Office 2007 update comes early
Because Microsoft often gets rapped for delivering products late, it seems worth noting that, on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, it delivered a product early.
The software maker issued the first service pack update to Office 2007, roughly a year after the product first became available to businesses.
The new update, which has gotten a whole lot less attention than Vista SP1, adds largely performance and stability improvements, along with making the server components of Office fully compatible with the forthcoming Windows Server 2008 update.
"These enhancements span the software applications and servers that home and office workers use each day and will make the 2007 Office system an even more robust and effective productivity tool," Office product manager Reed Shaffner said in a feature posted to Microsoft's Web site. "In essence, SP1 targets the issues that customers told us mattered to them most."
Microsoft said the download is available now and customers can also order a CD with the update. At some later date, Microsoft said it will make the service pack available through automatic update.
Shaffner said he hoped the release will remove any lingering doubts that the product is ready for prime time.
"We recently passed the 12 million mark in trial downloads of the 2007 release from Microsoft.com," he said. "We're optimistic that with the shipment of SP1 we're removing any residual barriers that may have impeded deployment and that adoption will only accelerate. In the meantime, we'll continue to listen intently to our customers and deliver on their changing needs."
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
Ian
If the new look of Office 2007 caught you by surprise you're likely flumaxed by maaaany other things. SP1 or not you're in trouble!
/P
Your post is confusing. Please elaborate in detail with referenced articles for evidence.
Thanks!
The software is slow, bloated, buggy, changed UI for the sake of change, etc. Yeah, going down 4 or five levels in a menu bar is a drag, but not nearly as bad as having 4 or 5 dialog boxes up. There are too many items on the "ribbon" that should be elsewhere. MS has a loooong way to go before it will be able to create a user friendly GUI.
The only thing remotely worthwhile is the source management and styles. It is admittedly cool, but not having enough of them(MLA, APA + a few obscure formats do not really cut it) or an easy way to add in other formats diminishes its value.
PowerPoint has nothing new of value. And Excel is Excel. Speaking of Excel, it is probably the only legitimate user level program MS has.
At $60 for the student version it is about $60 overpriced.
Please don't ask me why my school went to Office 2007, or why they insist that knowing Office makes one compute literate. No one at the school can seem to answer those questions.
This is the most frustrating piece of #$%& I've ever used.
Because even MS can't get it to work?
Look at the auto industry. Each company comes out with multiple models each year.
- Did Sp1 kill the kindergarden look and feel?
- by inachu December 11, 2007 6:21 PM PST
- the interface appeals to little kids.
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- Not mine
- by The_Decider December 11, 2007 7:36 PM PST
- My kids hate it.
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- re: Did Sp1 kill the kindergarden look and feel?
- by furiousrcj December 12, 2007 4:02 AM PST
- I agree! No one I know likes it, and if you goole search it, no one out there does either...
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(30 Comments)Personally, I don't find it all that difficult to get around, but there is no reason for it. It is annoying and gets in people way. Hows that for a perfect description of MS software?
It is the same level of annoyance as the equally worthless "feature" in Office 2003 that hid lesser used functions from the user. That was a gas!