Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2447 in Software
• Color: Standard [Old Version]
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: 021-04491
• Released on: 2001-05-31
• Platforms: Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98
• Format: CD-ROM
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 4.00 pounds

Amazon.com Review
Microsoft Office XP's empowering document design tools, integration of voice recognition functionality, and impressive network- and Web-based sourcing capabilities should be enough to convince those interested in saving time and consolidating effort to take the leap.

In keeping with Microsoft's much-ballyhooed .NET strategy, Office XP introduces several features that utilize the vast infosphere inhabited by the 21st-century desk jockey. Smart tags beckon underneath recognized objects like misspellings or symbols, offering a stock quote here, a synonym there, or "Would anyone care to configure my auto-correction list?" The task pane looks similar to Microsoft Internet Explorer's Explorer Bar, and acts like an open tool chest pulled up alongside each application in the suite, providing readily configured searches for information or multimedia files. Putting up a team Web site that tracks projects and serves as an information hub requires only the use of one of the included templates, ready to be customized and uploaded to the server.

The Send for Review feature further streamlines the collaborative process by allowing the sender to view revisions made by multiple parties within the framework of the original document. Outlook now features a color-coded calendar and easier meeting management, along with instant messaging and variable e-mail account access. All user system errors can be tracked globally, and then network security settings modified remotely while anti-virus and debugging IT resources are diverted accordingly.

After firing up Microsoft Word, typing "Dear Somebody," and hitting the Enter key, we made a startling discovery. Up popped Clippy, Microsoft's publicly pink-slipped office assistant. Clippy might have aptly announced, "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated," but instead predictably observed, "It looks like you're writing a letter." Once the groans of disbelief had subsided, we quickly right-clicked and banished Clippy to the silicon ether, presumably forever. --Dominic Johnson

Amazon.com Review
After the most painless installation yet of a Microsoft product, Office XP Standard immediately starts to make a favorable impression. Not only does tighter code mean faster startup and shutdown times for each program, but many smaller tweaks have been introduced to improve functionality across the board.

The focus of this release is on making Office smarter, by providing better collaboration tools for organizations and more customization tools for individual users. The new smart tags are a clever way of automatically matching data in documents to tasks, such as inserting an address when you're writing a letter in Word, or copying and pasting in Excel. This is extremely welcome, as is the ability to customize AutoCorrect (i.e., choosing which errors you want the program to correct automatically). Also new are task panes, which are essentially a cross between a wizard and the Help system. Using the drop-down menu format, these panes make relevant commands easily available, thus achieving faster results.

In addition to cross-product improvements, each application in the suite has had an overhaul. Outlook has seen many tweaks that improve usability and productivity, notably, AutoCorrect works as you type, and improved ease in setting up mail accounts. Outlook 2002 also includes support for Hotmail, so you can manage this account in the same place as your other e-mail accounts. PowerPoint contains a plethora of enjoyable new effects, including some useful new applications like the organization chart creator. Word and Excel make good use of smart tags and task panes. Some other useful new features include a merge function in Word for incorporating other users' changes, a word count display for those late-night essays, a drop-down menu in Excel with commonly used functions, and an extremely easy-to-use set of diagram creators.

Office XP Standard will improve productivity and results across the entire application suite. The improved functionality, especially with smart tags and task panes, will save users considerable time in creating quality documents. --Colin Neal

Amazon.com Product Description
Microsoft Office XP Standard puts the features you need within easy reach at all times. New context-sensitive smart tags pop up with options you need--right when you need them. No more digging through menus. Tasks that once required multiple steps are just one click away with the new task pane. The new version of Outlook in Office XP Standard condenses all your personal and professional e-mail into one central location, even your Web-based e-mail accounts like Hotmail. With AutoRecover, your work is saved at regular intervals while you work. PowerPoint includes animation effects and custom slide transitions. An editable print preview assures that your printed slides and documents come out right the first time. Office XP Standard also includes Word 2002 and Excel 2002.

Customer Reviews

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.

To expensive for what it is
I was about to buy this product since its the one I use at the office, but when I looked at the price I did some research first.
Why would I buy it, when I can get very similar alternatives for much less like StarOffice? of even for free (OpenOffice). It does have nice features but most of them I have never used. I have been using OpenOffice for the past 3 months and I haven't missed a feature yet. If you are buying this office suite I would recommend you try OpenOffice first, it could save you a lot of money.

THIS IS THE WORST!
I bought this software 8 months ago. My hard drive went bad recently. I tried to install this software again on my NEW hard drive. YOU CAN'T!! I wasted hundreds of dollars on a product I can't use now! I called to have my registration trasfered to my new computer but Microsoft won't let me transfer my registration or have the software on two PC's. WHAT A BUNCH OF BULL! DON'T BUY THIS VERSION! Not only is there the above problem but there are many better programs available, with more advantages, cheaper price and no hassle. I'm not anti-Microsoft but this experience has shown me what this company stands for.