Using Beta software

[bryankendall]

I want to try using the new beta Microsoft Windows 2010 that I can download for free.

QUESTION:
Is there any possible damage it might make to my PC system?

Will there be any stability issues with using a beta software? I am a writer so stability is a big issue

How long will I be able to use this beta software? One month? Two months or more? The retail version of this Microsoft Windows 2010 will be available for consumers to buy in June 2010.

Thanks,
bryan kendall

[freebird73717]

If you are wanting to use a beta Operating System I would suggest only using it on a spare system and not on your main system. There can always be stability issues using any beta software... especially when considering OS's.

If you want to play with a beta OS that is fine but don't use it on your main system. Only use it on a spare system.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Are you sure it's not Office 2010?
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/technology/120709_office_2010.html
http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx

As freebird wrote it's best to use on a spare HDD or PC, make sure you don't have an earlier version of Office installed.

[bryankendall]

Opppps! I meant to say the new Microsoft Office 2010. They have a beta download (for free) on thier office site. The full version will be available in June 2020.

[johns0]

Theres always a very small chance beta software especially drivers can cause some conflicts on your o/s but i wouldnt worry.

[freebird73717]

I still wouldn't use it on your main machine. Especially seeing as you are a writer. It would suck big time if you were in the middle of writing your next best seller novel and then Office crashed and you lost everything you wrote.

Install it on a secondary machine to give it a try but stick with your stable Office software for your work stuff.

[johns0]

Opppps! I meant to say the new Microsoft Office 2010. They have a beta download (for free) on thier office site. The full version will be available in June 2020.

MS is gonna makes use wait 10 years for their next office. If you save often you dont have to worry about crashes and losing everything.

[ron spencer]

is there any need for this? 2003 still works for everything and will 4 sure be faster than 2010...

[MOVIEGEEK]

I have 2007 and I'm happy with it, it seems they're integrating Windows Live with 2010.

[jagabo]

Never use beta software on a production machine. What could Office 2010 possibly offer that you really need?

[vhelp]

Office 2000 through 2003 are all the best you'll ever need!! I use office 2000 on my home computer here, and office 2003 at work--best two suite ever, though 2003 offers a few nice whistles. But 2007 is the office from hell. If you've used previous 2007 and worked in MS Access as long as I have, you'll know why..they changed the struture of how you view everything..query, table, everything. Just that *new* view system they revamped put us back (at least me) a week before I finally was able to get them to REMOVE 2007 from *our* systems.

..A little short, but true, story follow..

If you are a newbie who never used office, I would say no-biggy..

..but, if you are a heavy user like myself in ms access especially, then heaven help you when you try to go back into all your databases and especially those with lots of tables and links, etc. We have several databases that are close to 500 tables, tables. Then there is unique intrickicies that go into manipulating those tables *and* queries--all strategies I tell you. And your brain has a unique connection to them all and the understanding of them and *seeing* them in such a way to do yout job swiftly and quickly. But swap it for 2007 and you are lost, lost..just because of the way they changed the viewing aspects. Now I'm not talking about those of you who may have used ms access once or twice and maybe put a small database together. No! Forget you. But if you live and breeth it ms access, I'm not lying. In fact, I know someone who worked very close to me, (I taught this person (women) a lot of what I know, all 9 months worth, and she knew nothing before office) and then took another job in another company (for a lot more money--greedy bitch) (she did tell me what she was leaving this company for, $$$ but I had mercy and pitty on her and begged her not to lean or else.., well you know the else) and *she* called me screaming and and begging to have her job back.."we're friends, pals, ben through thick and thin.."
You know.. she said that she was gonna stick with it and hang in there, and I actaully believed her. Well, you what ? she lied to me she had left the company the same day, without telling me, only leaving me to believe she was sticking it out, and then later I found out that she left it the next day, regretting and crying! I warned her. I pleaded with her. But anyway, she's back and loving every minute of it and we talk and laugh about it, now, "see, I told you"..the end.

-vhelp 5269

:P *~*!*~*!~* HaPpY HoLiDaYs *~*!*~*!~*

[ocgw]

I have Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise "Blue Book Edition", I only load Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher and Word, and even on my main rig it is "wee bit" of a hog

ocgw

peace

[AlanHK]

Will there be any stability issues with using a beta software? I am a writer so stability is a big issue

Why would you want to use it?
If you're a professional writer, you already have all the features you need.

In fact, after a new install most professional writers have to spend rather a lot of time turning off and disabling "features" of Word that simply get in the way.

Wordprocessors were "feature complete" back in DOS days. All the crap that's been added since then is just time wasting fluff.

Compare:
Download DOS Word 5.5 from Microsoft -- they make it available free (as a Y2K patched version), and it's not a beta, it will run forever.
http://download.microsoft.com/download/word97win/Wd55_be/97/WIN98/EN-US/Wd55_ben.exe

[MOVIEGEEK]

I used 2000 for many years until my work started to use Outlook and Excel 2007, I had to upgrade reluctantly. The layout is different with 2007, which took awhile to get used to, but basically the only programs they changed were Outlook and Excel. As for Word I always output "Word 97-2003" for compatibility.

[bryankendall]

Thanks for the great, useful and true advice!

[me-eyes]

I've been using the beta for the last couple of weeks - no problems with it at all. It is similar to 2007 than 2003 version (still has the ribbon) but is more intuitive and has some improved features (esp in Outlook). I think you can install alongside 2007 (not sure as I chose to uninstall it) but definitely have had no gripes with it so far.

[jollyjohn]

Beta = crap.

[Nelson37]

If stability is a big issue, or even a little issue, then you stay far, far away from Beta software. Not Fully Tested.

What exactly does the new Word do for you that the old Word does not, aside from moving all the important menu commands to different locations, and causing your documents to be incompatible with the majority of other Word users?