Increased Productivity, Powerful business tools, presentable documents, easy to use and customizable
Disadvantages:
Expensive, takes up a lot of disk space .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MICROSOFT OFFICE 2000 PROFESSIONAL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Computer software can be confusing. There are many many different types of software out there that can perform all sorts of wierd and wonderful functions from fulfilling gaming needs to assisting in the day to day running of multi-national companies.
I have a particular love of business software. I am not sure why, this is a fascination I have had since I was very young, and I am fortunate to have a job in which I use a variety of software products that were designed to make the everyday running of a business easier.
Microsoft Office is a particular favourite of mine as it makes my life so much easier at work and at home and I find the papplications particularly enjoyable to use.
Microsoft have brought out numerous versions of their famous Office Suite including Office 97, Office 2000, Office 2003, Office XP and now with the launch of Windows Vista, Microsoft have unveiled their latest edition of the Office software, Office 2007!
This review is on the applications included within Microsoft Office 2000 which is the version that I use at home. (I use Office 2003 at work).
For the purposes of the review I will be reviewing each different application separately as each is in itself an individual program that perfoms a unique function.
The programmes that are included as part of Microsoft Office 2000 Professional are:
Microsoft Word 2000 Microsoft Excel 2000 Microsoft Outlook 2000 Microsoft Powerpoint 2000 Microsoft Access 2000 Microsoft Publisher 2000
Ok. Lets get started!
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, MICROSOFT WORD 2000 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Microsoft Word is a powerful word processing application which is both easy to use and practical. I use Word a lot for writing both business and personal letters, as well as various reports, memos, faxes and for creating documents such as thesis, curriculum vitae's and directorys.
Surprisingly Microsoft Word has been around for a substantial amount of time. It was originally released in the year that I was born! 1983! The original version was designed for DOS (that takes me back!) and subsequent versions were later released in 1984 for the Mac and 1989 for Microsoft Windows!
Within Word users can customise their documents by including such features as tables, drawings, pictures, graphs etc. Therefore Word could be used as a basic form of desktop publishing although Microsoft Publisher would be more suited to this purpose (I will discuss Microsoft Publisher later in this review.)
If you are not very good at spelling, Word incorporates a powerful spell checker which will ensure that your documents are always accurate.
If you are a beginner to Word, I highly recommend the powerful help files included with the software. With the Office Assistant you can ask a question and help will search for the answer for you and give you step by step instructions oon how to complete the required activity.
Using Microsoft Word I have created heaps of professional documents which always give an air of superiority at work. I would highly recommend Word and I cannot think of any flaws with the program.
To use Word 2000, you need:
PC with a Pentium 75-megahertz (MHz) or higher processor Microsoft Windows 95 or later operating system, or Microsoft Windows NT Workstation operating system version 4.0 Service Pack 3 or later For Windows 95 or Windows 98: 16 megabytes (MB) of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 4 MB of RAM for Microsoft Word For Windows NT Workstation: 32 MB of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 4 MB of RAM for Word 147 MB of available hard-disk space (Number indicates typical installation; your hard-disk usage will vary depending on configuration. Choices made during custom installation may require more or less hard-disk space.) CD-ROM drive VGA- or higher-resolution monitor; Super VGA recommended Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device Additional items or services required to use certain features: 9600-baud modem; 14,400- or higher-baud modem recommended Multimedia computer required to access sound and other multimedia effects Microsoft Outlook 2000 or Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 or later required to run Microsoft Office E-mail 8 MB of additional RAM required to run Office E-mail Some Internet functionality may require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to a service provider
Rating: 10/10
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, MICROSOFT EXCEL 2000 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ' What can I say! Microsoft Excel is the single Office application that I use most often. I love Microsoft Excel!
Excel is a spreadsheet application, and a very powerful one at that!
Excel is famous for its ability to perform complex calculations however it is useful for a whole range of other things that are non-numerical.
I use Excel a lot for creating budgets at work and Excel is absolutely ideal for any sort of number crunching function. From analysing data taken in surveys to working out loan payments and creating professional accounting reports.
Excel is capable of creating some high quality charts and graphs which are all fully customisable and easy to use.
Excel is laid out like other spreadsheet applications in a row and column format, making it easy to format your information and easy to read and understand complex spreadsheets.
Macros can be recorded in excel to make complex tasks much simpler at the touch of a button.
Towards the more advanced level I use excel a lot to create VBA applications that assist my company in its day to day work. Excel is fully customisable (as are all Office applications) and indeed you could almost re-write the toolbars and layout using VBA to create an application finely tuned to your companies requirements.
As with Microsoft Word I cannot think of a single negative point about Microsoft Excel.
To use Excel 2000, you need:
PC with a Pentium 75-megahertz (MHz) or higher processor Microsoft Windows 95 or later operating system, or Microsoft Windows NT Workstation operating system version 4.0 Service Pack 3 or later For Windows 95 or Windows 98: 16 megabytes (MB) of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 4 MB of RAM for Excel For Windows NT Workstation: 32 MB of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 4 MB of RAM for Excel 146 MB of available hard-disk space (Number indicates typical installation; your hard-disk usage will vary depending on configuration. Choices made during custom installation may require more or less hard-disk space.) CD-ROM drive VGA- or higher-resolution monitor; Super VGA recommended Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device Additional items or services required to use certain features: 9600-baud modem; 14,400- or higher-baud modem recommended Multimedia computer required to access sound and other multimedia effects Microsoft Outlook 2000 or Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 or later required to run Microsoft Office E-mail 8 MB of additional RAM required to run Office E-mail Some Internet functionality may require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to a service provider
Rating: 10/10
''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''' MICROSOFT OUTLOOK 2000 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ' ''''''''' Microsoft Outlook is an email application that is not to be confused with Outlook Express!
It is very powerful and is very well laid out making it very easy to find the emails that you require. Outlook also incorporates a powerful search facility which will enable you to find emails that you have either archived or that you have moved to another folder within Outlook.
All Microsofts applications link into Outlook making it easy for you to send a document via email directly from the application that it is associated with, Excel, Word, etc.
There are powerful mail tools incorporated enabling you to track an email once sent in the form of a delivery report and read report. HTML capability within Outlook allows you to send professional looking emails at the touch of a button.
Outlook incorporates a neat calender and diary system enabling you to keep track of your appointments and set reminders to come up on screen in order that you do not miss important meetings or appointments. This has saved me many embarrassing moments by always ensuring that I know what I am doing on any one day!
The only thing that I don't like about Outloook is that I don't believe that the junk mail filter is very good as I still get a large quantity of unwanted junk mail in my inbox which I have to trawl through everyday as well as some important emails from clients ending up in the junk email folder, where I quite often miss them.
Other than that Outlook is a very useful and powerful email application which I like a lot
To use Outlook 2000, you need:
PC with a Pentium 75-megahertz (MHz) or higher processor Microsoft Windows 95 or later operating system, or Microsoft Windows NT Workstation operating system version 4.0 Service Pack 3 or later For Windows 95 or Windows 98: 16 megabytes (MB) of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 8 MB of RAM for Outlook For Windows NT Workstation: 32 MB of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 8 MB of RAM for Outlook 153 MB of available hard-disk space (Number indicates typical installation; your hard-disk usage will vary depending on configuration. Choices made during custom installation may require more or less hard-disk space.) CD-ROM drive VGA- or higher-resolution monitor; Super VGA recommended Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device Additional items or services required to use certain features: 9600-baud modem; 14,400- or higher-baud modem recommended Multimedia computer required to access sound and other multimedia effects Microsoft Mail, Microsoft Exchange, Internet SMTP/POP3, IMAP4, or other MAPI-compliant messaging software required to use e-mail Microsoft Exchange Server required for certain advanced collaboration functionality in Microsoft Outlook Some Internet functionality may require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to a service provider
Rating: 9/10
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, MIC ROSOFT POWERPOINT 2000 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ' ''''''''''''''''''''' Microsoft Powerpoint is a powerful presentaion application. It enables you to create high quality professional slideshows which are ideal for meetings and presentations.
As with all the Microsoft Office applications, Powerpoint is easy to use and slides are quickly produced and easily formatted to a high standard.
Personally I do not use Powerpoint very much but on the occasions that I have used it, it is very easy to use and great fun to work with. Of course the overall result of the presentaion depends which effects you apply and the formatting that you use, which depends on personal taste. But all the powerpoint presentations that I have seen have been smart, dynamic and very professional.
To use PowerPoint 2000, you need:
PC with a Pentium 75-megahertz (MHz) or higher processor Microsoft Windows 95 or later operating system, or Microsoft Windows NT Workstation operating system version 4.0 Service Pack 3 or later For Windows 95 or Windows 98: 16 megabytes (MB) of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 4 MB of RAM for Microsoft PowerPoint For Windows NT Workstation: 32 MB of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 4 MB of RAM for PowerPoint 142 MB of available hard-disk space (Number indicates typical installation; your hard-disk usage will vary depending on configuration. Choices made during custom installation may require more or less hard-disk space.) CD-ROM drive VGA- or higher-resolution monitor; Super VGA recommended Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device Additional items or services required to use certain features: 9600-baud modem; 14,400- or higher-baud modem recommended Multimedia computer required to access sound and other multimedia effects Microsoft Outlook 2000 or Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 or later required to run Microsoft Office E-mail 8 MB of additional RAM required to run Office E-mail Some Internet functionality may require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to a service provider
Rating: 9/10
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, MICROSOFT ACCESS 2000 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ' ''''' Microsoft Access is a powerful database application that enables users to create databases for almost any purpose and run reports on the data held within them.
I do not use Access very much at all for the simple reason that I find it very complicated to use.
I am going to be starting a course on Access 2000 within the next 2 months so jopefully I will be able to come back and add to this section once I fully know how to use the program.
However, that said, I have used the wizards within access to get started with a few databases and have found them easy to use to get things started, but come stuck when I wish to make changes after the wizard has finished! Again, this would be down to my lack of knowledge on Access.
Overall I think it is a nice piece of software, but I do think that there are better database applications out there that arent so complicated.
To use Access 2000, you need:
PC with a Pentium 75-megahertz (MHz) or higher processor Microsoft Windows 95 or later operating system, or Microsoft Windows NT Workstation operating system version 4.0 Service Pack 3 or later For Windows 95 or Windows 98: 16 megabytes (MB) of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 8 MB of RAM for Access For Windows NT Workstation: 32 MB of RAM for the operating system, plus an additional 8 MB of RAM for Access 161 MB of available hard-disk space (Number indicates typical installation; your hard-disk usage will vary depending on configuration. Choices made during custom installation may require more or less hard-disk space.) CD-ROM drive VGA- or higher-resolution monitor; Super VGA recommended Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device Additional items or services required to use certain features: 9600-baud modem; 14,400- or higher-baud modem recommended Multimedia computer required to access sound and other multimedia effects Microsoft Outlook 2000 or Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 or later required to run Microsoft Office E-mail 8 MB of additional RAM required to run Office E-mail Some Internet functionality may require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to a service provider
Rating: 6/10
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, MICROSO FT PUBLISHER 2000 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ' ''''''''''''''' Microsoft Publisher is a powerful desktop publishing application which I use a lot at work. It enables me to create high quality reports and websites for use within the company. Indeed, the entire companies intranet has been designed on Microsoft Publisher.
Easy to use, Publisher features a kind of drag and drop interface which enables you to rapidly build up professional looking and dynamic reports, posters, brochures etc.
Publisher is shipped with a massive range of pre-set wizards for you to use in order to create documents such as:
I love Microsoft Publisher and I often create documents just for fun to practise my design skills.
I would definitely recommend Publisher to anyone who is serious about creating graphical documents for professional purposes.
To use Publisher 2000, you need:
Personal computer with a Pentium 90 or higher processor Microsoft Windows 95 operating system or later or Microsoft Windows NT Workstation operation system version 4.0 with Service Pack 3 or later 16 megabytes (MB) of RAM for running with Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98; 32 MB of RAM for running with Windows NT Workstation 4.0 127 MB of available hard-disk space for typical installation, which includes 25 MB for Clip Gallery image previews. Note: The Publisher 2000 CD includes 13 MB of clip-art previews in addition to the typical installation that you can install or run directly off the CD-ROM
CD-ROM drive VGA- or higher-resolution monitor; Super VGA recommended Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device Optional: 9600-baud modem; 14,400- or higher-baud recommended Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher (Internet Explorer 5 included), or compatible Web browser required for Microsoft Clip Gallery Live, Web Site Preview, and HTML Help Some Internet functionality may require Internet access and payment of a separate fee to a service provider
Rating: 10/10
************************************** Microsoft Office 2000 Professional also comes shipped with Microsoft Small Business Customer Manager, however this will not be reviewed here because I have never used it.
All the applications that are bundled as part of Microsoft Office can all be purchased separately.
Microsoft Office is very expensive, although as Microsoft Office 2000 is now an old version it is generally not available in most shops now but I am sure that it is available on the internet mail order or from specialist computer stores.
