Microsoft Office 2013 Customer Preview Released

[alphanumeric]

One thing that annoys me is the Ribbon won't stay minimized.

It minimizes, just differently now. Click the Exit Full Screen Mode button in the top right corner beside the question mark. Ribbon disappears. If you want it back, go to the very top of the screen and click anywhere in the gray bar (which isn't there unless you put your mouse up there) and left-click. Ribbon appears. When you're done with the ribbon, click anywhere below it. Ribbon disappears.

That works but it also hides the quick launch bar, which I use. Its weird because now the first email I open in a folder, the ribbon is minimized the way I want it. Once I delete it and the next one opens automatically the ribbon is open again. Its not a big deal but its annoying. It was something that was easily done in Office 2007/2010.

 

[Colonel Travis]

alpha - yeah, I see what you mean. If I just look at email in the preview window the ribbon stays down. But if I open it in a new window it's there. Wonder if that's a bug.

EDIT- In Word, when you open a second window the ribbon does stay down in that one, if you had it down in the first one. Same with OneNote. I don't know if MS is taking feedback here, or how they are, or if they even care, but I'd drop them a line.

 

[alphanumeric]

In Outlook 2007 or 2010 if you click the down arrow (customize quick access toolbar) in the quick access toolbar, there was a "Minimize the Ribbon" option you could check mark. Its not there in outlook 2013. Its like Microsoft wants the Ribbon it in your face, just like Metro.

 

[pparks1]

Not a fan of the white layout at all. I do like ability to edit a PDF and I like being able to respond to an email in the preview pane of Outlook and click a button to "pop out" if necessary.

 

[Boastree]

It is starting to look like all of us PC users have had our last big advances from Microsoft, Windows 7 and Office 2010, though I hope not. It seems to me that the world, including Microsoft, has decided to exert their efforts keeping up with a dead man's (Jobs) mobile dreams. Fortunately for me I am on the downhill slide myself and if Windows 7 and Office 2010 is as good as it get then I am content with that, though I do hope the corporate world has not completely given up those of us that prefer a more simple and functional approach to life. Perhaps Windows 9 and Office 2015 will be a step forward not further back.

 

[caleb97]

I can't see a really good reason for forking out to upgrade to 2013 from 2010 to be honest. The cloud integration is good and there are a few minor improvements but the interface is bland and looks really out of place on Windows 7. Also there are no outstanding improvements to justify paying hundreds of pounds to upgrade.

 

[Stratos]

Not sure whether I like this new Office or not. I'm all for simplicity but I can't seem to get over how overly plain it looks, almost like it's missing something. I also don't like the fonts used in many of MS's Win8 and now Office 2013, it looks too large and too thin.

 

[Nigsy]

Won't install on W8 preview??

 

[alkaufmann]

Using the cloud for Outlook

Does anyone use the Cloud for their Outlook data files? It would be nice if those data files could also be shared between not only different computers but different users. I work in a small office where everyone wants to use my computer to check the company e-mail and it becomes a pain.

Ak

 

[alphanumeric]

Won't install on W8 preview??

Which Preview? Developer, Consumer, or Release Preview? The 64 bit version installed OK on my windows 8 64 bit Release Preview.

 

[Nigsy]

Won't install on W8 preview??

Which Preview? Developer, Consumer, or Release Preview? The 64 bit version installed OK on my windows 8 64 bit Release Preview.

Running W8 Consumer Preview 64bit, running in a VM if that makes any difference?

I have installed it on my W7 PC and I must say I like the new basic style ribbon - I just need functionality, does't need to be pretty.

 

[windude99]

I don't like how the icons for Office 2013 are Metroified. They look really odd on my taskbar with Aero-inspired icons. Plus, i can't stand the look of Office 2013. I'm going to wait for Office 2013 to come out then I'm probably going to buy Office 2010 for a reduced price.

 

[lkgriffith]

Gack. Microsoft lies through their teeth. While downloading the customer preview, I have been presented with a window that says they are doing some finishing touches. This implies a short process. In fact, they are downloading the bulk of the preview software. THAT is no way near "finishing touches". It is the whole ball of wax. It has been running the better part of an hour on an upgraded DSL connection.

I am waiting with baited breath to discover this is the apex of my experience with Office 2013. I expect that it will be down hill from here. Rapidly down hill.

Actually, I was quite happy with Office 2003 but was forced to move to Office 2007 because of their damn docx format. The ribbon is an invention from hell. It is the worst imaginable user interface subordinate to only a command line. You have to search to find anything. What you need is almost always in another ribbon. Where, you guess is as good as mine. Yet, Microsoft is pushing the ribbon interface onto a world where the displays are wide and short and, in which documents are ALL tall and narrow. The result is you get to see a slit of your document and a glut of their demented ribbon user interface.

Unfortunately, they are the 1600 lb gorilla in the forest and they get to set where ever they want. Apple is a 400 lb chimpanzee, a bit faster and a little smarter, but still sits pretty much where ever it wants to sit. The customer? He gets to eat the stuff falling down from the trees populated by the gorillas and chimpanzees.

Open source? You have to be kidding. It's free and worth every penny you spend to buy it.

I suspect that I will stay with Office 2007 and Windows 7 as long as I possibly can.

 

[lkgriffith]

Finally, Office 2013 loaded.

Upon inspection of Word, it appears to be functionally identical to Word 2007 except is is totally flat. The bound of the various features are all but indistinguishable. Perhaps there are new features but they are not evident.

I am aware that I could use it to access the Microsoft cloud and share documents. Not at all interested. I create technical documents that need to be secure. There is no way I will share them with Microsoft let alone the world. I have my own chunk of the cloud and my own security practice use to share documents with exactly those whom I wish to share.

Initial assessment: there is no reason to switch if even for free. At a cost of hundreds of dollars? You and Microsoft must be smoking some really good stuff to believe that.

The preview is not even interesting enough to give it another chance. I am going to delete it ASAP!

 

[lkgriffith]

Office 2013 uninstalled but not without an error. The uninstall process terminated with an error. After trying several things, I simply rebooted the system. After which, Office 2013 was gone - bliss!

 

[alphanumeric]

Won't install on W8 preview??

Which Preview? Developer, Consumer, or Release Preview? The 64 bit version installed OK on my windows 8 64 bit Release Preview.

Running W8 Consumer Preview 64bit, running in a VM if that makes any difference?

I have installed it on my W7 PC and I must say I like the new basic style ribbon - I just need functionality, does't need to be pretty.

It might be by design that it will only install on the latest release of Windows 8. What error did you get?

 

[nobilis]

Well, I've been using Office 2003 for a couple years now. Now, Microsoft is trying to mesmerize my eye coordination with their"cloudy" features.
Overall, the graphical user interface is plain white just like on paper however the layout has been modified through it's predecessor's.

Unfortunately, they are the 1600 lb gorilla in the forest and they get to set where ever they want. Apple is a 400 lb chimpanzee, a bit faster and a little smarter, but still sits pretty much where ever it wants to sit. The customer? He gets to eat the stuff falling down from the trees populated by the gorillas and chimpanzees.

Initial assessment: there is no reason to switch if even for free. At a cost of hundreds of dollars? You and Microsoft must be smoking some really good stuff to believe that.

 

[Nigsy]

Which Preview? Developer, Consumer, or Release Preview? The 64 bit version installed OK on my windows 8 64 bit Release Preview.

Running W8 Consumer Preview 64bit, running in a VM if that makes any difference?

I have installed it on my W7 PC and I must say I like the new basic style ribbon - I just need functionality, does't need to be pretty.

It might be by design that it will only install on the latest release of Windows 8. What error did you get?

It just stoped after unpacking the files from the .exe and the message was "Office 2013 can't install on Windows 8" - Not an issue just thought I would run the office preview where it belonged, in Windows 8.

 

[alphanumeric]

Running W8 Consumer Preview 64bit, running in a VM if that makes any difference?

I have installed it on my W7 PC and I must say I like the new basic style ribbon - I just need functionality, does't need to be pretty.

It might be by design that it will only install on the latest release of Windows 8. What error did you get?

It just stoped after unpacking the files from the .exe and the message was "Office 2013 can't install on Windows 8" - Not an issue just thought I would run the office preview where it belonged, in Windows 8.

System requirements for Office 2013 Preview
It says Windows 8 is supported, and I didn't see any mention of a specific version? I just skimmed though it though.

 

[hArLtRoN]

Thanks for link! Downloading now!