Microsoft Office 2004: What's New?

[cockneygeezer]

Dear MacUsers,

As we all know, Microsoft will be releasing Office 2004 in the next 5 months. Reports on features have been thin, in my opinion anyway, so I decided to hunt down a "What's New?".

After a long search, I have found it, straight from the source. The URL below is the "What's New?" section from the Office 2004 Preview that has been leaked on the Internet. (Please, don't ask how I got it, OK?)

All you need is a web browser.

http://www.michaeloglesby.com/Office2004New.zip

I would had post the ZIP file, but it's too big.

Hopefully, the guide will answer any of your questions that you might have about Office 2004. It did with me...

Also, I have post an Opinion Poll to get people's opinion on whether they are going to or considering buying Office 2004. Please read the "What's New?" before making an Poll.

[jobsen_ski]

New version of messenger doesnt look all that different. Alothough it is good that they added the new emoticons. No more stupid charictor combinations from windows users. But why didnt they add the kool picture at the side thing that windows users (using 6.1) can get? its so much beter than looking at peps profiles!

[btoth]

Does 2004 actually let you drag your toolbars out to make full use of a widescreen display? Currently, in Word anyway, you can only make the toolbars so long.... even though there are still hidden icons that I should be able to see.

[jobsen_ski]

OK msn realy needs to let you add more contacts I just got the message too many contacts please delete some of your contacts then try adding again. for like the 4th time this week i deleted another 4ppl who i hope either have bew addresses or dont ever come on. Come on microsoft let as add more ppl! please!

[bobw]

FROM
http://railheaddesign.com/

Tuesday, March 30, 2004 — 6:05am CST

Microsoft Office 2004’s Entourage
I can sum-up my initial impressions of Office 2004’s (Entourage) Exchange Server support in one word: CRAP. Out of 35 systems using our Exchange server day in and day out, my Mac is the only client that can’t take advantage of all that Exchange offers — not only that, but I couldn’t even get Office 2004’s Entourage to connect to my Exchange server. Entourage from Office v.X, however, connects just fine if I set up my Exchange account as IMAP (though I can’t send email, only receive).


That said, the MacBU has once again — so far — left those of us who try to use our Macs in a Windows environment out in the cold, barely allowing us to scrape by with the most minimal capabilities when compared to our Windows counterparts. I cannot express how disappointing this is, and I can only hope that the MacBU will bring *something* to OS X that will give TRUE Exchange Server support for professional, corporate Mac users.


While I’m thoroughly peeved about yesterday’s attempts at “true” Exchange integration, I haven’t thrown-in the towel just yet: as time permits today, I’ll be trying all manner of things to see if I can get things working at least as well as I have Entourage from Office v.X working.


Stay tuned…

[Go3iverson]

What version of Exchange Server are you running? One thing, as I understand it, is 2003 will be the first to use Kerberos for authentication, which should standardize things much better for OS X, you'd think. I'm having a horrible time with Entourage X here at my company. If you've had success with it on 2000, I'd love to hear what you've done, as it seems very clunky, locks out accounts, and is just an annoyance.

[gerbick]

No way. NeoOffice/J or OpenOffice for me.

[mindbend]

When I pop for a G5 3 GHZ this Fall (c'mon, Steve, you said...), I'll prolly grab an Office/VPC combo package. It will be the first time I've ever been legit with a M$ product. I actually like Office. It's a damn solid package, not to mention is virtually universal. I'm just glad I don't need the Exchange server stuff.