Serious MS Word users, is upgrade worth it?

[NancyR]

I am currently using Word 2000 and all work is strictly for myself (no group collaboration). I am typing a manual and the quirkiness with numbers changing, pictures shifting places, etc. is driving me batty. Are newer versions any better? I have read reviews and it seems to me most of the upgrades address better group use.
TIA,
Nancy

[foodfly]

Don't know for sure what problem you are having. I have worked in Word 98, 2000, and now 2003. I'm MS certified in Word 2000. I have been working (no group stuff, but I do utilize Draw & Picture features alot besides typing Text) in 2003 for about 6 months now and compared to the 2000, this one(2003) is driving me batty. Things I "automatically" knew how to do before (especially with the Draw toolbar) are now slightly different (can't describe it as "better"). There is a greater reliance on the Internet which gives you a greater range for researching or pulling up clipart. Files are imported into folders automatically that I am not controlling the destination of (Ach!) I wish I could explain it better, but I feel I'm struggling with the newer version (even with having a demonstrated skill level going in) and I attribute that to the "newness" of working with an updated program and me just having to adapt to doing things differently than before. So, at this point in time, I would have to say I liked my Word 2000 better.

[NancyR]

Thank you so much for the reply...it was very helpful and confirmed what I suspected. What is it with Microsoft and their file saving compulsion? It is like they are determined to not just save your work but put it in such a safe place that even you can't find it. I am already struggling with that since switching to WindowsXP and don't really want more of the same. You just saved me $125 and probably some gray hair.

[foodfly]

Thank you so much for the reply...it was very helpful and confirmed what I suspected. What is it with Microsoft and their file saving compulsion? It is like they are determined to not just save your work but put it in such a safe place that even you can't find it. I am already struggling with that since switching to WindowsXP and don't really want more of the same. You just saved me $125 and probably some gray hair.

Welp!, YOU just confirmed what I was struggling with in WindowsXP. I thought I was doing myself a favor by upgrading to XP, lots more bells & whistles; but, I used to be able to find "lost" files by accessing "Windows" Explorer (not the same as Internet Explorer). I lost something I was working on for this BB yesterday and thought I could retrieve it on the hard drive (I always could in Win '98). So, it looks like where ever that "safe place" is MS is hiding my file, I'm going to have to take another class to find it.

IMO, You'll be fine sticking with Word 2000.

[slknight]

IMO, quirkiness with Word's numbering has not changed in years. That's not going to improve with a switch to 2003. Also, they have significantly messed up mail merge. I think it's worse in later versions and better in 2000. If I were you, I would not switch. Hope that helps.

[Hammster]

Welp!, YOU just confirmed what I was struggling with in WindowsXP. I thought I was doing myself a favor by upgrading to XP, lots more bells & whistles; but, I used to be able to find "lost" files by accessing "Windows" Explorer (not the same as Internet Explorer). I lost something I was working on for this BB yesterday and thought I could retrieve it on the hard drive (I always could in Win '98). So, it looks like where ever that "safe place" is MS is hiding my file, I'm going to have to take another class to find it.

IMO, You'll be fine sticking with Word 2000.


A real easy shortcut to get to Windows Explorer in XP is to right click on the Start button and select Explore. Up pops Explorer. :D I believe this works with all versions of Windows actually. :D

[NancyR]

I lost something I was working on for this BB yesterday and thought I could retrieve it on the hard drive (I always could in Win '98). So, it looks like where ever that "safe place" is MS is hiding my file, I'm going to have to take another class to find it.

IMO, You'll be fine sticking with Word 2000.
Try going to explorer (Windows, not Internet) and click on the "search" button on the top. They pick "all files and folders" and type in *.wbk (assuming what you were working on was in Wod or Excel). That might help you find your missing file. Otherwise, if you had already named your file you can search on that name, obviously. Over all I like Windows XP. It solved a terrible crashing behaviour that was driving me NUTS at work but the trade off is this silly file hiding thing. Let us know if you have any luck.