publisher. If Office 2010 is more tablet friendly than Office XP, then that's another reason to get it.
     
    boxxer13, Jun 15, 2012
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  4. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Even so, the new features and updates to those programs are probably worth it.
     
    usapatriot, Jun 15, 2012
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  5. boxxer13

    boxxer13 Notebook Geek

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    I've used the computers on campus and at the community college, they both run Office 2010. I am accustomed to the menu-based interface, than the ribbon, but I can learn to use the ribbon interface.

    It would be handy to be able to open the OpenDocument formats. I couldn't open those with Office XP.

    Is OneNote worth having? I don't have that with Office XP.
     
    boxxer13, Jun 15, 2012
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  6. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    OneNote is worth it if you take notes on a tablet, but for typing notes it's not all the great over say MS Word.

    Ribbon is so much better once you get the hang of it.
     
    usapatriot, Jun 15, 2012
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  7. Feral1

    Feral1 Notebook Consultant

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    Win 7 is the best Microsoft OS yet. They crapped up Office with the new "features". I use Office XP and it works just fine in Win 7. Upgraded Office isn't worth a nickel let alone a hundred bucks.
     
    Feral1, Jun 16, 2012
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  8. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Ribbon might be a huge change from past interfaces, but once you get used to it, it really so much more intuitive, user friendly, efficient and versatile. I couldn't disagree with you more.

    Good luck making compatible documents with your 10+ year old software too, might as well still be using Windows XP.
     
    usapatriot, Jun 16, 2012
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  9. boxxer13

    boxxer13 Notebook Geek

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    When you put it like that that Office XP is over a decade old, it might be time to update to 2010. Luckily getting 2010 really isn't that vital. Although, since I am getting a X230T (supposed to be here today), I'm debating about updating to Windows 8. If I do upgrade to Win 8, I might as well switch to Office 2010. If I install Office XP in the new ThinkPad, that's like installing a tape cassette player instead of a MP3 player in a brand new car. Besides, I'm guessing that Office 2010 is more tablet user friendly than XP.
     
    boxxer13, Jun 19, 2012
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  10. mpalandr

    mpalandr Notebook Consultant

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    Another consideration is that, from what I see at the MS support lifecycle web pages, extended support for Office XP ended July 2011. That means no more security updates.

    The extended support end date for Office 2010 is Oct 2020. MS says that security updates are provided through the end of the extended support period.
     
    mpalandr, Jun 20, 2012
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  11. boxxer13

    boxxer13 Notebook Geek

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    I picked up Office 2010, so how do I close this thread? I was able to get it at the academic price, but it seemed strange that it was preloaded on my laptop and needed the product key to access it. I guess I paid money for the product key and the disc and packaging came as freebies.
     
    boxxer13, Jun 21, 2012
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