Comments on: Tools for writing: Windows Vista and Office 2007

By: David Brown

David Brown — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:12:26 +0000

A really great tool for writing is WhiteSmoke. It checks English grammar and spelling in any other program–not just word processors. It has a dictionary and thesaurus that also work in any program. Unlike even Word’s grammar check, it also can suggest phrases or words to you when it checks your writing. http://www.whitesmoke.com or http://www.whitesmoke.com/landing_flash/grammar.html?d=1&a=24&r=1285

By: Eric Fletcher

Eric Fletcher — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 16:39:18 +0000

Precisely! Who cares who makes it if it does the job? And if something better comes along — and something almost certainly will — we’ll make the change and the earlier brand will fade from memory.

The standalone word processors of the mid-1970s would seem laughably incapable today, but they got the job done much more effectively than the then-alternatives. People switched from IBM Selectric typewriters, but just as happily switched again as even better methods evolved.

I spend money on HW and SW to help me get things done, but who makes it is only one part of the equation. My real investment is WW — “warm ware”, my own time — and in the long run, that will always trump brand name.

By: Matthew Stibbe

Matthew Stibbe — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:26:29 +0000

I know that word count and templates are not new. Duh! And before we get into a big old discussion about Microsoft and innovation, I know there’s a lot more clever stuff in Office 2007 and Vista than I’m blogging about here (‘cos I talk to customers who use it most days for my work).

I also know that there’s a lot of people on the web who think Microsoft can do no right.

But, I’m being practical. We live in a Microsoft world – everyone I know uses Word. All my clients use Word. So I use Word. If Microsoft makes my life better, good. Thanks.

Equally if there’s a better alternative, I’ll use that. I use Firefox, Google, Basecamp and a Mac laptop, even though there are Microsoft-powered alternatives.

By: Joe Clark

Joe Clark — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:18:45 +0000

So: Two simple features – live wordcount and document templates – are your lead reasons to use Word 2007?

You know those are not in any respect new, right?

(And do you have any knowledge of how much Microsoft has screwed up wordcount over the years?)

By: james

james — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:15:37 +0000

I have not used office 2007 yet – but am going to get it soon – cheers