Microsoft Word 2007 - a Writer's Dream or Nightmare?

On January 30th 2007, Microsoft will launch the new version of their widely used word processing software: Microsoft Word 2007. This new version of Word may require a daunting learning curve for those accustomed to the old menus of Word or those that are set into old habits. Gone are some of the beloved menu choices such as File, Edit, View, Insert, and Format. New are Home, Insert, Page Layout, and Reference. The old menu items have been replaced by the "Ribbon". The Ribbon offers the feature of organizing commands into tabs. The new "Microsoft Office" button places all the non authoring commands such as printing, protecting, publishing, sending, all in one place. The "Live Preview" feature allows the user to view edits and format changes instantaneously by simply pointing.

A nice contemporary feature of Microsoft Word 2007 allows the user to publish their blog directly from Word. The user can configure Word 2007 to link directly to their blog. The additional benefit to this is that it allows the blogger to utilize advanced editing and formatting techniques found in Microsoft Word 2007. In the current explosion of blogging, this may prove to be one of the best assets of this software.

Other benefits of the new Microsoft Word 2007 include: reduced file sizes, improvement in corrupt file recoveries, removal of tracked changes, comments, and hidden text, better integration with Outlook and Excel, and saving PDF or XPS directly from Office 2007. There will also be a live word count feature that will keep a running tab of your word count as you type. A full size reading mode will make reading online content easier on the eyes and possibly reducing the need to print as often. Digital signatures can be added to the document and frequently used content can quickly be added to any document.