M$ Office 2007 experience - requirements?

[RatLabGuy]

Family is gathering change to buy a cheapo laptop for sis-in-law for X-mas, she's going back to comm college and needs one for schoolwork etc.

She says they use the new MS Office there and really prefer the students to.
Microsoft states minimum requirements are only 500 Mhz CPU and 256 M RAM, which anything has nowadays... but I know the apps are really memory hoggy and my experience is that M$ tends to really understate these things.
I'm looking for input on what folks have found to be the REAL minimums - e.g. would an older 1.7Ghz Celeron or Pentium M on 512m or 1 gig be reasonably smooth sailing under XP Pro?

 

[Ron]

Xp yes....VISTA...no where close

 

[Macdaddy4738]

If she can, start messing around with the new MS Word EARLY. Its a pain in the ass to figure it out when your in the middle of writing a paper.

 

[stevehayden]

Check out openoffice.org IT guy at work uses it instead of paying M$ and has run it thruogh it's paces. Said it"s the way to go.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Thanks for the tips.
I'm not intending a debate of using '07 or not - fact is, she is not a "computer person" by any means, and is best served just using what is used in her classes. not what I would do but that is irelevant.
I just want to know if it will run fine in a slightler older style (e.g. generation or two behind) unit.

 

[hscrugby]

Thanks for the tips.
I'm not intending a debate of using '07 or not - fact is, she is not a "computer person" by any means, and is best served just using what is used in her classes. not what I would do but that is irelevant.
I just want to know if it will run fine in a slightler older style (e.g. generation or two behind) unit.

Word 07, Outlook 07 just fine on XP on the old bits.
Excel or Access 07 on old bits makes baby Jesus cry.

If she needs Excel, try to pick up a "newer" laptop. I tried running it on an older AMD xp3200 (I think? somewhere around there) and it just got CRUSHED with any complicated spreadsheets.
But I second what was said about getting her to play with 07 before it's the night before a paper is due.
If you watch slickdeals.net etc, you can find decent laptops for ~300-400. Won't play games, but will be fine for schoolwork.

 

[Ron]

Word 07, Outlook 07 just fine on XP on the old bits.
Excel or Access 07 on old bits makes baby Jesus cry.
If she needs Excel, try to pick up a "newer" laptop. I tried running it on an older AMD xp3200 (I think? somewhere around there) and it just got CRUSHED with any complicated spreadsheets.

not being a computer person I have to wonder how many "complicated" spreadsheets she would need. I doubt vba and pivot tables are in the near future, perhaps Im wrong.

Even still, really?
Am I just waaaay missing something here?
He is talking a 1.7 GHz processor and a gig of ram.....Id understand if we were talking about a 266 or pre pentium, but damn.....Guess Ive just never ran that marginal....

I guess I need to delete my original comments I may not have a clue.

 

[Caver Dave]

MSO 2K7 runs fine on our older desktops and our "middle of the road" laptops (not the fastest available, just new).

A few words of advice from someone that's supported laptops (& the idiots toting them) for the past 15+ years...

- Do NOT spend anything more than $100 on a used laptop! Anything more will just cost MORE when it dies or breaks mid-semester. Plan to spend another $100-150 for a standalone USB drive to use as "backup" for when it dies and harp on the virtues of "back up NOW, back up OFTEN".

- Watch the fine print on NEW laptops! While many can be had for $400, they also just have a 30 DAY warranty. Something that's opened/closed repeatedly, lugged all over campus, & generally banged about WILL NOT LAST. While these "cheap" laptops may be cheap enough to purchase new every 1-2 years, the time & anguish spent over trying to recover data or retrieve files (ONLY happens when the deadline is looming over you!) ain't worth the price. Many vendors offer the equivalent of "accidental death & dismemberment" coverage. This isn't cheap but will cover any damages, whether accidental or deliberate...

 

[fishgutz]

2GB min

MSO2K7 is a memory hog. 1GB min but really needs 2GB to run without dragging down the system. Vista is the same needs 4GB to run properly.
I also ditto the Openoffice.org Free! Writes to MS word format. And if enough student tell the prof to go stuff his MS endorsement, he or she will have to do the right thing.
Besides, MS has a converter to back convert from 2007 to 2003.

 

[hscrugby]

not being a computer person I have to wonder how many "complicated" spreadsheets she would need. I doubt vba and pivot tables are in the near future, perhaps Im wrong.
Even still, really?
Am I just waaaay missing something here?
He is talking a 1.7 GHz processor and a gig of ram.....Id understand if we were talking about a 266 or pre pentium, but damn.....Guess Ive just never ran that marginal....
I guess I need to delete my original comments I may not have a clue.

I have no idea what classes she's taking?
I mean, my buddy the accountant is the LAST person I would call a "computer" person, but he makes excel CRY. And if you're using excel or access for any classes, I think dual core is absolutely required.

As for the cheap laptops I was talking about, I was talking about the weird, stacking coupons, cheap deals from dell etc so you get them for a good deal. (Although I LOVE me some Lenovo laptops. The T series. Damn near indestructible. I ran over mine with my jeep twice, and when I quit, gave it to my replacement and he's still using it. Don't ask, I had a habit of setting it on my tire to put my shoes on. Second time it fell off and got run over, I cured myself of that, and went back to using a backpack. )

 

[RatLabGuy]

Well, in the end, it ended up being a new Dell Vostro A860 for $440 delivered.. 2.1GHz Cel & 1 Gb DDR2. Unfortunately, it comes w/ Vista Home and there was no way around that, no option to change OS. If it's too doggy, may just have to add another 1 G later.

Basically it came down to that, or $250 for osmething used/refurb but XP, which was my vote, but MIL really wanted a warranty and since she's Queen, that wins.

I really don't know what app they're doing either, she's at Caldwell... but I'm sure Excell will come up if it hasn't yet, many applied math classes use it now. Access is really doubtful.

Oh and X2 on the Thinkpads... I had a 390e I also drove over, still tickin. Last night I ordered myself a snazzy new T400 ;-) Nothing feels so sturdy, that's teh kind of thin ga clumsy oaf like me needs.