Re: Upgrades of MS-Word and MS-Excel

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My impression of most upgrades after Word 4.0 is that they are making some
seldom used items easier, and adding bells and whistles.  I think these
programs are a lot like automobiles.   Few new makes add much to our basic
transportation needs, but we feel better driving around in a shiny new one
with whatever makes it look different hanging on it.  I use nothing on the
later versions of Word that I didn't use on 4.0.  Anything I have needed
that 4.0 did not do could be done on other programs.  But that is so seldom
required that the investment in later Words would not have paid off.  While
I've not thught about it in great detail, I don't think later Words offer
the paleontologist anything special.  But it's your (or someone else's
money), and I have later version running right now, so who am I to speak
(or email in this case).  But I could have used the money for something
else, like a slide program or a good stat package (which I do have now,
too).

Jere

>A few months ago Microsoft (finally) released new versions of its popular
>Mac word processing/dtp (MS-Word) and spreadsheet (MS-Excel) programs.
>Buying into every new version of a program is a pricey proposition though
>and I wonder if anyone out there who has seen the new versions of either
>would care to give the rest of us a run down of the improvements that might
>matter to a paleontologist (e.g., improved ms editing tools, improved
>ability to handle embedded graphics in MS-Word; better charting tools, and
>a wider selection of statistics macros in MS-Word).  The bottom line, of
>course, is whether or not those of us who use these programs can continue
>to call ourselves "productive" if we don't upgrade and/or whether the
>upgrade cost/program improvement ratio is favorable.  So, what's the inside
>paleontological scoop on these (or any other) new software releases?
>
>Norm MacLeod
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Norman MacLeod
>Senior Research Fellow
>N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk (Internet)
>N.MacLeod@uk.ac.nhm (Janet)
>
>Address: Dept. of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum,
>                     Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD
>
>Office Phone: 071-938-9006
>Dept. FAX:  071-938-9277
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------