Yatta!

[hsapiens]

I have a new computer! (Well, a new CPU.) It runs Windows 7 -- and I'm favorably impressed. It's well-designed, it runs ALL of my favorite freeware downloads, it runs the 32-bit software I already own, and it runs all of my hardware of varying ages. Sad that this is a surprise but I'm grateful nonetheless. If I can just figure out how to make Windows Explorer show me the file extensions, I'll be a happy camper. (I'm sure I'll get used to the loss of menus in various applications but I'm slow at adapting to this particular change.)

I cannot say the same for Word 2007. What in the world did they do the menus? More importantly -- WHY?!? It took me far too long to figure out how to find, "Save As..."

In a perfect world, I'd have purchased a 27" iMac, a brand new license of Photoshop CS4 for Mac for it, and had two huge monitors. (I dream of having all the Photoshop palettes on one screen and my graphic on another.) Alas, money was the determining factor so I chose to go with a Windows box. I'm not unhappy, though, as my new toy is zippy and works with my very nice quality speakers, my printer, my monitor, my array of external hard drives, and my iPod.

Comments

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the new computer. At work we use PCs so I'm more than familiar with WORD 2007 and ITA with your concerns.

[princessofg.livejournal.com]

congratulations!

[la-directora.livejournal.com]

I have always thought the redesign of Office 2007 was a travesty. I can't IMAGINE why they would take a major software package that has MILLIONS of users, that has had the same, consistent interface for YEARS, and make such drastic changes to it. The only reason I can find stuff on there fairly easily is that I learned it using trial by fire - by teaching Office 2007 classes. :) I used the teacher's manual to teach myself the new interface the night before the classes. It was very stressful. :)

I don't like it at all. Seriously. Oh, and having a new file format that isn't backwardly compatible with the most recent version of the app? Yeah, THAT was smart. :P

Oh, and congrats on the new computer. :)

[slavelabour.livejournal.com]

YAY for new computers! I almost did what you did and go the Mac route but, yeah, it would have meant a new CS4 and no, no thank you. At least I can take my wacom with me on the laptop now, which is very cool. And yesss about Word. There are a couple of nice features but I'm constantly in compatibility mode for my betas.

[winterfish.livejournal.com]

Yay, new computer! Thank you for posting about this. I'm at a stage where I'm starting to contemplate my next computer, and have been wondering if Windows 7 is an improvement over Vista.

I was looking at iMacs a couple of weeks ago and went all starry eyed, but the switch seems daunting, what with needing totally new everything! (Plus, the money considerations, of course.)

[superl99.livejournal.com]

I bloody HATE Office 2007. It's the least intuitive and annoying piece of shite ever. Not to mention that you have to make an effort to save every document as a special file type just to make it readable by anyone who doesn't have 2007. This isn't really new, but between 97 and 2003 they had managed to keep it consistently compatible without any special tricks. Bastards.
Glad you have a new shiny though! I haven't upgraded my Vista (*spit*) machine to 7 yet because I haven't had time- even Mama is ahead of me there, although she cheated by getting Karen to install and set it up for her! ;)

[superbadgirl]

1) congrats
2) ITA about Word 2007. I hate the whole suite - it doesn't make any sort of sense. It always, always takes me forever to find applications I use all the time (you'd think I'd remember where they were since I use them often, but no - every time I go on a search and rescue mission), and lord help me if I forget to save something as compatible with 97-2003.

[bleekabyebye.livejournal.com]

Hey, Lady! *waves*

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

Happy new computer! Yay!

I have Windows 7 on my desktop and my new laptop now, too. I'm very happy with it so far.

I agree with you about Word 2007. It has some cool new features, but I cannot figure out how to do basic stuff, such as close out a file without closing out the program--unless I have more than one file open. It has taken me forever to figure out very simple things, too, like changing margins and such. I can do it now, but now I can't figure out how to make my preferred changes the default for Word.

OTOH, I don't hate it, so I hope to get used to it over time. This is not as big a change as going from a Commodore 128 to a DOS PC or moving from DOS to Windows (which I did not want to do--I liked DOS *g*).

Have fun with the new computer. :-)