Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Like Office 2000? Like Office 2000.
My company's Microsoft rep recently gave me a T-shirt that reads "Office XP - upgrade today!". I write this review to reclaim my soul. Office XP is NOT a necessary upgrade, nor is it necessarily the best option for a new system.A point-by-point comparison of the latest and the last version of the suite is not necessary, as they are virtually identical. Aside from minor enhancements, the only noticeable new feature is a MS Works-like "task pane" which takes up valuable screen real estate (thankfully, it is easily disabled). Perhaps the most talked about aspects of the new Office are the Activation Wizard (which restricts multiple installations) and the fact that "Clippy" doesn't appear as often. I am rather annoyed that I will probably have to call Redmond after upgrading my new PC, but given rampant software piracy, I understand the motivation (let he who has no "offsite backups" cast the first stone). And let's face facts: if you can't figure out how to turn off the talking paper clip, you probably need the talking paper clip! Bottom line: the money you save buying Office 2000 will more than make up for any "features" in XP you miss. Move quickly – soon you won’t have the choice.
Rating:  - Too [much $], too much bloat.
If you have followed Microsoft Office from version to version you may have noticed something: it gets BIGGER and BIGGER and BIGGER.Office 95, office 97, Office 2000, and now Office XP, continue the trend towards larger, more complex software on each release. You have to keep upgrading your PC every year or two so the "Microsoft Office of the year" runs ok on your system. I got a shrinkwrapped MS Office XP box with my last computer (it was a bundle at a special store price). Before opening the shinrwrap, I asked the store manager if I could use the demo system they had on display, which had Office XP installed. After seeing that there were no improvements from previous versions, and that disk space usage was higher than Office 97, I decided it was time to move on. ... Bottom line: StarOffice 6.0 costs a fraction of MS Office, uses a fraction of the hd space and ram of MS Office (which means StarOffice will run OK on systems where Microsoft Office XP is dog-slow), StarOffice 6.0 reads and writes all Microsoft office file formats, and lets you install LEGALLY, with NO ACTIVATION WHATSOEVER, your StarOffice suite on 5 machines, with no extra cost. To top all this, the look-and-feel is essentially the same, no re-learning curve!. Oh, I almost forgot, I saved $.. more, because StarOffice 6.0 includes templates for all AVERY LABELS, no need to purchase "Avery LabelPro" software like I had planned to do.
Rating:  - Hey, It's the Best
I am compelled the write this review only because so many have been so cold. I have used Lotus, Word Perfect and Office XP. I can honestly say that Microsoft offers a superior product. Without getting into boring details, it is fair to say that no office suite offers greater acceptability and versatility than Office XP. It is the standard by which all other office suites are judged. There can be no question about this.
Many will criticize XP Office for not being as good a value as their competitors. To this comment, I reply, that you get what you pay for in any office suite. Like it or not, Microsoft is king.
XP has some cool new features. The "detect and repair" feature creates a mini-restore program within XP Office. The variable Office Assistant makes Clippy vacant or replaced by a new face. Mostly, I like the improved integration between Outlook, Word and Excel. Then again, I just use the program. Hey, is'nt that the point.
If I still had 2000, I might wait for Office XML to be released later this year. Then again, I have been using XP for over a year now and have no regrets. Yeah, I'll probably upgrade again and pay some ridiculous upgrade price when XML is released. I guess I just like using the best office suite available.
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