Oh, this is a very good point! Bravo!

Microsoft has just gotten to the place where they "feel" and "can" do what
they want without regard to the user (especially the current users.)

I've been a strong MS user for years. I remember installing Office 95 with
3 3/4" floppys. I was barking at others to look at Word and not Word Perfect.

The problem is no one is coming up with a viable competetive product. The
solid base Microsoft has built with it's tools and methods gives them clout
to do what they want.

Microsoft kicking itself in the rear with a way off base new product (which
has plenty of new and fun tools) does not meet the current user base. This
is the competitions opportunity to come up with a viable new option (highly
unlikely though.)
--
Chris Hayes
Still a beginner (only 12 years)

[fyi, you can email me by getting rid of the British Comedian''s name who
wrote that song about "Spam"]


"LurfysMa" wrote:

On Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:50:15 -0500, "Beth Melton"
wrote:

The "cheap shot", Larry, is spending a limited amount of time using Word
2007, forming quick and non-researched opinions, and then criticizing it
every chance you get.

I'm sure if I spent 5 to 10 minutes using "Larry's Word", and if I were one
to form quick and non-researched opinions, I'd think it was hideous, a
catastrophe, and a monstrosity - all because I haven't taken the time to use
it.

What you say takes months to learn really doesn't take that long at all.
Now, I spent months learning about the new features (which is true of any
new version), but I adapted to the UI fairly quickly. FWIW, I've been using
the Office applications, with the menus/toolbars, since 1985, starting with
Excel on a Mac. I went from using SuperCalc and WordStar with the slash
commands and I couldn't imagine how using a mouse would help me work faster
than my trusty keyboard navigation! But once I got the hang of using a mouse
I never looked back.

The UI you love was designed for 1989, just as the slash command nagivation
was designed for early computer applications. A lot has changed since then
and the programs outgrew the menu/toolbar system. I'm surprised they didn't
do this long ago.

I think the bottom line is, if you prefer to drive your 1950 Chevy with no
air conditioning, manual steering, manual transmission, and drum brakes,
then by all means, keep driving it. I prefer to drive my new convertible
with air conditioning, automatic steering, split shift transmission (can
switch to automatic or manual), anti-lock brakes, heated leather seats, GPS,
and 4-disc CD changer. I like my car and I'm tired of someone merely kicking
the tires and making assumptions about it.

Another point completely missed.

I never heard Larry tell you or Greg or anyone else not to use the new
interface. He just said that he hates it and hates that HE is forced
to use it or stay with an obsolete version.

Your car analogy is off the mark. Your shiny new car is 100%
compatible with existing roads, maps, gas stations, DMV procedures,
etc. When you bought it, you didn't need more than 5 minutes of
training to be able to drive away. When you upgraded, you didn't need
to learn new maps, build new roads, go back to driver's school, take a
new driver's test (unless you bought a bus), or anything. If your new
car has a fancy GPS system, or a satellite uplink, or a wet bar, or a
waterbed, it didn't affect your ability to drive down the road. And,
both you and Larry can drive down the same road at the same time
without either of you making any adjustments for each other.

Larry has a valid point. MS tends to make changes because they can. I
guarantee you, that Google Office is going to change that and I'm
cheering for Google -- until they become the arrogant 8 million pound
gorilla and start pushing people and customers around.

It took about 60 years for TJ Watson's lean, mean, responsive company
to become ossified and arrogant and get clipped my Microsoft. It's now
been about 20 years. MS is getting bloated and slow. They weathered
the Netscape scare just like IBM did early competitors by crushing
them. So far the open source folks (and other grass roots efforts)
have not quite got it together. But Google may just do to MS after 30
years what MS did to IBM after 60.

In the meantime, Larry, keep complaining. Even if I don't agree with
you. I'll just tune you out. ;-)

--
Running Word 2000 SP-3 on Windows 2000