I was using Excel 2007 doing an assignment a few days ago, and I tried to concatenate numbers and text together (had to write out what the confidence interval was so I needed the ' < u < ' bit in between two numbers if you're really interested), so I tried to use the CONCAT function which I vaguely thought existed. Didn't work, so I clicked help, and got this:
Well what do you think Excel? If I click on 'was this information helpful?' I get a dialog saying your response will help Microsoft improve the the user experience, select my answer, then I return to this dialog, but without the 'was this information helpful?' link.
Developers, if you're trying to make your program helpful, at least do some further testing so you don't look like an idiot. I expected you to do a search in Office Help when I clicked 'was this information helpful?', not a quick survey by Microsoft about their help quality.
By the way, the actual function I was looking for was CONCANTENATE.
There also seems to be a bug in the 'napkin math' code in OneNote. Napkin math is the nickname for the quick calculator in OneNote - just type in 8+2= then press space or enter, and it'll add in the answer, e.g. 8+2=10. The bug is the way OneNote handles the order of operations. Enter in 1/2*100= and you expect the result to be 50 right because it's (1/2)*100. However OneNote doesn't recognise it that way - it thinks it's 1/(2*100) so you get 0.005 instead. Whoops!
On this upside, after using Office 2007 for 2 full on assignments now, I must say it's a lot better than 2003, after the initial small learning curve.
- The new ribbon interface lets you do more in less clicks once you knew where things were, which is intuitive most of the time, except for things like AutoCorrect Options, now hidden in Office orb -> Word Options -> Proofing.
- The new equation editor in Word is integrated a lot more and more intuitive.
- A quick formatting toolbar now comes up when you select text in Word, allowing you to change font, size etc.
- The new immediate word count in the status bar is awesome; saves me pressing ALT-T-W all the time.
- Excel has dumped the chart wizard - instead you get a new ribbon with the options clearly displayed, click, and it'll change your chart. It's more productive once you get used to it, but it was a bit disconcerting when I first used it.
- Excel now has formula autocomplete - start typing in your function name in the cell, and it'll offer up all the matching ones; very helpful.
- In all ribbon Office apps the old Office 2003 keyboard shortcuts still work. I discovered this when I pressed ALT-T-W because I was so used to doing that. This is great advance planning I reckon - they used different keys for the ribbon so users don't get random behaviour when they blindly use their old shortcuts.
- OneNote now recognises the writing when I print my PowerPoint lecture slides to it so I can search them too.
For OneNote though, I'd love them to add a new 'pen mode' though when installed on a tablet - yes, you can use it on a normal PC, in fact I often type instead of write on my tablet. By 'pen mode', I mean when I convert my laptop into slate form, it will hide un-necessary toolbars (e.g. text formatting), and make the toolbar buttons bigger so they're easier to tap. Check out the 'pen mode' in
Mindjet's MindManager - great implementation.
If you don't know whether to get Vista or Office, and you use Office a bit, I'd suggest Office and hold off Vista until later. Speaking of which, the
It's Not Cheating promotion (Office 2007 Ultimate for 75 bucks for students) ends May 30!