Comments on: Office 12 moves closer to beta

Microsoft tells testers to expect the first version in the next few weeks.

[Earl Benser]

Curious....

... based on viewing a rather limited set of screenshots, Office 12
doesn't seem to be significantly different from previous versions.
In one sense, it's just a word processor, so just how different can
it get?

Maybe there are useful improvement in the functions. So I need
to wait until I can get a real copy to pay with. But right now, I
can't say that I am in any hurry. My versions of Office are quite
adequate, and spending more money for an upgrade does not
yet make sense.

[Gerry1981]

Earl

Didn't you read?? A prettier interface and better ways "to find your stuff". That'll be $299 please.

It is just a word processor

I remember owning a ball-point pen, that let you select red blue or green, by it's selector slide thingy on the top of the pen (I'm a geek OK - I have to own stuff like that). But no-one else (in the real world) bought them. People would rather have separate red & blue ball-point pens on their desk - and who uses green anyway.
So, WP have to be a an activity with a finite set of sub-tasks. It looks like one of the first major revenue streams to run dry, to me.
BUT - in a survey, M$ found that of all the features people wanted, many were already IN Office - but were so unobtrusive, that people hadn't noticed. Wonder if Office 12 will just intrude on your work, with adverts, promoting other features of the product ?

And finally, why do some application developers INSIST on putting basic text data in an Excel spreadsheet, when it would go quite nicely in a table in a Word document ?

[eeee]

Who collaborates now !?!?!??!

What a crock! Most users just use Word and Outlook, financial types use Excel (most because they are forced to by work duties), a lesser few use PowerPoint to create, and hardly anyone uses Access. Those who have been forced to create webs use FrontPage.

Who the heck actually "collaborates" on documents ?!?!?!
Just another reason to force people to buy a newer PC. There must be a single hook in the code that stops an install for less than the prescribed processor.

AND: why the heck can't anyone check Outlook Contacts when another Outlook dialogue window is open !?!?!?!? Fix this screw up now !