“There is a new update available for download (ver. 2.2.1). To install, click the link below.”
Ahh…updates. No, I’m not talking about me writing a blog post to say how much work I’m not doing, nor to ramble on about things happening in my life. I’m talking about technical updates for programs, hardware, software, and most importantly…operating systems. Because this is a tech post. And unless you’re a nerd, it will be boring. Go read something else.
Okay, so I’ve been beta-testing the new Microsoft Office 2010 programs for the past week. I have two words: HOLY CRAP. Microsoft, since they’ve fallen sadly behind Apple on the popularity chart, has to begin ramping up the actual quality of its products, because people don’t just buy Windows stuff without thinking anymore. And I’ve heard so much whining about the interfaces on the 2007 products in my own circles, I can’t imagine how many whiny, spoiled people complained to Microsoft about it themselves. (Personally, I really liked the 2007 change. It was new, well-thought-out, and gave a fresh rejuvenation to a very old and firmly-established product line.)
But when people got wise to the design flaws (tabs were sometimes confusing, buttons were placed oddly, less customization was possible, etc.) and began having Windows ME-like daymares with Vista, talk began to circulate of a savior to the common man oppressed by poor programmers: CollabNet’s OpenOffice!
OpenOffice is a free, community-driven suite of programs that run the MS Office files, Mac files, Linux files, and basically any other file you can possibly find on any computer since 1985. The suite contains equivalents for Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, and Publisher, is compatible with almost every operating system, has peer-created content by the gigabyte, and is laid out just like the good ol’ days of MS Office 2003. Wow. What a great find. And best of all, it’s FREE. Yeah. Check it out here.
I’ll admit: I tried it. I already have Office ’07 installed, and I already really like it, but I thought, “Why not?” Thirty minutes later, I realized why not.
(In my opinion:) It’s terrible. I don’t really know why. But it bugs me the heck out. Everything seems so…Linux. Which is correct, I guess, because it is. What else would be compatible with everything? The interface is old and decaying, the file extension process is confusing and not for surface users, and the running programs are hefty and awkward. Seriously, see for yourself. (If you like it, more power to you. If not, maybe you’ll agree with me on the next few paragraphs.)
I don’t think Microsoft will quickly release its hold on the word processing business. I know Apple is developing new software, and that Adobe is getting in on the cloud-processing, but Microsoft loves its money. And the Office programs can reach $680 for its “Ultimate” package. Huge business will buy thousands of licenses for these programs, and that’s hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit for the Gates kingdom. And now, with the server technologies developing into multi-billion-dollar revenue-generators, they’ve kept ahead of the game with their OneNote and SharePoint programs, their Office Live online suite and collaboration, and the release of betas for testing by the general public. It’s really incredible business.
Now, for a review of the Office 2010 beta:
Beyond satisfactory. Microsoft is beginning to impress me with their innovation. The new big thing is user themes (the user can create their own theme by selecting pictures, colors, module positions, etc. for their programs), and ’10 now caters to that idea. The modules, very similar to 2007, are now much more user-maneuverable, and the options everything on the interface now offers are tremendously helpful. Searches have been streamlined to work better for less-experienced users, and return a wide variety of inputted results. Programs like Outlook now offer email string collapsibles, much like advanced coding programs. Contacts have the ability to be connected to and from popular social networking sites via developer kits and smart people. The tabular layouts have been kept, but dumbed-down for the more-confused user who can’t just look at pretty pictures. Word provides easy access to much-used properties; Excel looks excatly the same, but better; PowerPoint won’t confuse anybody anymore, ever; and Access is full of brand new awesomeness that I never actually compared to 2007. It’s probably exactly the same, too. But everything has the look of a cleaner, polished, “this isn’t a test anymore” program, and it’s about time, since Apple has made more headway in the last three years than probably expected.
If Microsoft wants to stay on top of the game in the upcoming battle for customers, they need to quit thinking like they own everything forever. Because even if they do, it’s not an excuse for lukewarm quality. And there’s plenty more companies willing to get in on the action when something bad happens.
A note to consumers: Don’t settle. Don’t ever settle. Look around for programs that fill your needs, and do so with the least amount of discomfort to your and your hard drive. OpenOffice is a great example of teamwork and Linux programming. Adobe’s Acrobat.com is good example of web-based word processing. I’ve been using it for over two years, and it hasn’t failed me yet. And there’s tons more freeware programs to check out. But personally, until I either have no money for Office, or someone designs the most beautiful alternative, I’m sticking with Mr. Gates on this one.
Leave a Reply