Should I upgrade my computer to Office 2007? 

There are many changes in the design and functionality of Microsoft Office 2007, so upgrading to this version may require a steeper learning curve for users than upgrades to previous versions of Office. It is important to take these changes into consideration before making the upgrade.

The two most significant changes in Office 2007 are:

• Completely re-designed user interface (Replacing the standard menu bar with the "Ribbon")
• New default file format (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx ..etc)

To try out Office 2007 in your Web browser, visit the Test Drive Microsoft Office site. (You must use Microsoft's Internet Explorer). Microsoft also has a video displaying the new look of Office 2007 here.

If you are purchasing a new machine, many times Office 2007 is the only option. We recommend reading our "What version of Office 2007 should I get?" statement if this is the case.

What are the required system specifications for Office 2007? 

• Windows XP SP2, Server 2003 SP1, or Windows Vista
• 1Ghz Processor or better
• At least 512 MB of RAM
• 2 GB of hard drive space

What version of Office 2007 should I get? 

As with the new Windows Vista, Microsoft has released several different versions of Office 2007. IT recommends Office 2007 Professional edition to all faculty, staff, and most students.

For Students:

• Purchase Microsoft Office 2007 from e-academy at a significant educational discount.

For Faculty / Staff:

• Purchase Microsoft Office 2007 for your university computer from the Departmental Software Request Form.

What are the compatability issues with Office 2007 files? 

Office 2007 introduces new default file formats for all the major Office programs. These files cannot be opened in earlier versions of Office, but Microsoft has released an Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. This pack enables older versions of Office to open the new Office 2007 file formats.

• Windows File Format Converter: click here
• Mac OSX File Format Converter: click here

Does IT offer any Office 2007 training? 

See the summer training schedule at http://www.olemiss.edu/helpdesk/training.html.

Related Links:

Introduction to Word 2007 *
Introduction to Excel 2007 *
Introduction to PowerPoint 2007 *
How do I set up Outlook 2007 with the Ole Miss e-mail servers? *
TechNews - Windows Vista and Office 2007 *