We did a test install on about 10 users PCs, people who use Office
daily, to gather feedback and test for problems. Based on the feedback
received from our test users, we're not anticipating any issues with the
migration, and training will be minimal. We'll be developing FAQ's
based on problems the test users encountered with the user interface.
Otherwise, I agree with David; 2007 is actually easier for our novice
users to navigate.
I have no plans to move to Vista, period. We're not a laptop school,
but for our environment there is no perceivable benefit that Vista could
provide us. We'd have to spend a fair amount of cash to upgrade some of
our machines the 3-year old range with more RAM just to run it smoothly.
Also, until ATI gets some stable Vista drivers out the door, I imagine
I'd see regular crashes here just like I do at home (I'm almost to the
point of moving back to XP Pro at home).
Now, to respond to your comment on "keeping them stuck with Office 2007
through 2012", I'm assuming you perform no software upgrades on these
laptops through their entire school life. In that instance, sticking
with XP could prove problematic, as Microsoft will eventually
discontinue support for XP, including security updates. Vista should
last you longer in that line of thinking, just be sure to order the
laptops with 2GB of RAM, discreet graphics chipsets, and turn off the
eye candy.
S
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of David Rossell
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 3:20 PM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Vista & Office 2007 on new student laptops
We'll be moving to Office 2007 next year but are holding off on Vista.
Office 2007 is easier for novice users than 2003, and OneNote 2007
provides
some important enhancements over OneNote 2003. Every time I've loaded
Vista,
I've loved the eye candy, but ended up giving up on it after persistent
problems with printer drivers, management software, and incompatibility
with
other software we use on a daily basis.
David
=09
David Rossell
Administrator of Network Services and Planning
Norwood School
8821 River Rd.
Bethesda, MD 20817
(301) 841-2178
drossell@norwoodschool.org
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Ann Hamel
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 1:10 PM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Vista & Office 2007 on new student laptops
Alex,
My experience with the two products this year would have me voting for
just the opposite. Vista has been nothing but a thorn in our side.
There are so many things we can no longer do because of the dramatic
changes in Vista. Very security-oriented, but not user friendly. Maybe
the SP1 will be out by summer, but even then I would be cautious. On
the other hand, the transition to Office 2007 has been fairly smooth.
The changes there are mostly visual and not conceptual and the learning
curve has been a nice and gentle slope. Our students (who supply their
own laptops) have come to us begging to help them re-install XP over
their Vista and others have given us the
patiently-waiting-for-you-to-catch-up look in regards to Office 2007 -
no changes wanted there.
Good luck!
-Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Alex Ragone
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 11:02 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Vista & Office 2007 on new student laptops
Jason,
We've decided to go to Vista on new machines and hold off on Office 2007
as we feel the changes to Office offer a greater challenge to our entire
community than the incremental change to Vista. =20
We are struggling with how to move to Office 2007. Lots of training may
be required with little benefit to the education that happens here.
- Alex
A forum for independent school educators <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
writes:
>I'm debating with myself as I often do about configuring our incoming
>student notebooks with Vista and Office 2007.
>
>I feel we need to move our incoming students to Office 2007 so they are
>not stuck with Office 2003 through their senior year in 2012. I'm not
>sure about moving to Vista.
>
>Would you stay with XP or go to Vista this summer?
>Would you stay with Office 2003 or move to Office 2007 this year?
>
>
>
>Thank you for your input!
>
>
>Jason Hyams
>Director of Technology
>St. Agnes Academy
>
>[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
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>
+++++++++++++++++++++
Alex Ragone
Director of Technology
Collegiate School
New York, NY
212-812-8695
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons,
attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons,
attribution,
non-commercial, share-alike license.
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons,
attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
