[b4id8u]

I've got an 4-5 yr "old" XP box with 384 MB RAM.I'm a grad student and so far it's done everything I want -WP, PowerPoint, and finances.But I need to go online now for school and research purposes,and I'm wondering if it's worth investing $$ to beef up the RAMand insert a video card, etc., IF converting to Vista is inevitable.Is it worth pouring $$ into a machine that may soon be unsupported?IF or WHEN Microsoft stops supporting XP, will the internet reallybecome that dangerous? (as rgreen4 mentions on a similar post)Consider : Vista is such a RAM & ROM hog that updating means (according to the experts in the field) nothing less than buying a wholenew box to support it. OUCH ! Pouring $$ into a soon to be obsolete machine -or- dropping big coinfor a whole new box . . .Seems unfair, or am I wrong?Anybody want an apple?

[rgreen4]

Yes, that is correct if you use the new .docx or .xlsx or .ppsx file format which is the default Office 2007 file format. You can set the default file format to .doc in Word, .xls in eXcell and .pps in Powerpoint to avoid this. You can also use the save as function when saving a file each time.The new formats have much more capabilities, but as always, backward compatability is sometimes a problem.

[mphenterprises]

Hi B4id8u. You pretty much answered you own question. It's really not up to anyone on here to tell you what you should or should not get.In your initial post, you said two things that really should solidify things for you:[quote:117382b8cc]I've got an 4-5 yr "old" XP box with 384 MB RAM.I'm a grad student and so far it's done everything I want -WP, PowerPoint, and finances.[/quote:117382b8cc]...and...[quote:117382b8cc]Vista is such a RAM & ROM hog that updating means(according to the experts in the field) nothing less than buying a wholenew box to support it. OUCH ![/quote:117382b8cc]Conversely, this quote says nothing against either Operating System and more towards your own financial situation...[quote:117382b8cc]Pouring $$ into a soon to be obsolete machine -or- dropping big coinfor a whole new box[/quote:117382b8cc]If this becomes a financial decision, obviously this will be your decision to make. If you are talking what is best for you right now...stick with XP. Granted, at some point and time you will have no choice but to upgrade but again, as it stands right now, your needs are being met.

[rgreen4]

B4id8u - if all you are going to add is going online, there is nothing that online research will do to task your machine as much as what powerpoint already does. You are apparently already online (unless you're using another computer).As far as support from MS for XP, what I said, if I did not make myself clear, is that shortly MS will stop making XP available for the consumer market. Their original target date was Feb, 2008, and I have seen nothing to think they have changed their mind signifcantly. For the next 2-3 years after that, it will still be available to Medium Business & Enterprise Business customers through pre-installation and the annual subscription service they use. These are those companies that count their PC by the hundreds, not units. However, Enterprise customers with dedicated IT staffs do no worry about MS support (the company I work for still runs 2000).Sometime after that, they will discontinue support for XP. Add up the timeframe and we're talking 4-6 years from now. At that point, you current PC will be 8-10 years old. That is the point that continued connection to the internet may become risky.You have seen the headlines about how MS fixed a security weakness and it applies to all versions of Windows. That's Window 3.1, 95, 98, 2000 (none of which can get the patch) and XP and Vista (which get the patch). If you were running a PC with an Operating System with a security flaw, would you knowingly connect it to the internet?Besides in 4-5 years when they stop supporting XP, we'll all be taking about how terrible the new OS is, and how great Vista is in comparisson.If your machine does what you want it to do at the current time, I see no need to change. Besides, I remember what it was like being a Grad Student. I think I had more money as an undergrad, at least things seemed cheaper.After graduation when you start drawing down the big bucks, then consider adding a new machine to keep old faithful company. Note my signature line, and I'm actually using my XP Pro machine this morning. My Vista machine is sitting in a corner while its connections are being used to set up a new machine. The only thing you may want to consider is if the school is moving into Office 2007. If you are running Office 2003 then you can get the compatibility pack to read and write 2007 files. I have Office 2000 and I cannot get it to work on Excell and Powerpoint. Works fine on Word. I do have Office 2007 on the Vista machine. The Home and Student pack is reasonably priced and probably less through the school and it's good for installation on 3 machines.

[lilxkid24]

Well if your just going to surf the web do word and powerpoint, your xp system would be good enough and there wouldn't be much of a point upgrading to a new computer or vista unless you want to play games or something.

[orlbuckeye]

We are replacing our HP/Compaq systems with HP/Compaq systems with Vista licenses but we are installing XP but will be able to move to Vista when we move that direction. The one decision our management made was going to Office 2007. We're having lots of problems with our apps that use Word and Excel. Were having real problems with older Access programs. The real problem is we aren't doing an update to all our pc's so we have mixed versions of Office.

[rgreen4]

orlbuckeye - which office version were you using before going to 2007. The reason I ask is that the compatibility package that is supposed to enable the previous versions to read and write the 2007 file format. I have been using Office 2000 and have not gotten it to work with Powerpoint and Excell. Word works fine. I would like to know if it works as advertised with Office 2003.I personally have the Home & Student version of Office 2007, but know many who do not. And as you are aware, the interface is totally different.

[lilxkid24]

so rgreen by that do you mean that if i type sometthing up on word or powerpoint 07 and i try to open it usin 2000 or 03 it wont open? Because i use 0ffice 07 but my school computers usese 2000 and 2003.

[mphenterprises]

Hi everyone. I am joining this discussion in the middle so please forgive me if I have missed anything or repeat something that someone else said.There is a way to make sure that any document you save in a 2007 application to open in its 1997-2003 counterpart.For example, in Word, instead of clicking on the disk icon to save the document, click on the new Office icon in the upper left hand corner of the screen. This will open a drop down window. Put your cursor on "Save As." You will see several save options. Select "Word 97-2003 document."Doing this will save your document in a version that is compatible with any version of Word dating back to 1997. This is the same for any of the major Office components, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.

[b4id8u]

:)THANKS EVERYONE ! for your replies.If Microsoft intends on supporting XP for the next 4-6 years,as rgreen states, then it is definitely worth a modest investment,if necessary. (In the words of a cheap grad student.)I am interested, however, in seeing what's on the horizon.Apple's new OS is due out this Fall, and since they are the trueinnovators in the field, it will be interesting to see what theycome out with.Seems worth it to me to postpone my next major upgrade.:wink:

[rgreen4]

Yes, and if you are running Office 2003, the modest investment in the compatibility package is free. If one of your fellow studens with a brand new laptop sends you a file done in Office 2007, you won't be able to open it without the compatibility package, or unless he specifically saves in in the Office97-2003 file format.Running the older version of Office won't cause you any troubles unless they send you a file. The download is on the MS website, but I was unable to get it to work on anything other than Word in Office 2000

[b4id8u]

rgreen,I bought Microsoft Office a number of years ago.The individual programs are © 2002 in "About Microsoft ###"Would this, then, be Office 2003?Thanks,b4

[lilxkid24]

[quote name='b4id8u']rgreen,> > > > I bought Microsoft Office a number of years ago.> > The individual programs are © 2002 in "About Microsoft ###"> > Would this, then, be Office 2003?> > > > Thanks,> > b4yes that should be 2003 since i have 07 and it says 06 when loading

[rgreen4]

In the about screen, which in all version PRIOR to 2007 was in the help area, would have the full name ie:It generally says in the opening panel when launching the program. There is a large box in the middle of the screen and it will say Microsoft Office Word 2007 for 2007 or as in the case of 2000 on my XP machine - Microsoft Wood 2000 and then under it Microsoft Office. There was a 2002 version that came with Office XP, which was the first version that had to be activated, and then Office 2003 and the latest 2007Excel seems to load to fast to catch it, but Word loads a little slower.

[b4id8u]

It's worth a shot. Where do I find the patch?-b4

[b4id8u]

nevermind, i got ithttp://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/FX010402221033.aspx#1thanks=b4