office 2003 or 2007

The primary changes are:
1. Better connectivity with MS server products. You don't need that.
2. Uses xml internally. You don't need that.
3. New user interface.

After the 60-days trial you would have to decide anyway: buy or uninstall. If you are happy with 2003, I'd advice to install a second copy (if the license allows it, as you say) of it on your new laptop.

Switching to the full version on both computers isn't possible with the trial version, you'll need to buy the full version for that. But why should you do it now?

Kees

I'm no fan of some of the components in Microsoft Office, but I must admit that Office 2007 is light years better than Office 2003. First of all, Excel 2007 is finally a productive program -- much easier to use with many more features that you'll want to use. Second, Word 2007 is much more efficient and easier to use than previous versions. Finally Word 2007 makes the use of paragraph styles almost easy. While it still doesn't come close to Lotus WordPro 9.8 in terms of ease of use, speed, and stability, Word 2007 is a major improvement over earlier versions. While it doesn't make it nearly as easy to use and change paragraph, frame, and page styles as Lotus WordPro (or the great desktop publishing program Corel Ventura 10), it does make them easier to use. And if you haven't been using styles (aka paragraph tags) to control your formatting, you're missing out on one of the great productivity tools in document production. Folks who use PowerPoint tell me that the Office 2007 version is also a major improvement.

All that said, do NOT buy the trial version. In fact, get it completely uninstalled from your computer. The reason is simple: You will pay way too much for it and I bet it will be licensed for only one computer. Office 2007 Home & Student lists for $149.99 -- and its license is good for 3 computers. However, you can frequently find it on sale for as low as $119 at Fry's Electronics, Best Buy, and even OfficeMax. And even if you don't, you can use one of those $30 discount cards OfficeMax, Office Depot, and Staples are always sending out -- you get $30 off your online or phone order of $150 or more. So buy Office 2007 Home & Student, add one other low-priced item to your purchase, and you effectively get Office 2007 for $109. Such a deal.

Office 2007 home & student doesn't include outlook.

I'm not a fan of outlook, but I've spent too much time getting my contacts and calendar just the way I want it. Personally, I'd have to spring for the much more expensive version that has outlook.

I have Office 2007 and Office 2003 and I personally do NOT like the new interface in 2007. Just look at the 2003 to 2007 crossover chart that shows how to find functions in 2007 if one is familiar with 2003. Nearly everything that is accessible in 2003 with one or two mouse clicks, requires 3 to 5 in 2007. There is very little added functionality but a very steep learning curve. I am not sure if a plug-in is available to read 2007 files in 2003 or not, but a plug-in is available to read older versions with 2007. I am aware that many people do like the "fluff and puff" of the new interface, but I prefer the traditional drop-down menu system. Download the 2007 trial version and decide for yourself which version you prefer. You have 60 days to use it with full functionality and if you don't want to buy it, you just uninstall it at the end of the 60 days. There is in my mind, NO productivity increase and not enough functionality increase to justify even a small percentage of the cost. How much do you want to pay just to say "I have the latest model", or how much do you want to pay for the "eye candy" of the 2007 version?

I use Ashampoo Office 2008. It does everything I want from office software. It has a spreadsheet and presentation program too. It will load all microsoft formats. It cost me

Microsoft told manufacturers to put the 2007, 60 day version on all the pc's we make. you can use it for 60 days, import all your files into it then "Wammo" you have been hooked. To continue use you have to buy it and Microsoft make it really easy to pay them directly on line. {We do the work and they get the payment.} Or, convert your files back to the older versions.

Be aware that file extensions are changed into a 4 digit extension which makes it impossible to read your files in an older version with the .doc extension. Yes you can override the default and specifically save it as a .doc if you remember to do so every time.

It basically does the same as 2003 but looks more pretty than the earlyer versions , which I rather like and are used to. It has many features that Microsoft seems to tell us we should like but a menu is a menu a font is a font. It just looks a bit like the (Dare I say) "VISTA" style which i can live without. That is a different disaster,perhaps for another time.

To sum up then. Keep your 2003 ,it is better than anything else on the market. Don't be caught up with Microsoft's latest grab for money.
after all almost everybody just uses it to write letters. Check out Star Office you will be in for a pleasent surprise and its free.

I had to install Office 07 for work (temporarily, thank god) and HATE HATE it. It hides everything. You have to relearn how to use the bloody program. I don't want a 'beautiful' interface, i want to be able to do stuff w/o having to click 17 times.

It's also a resource hog. Stick to 2003, or get star office. If you're going to have to relearn software, you might as well relearn free software.

When Microsoft released Office 2007, they took a product that worked, then wasted time and money making it look "pretty" and hiding all of the features that its users had grown to rely on.

That's my personal experience, anyway, your mileage may vary.

PowerPoint and Excel seem to work just fine, but Word and Outlook do not work as intended. I have had countless troubles trying to get both programs to cooperate, and am seriously considering downgrading to 2003 again.

If you don't have to switch to '07, don't, is the TL;DR version.