Office 2010 or 2013?

[StevieM]

Hi Everyone

 

We have just taken out an EES for Windows and Office Pro, and I am after advice from you helpful folks as to whether I should upgrade from Office 2003 to Office 2010 or 2013.

 

Our admin staff are currently using 2010, so it would make some sense to set this as the standard across the school. Another point in favour of 2010 is that it seems easier to install and deploy. On the downloads link of 2013, the special instructions read, "Please Note: The Office Web Apps Server Setup Key is required for product installation." Looking into this further, it would appear that I would need to set up a virtual machine to run the Web Apps Server, as our main server is currently running SQL Server.

 

However, the Home User Program only offers Office 2013 for staff to purchase for their home computers. How different are the two systems and how difficult would it be for staff to switch between the two? Are there any major benefits to installing 2013 over 2010? Or, more to the point, is there an easier way of managing the installation and deployment of 2013 across the school?

 

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

Stevie M

[FN-GM]

You deploy Office 2010 and 2013 the same way.

 

We upgraded from 2010 to 2013 so the machines match the version of office offer in the HUP.

 

An office web apps server is not required.

[StevieM]

Thanks for that. I wonder why it's got that misleading message on the VLSC then? The very first paragraph reads:

 

Please Note: The Office Web Apps Server Setup Key is required for product installation. Web Apps are available under the x86 (32 bit) Operating System Type drop down. Please visit the Office Web Apps Resource Center for additional information.

 

But if you've been there and done that, that's good enough for me.

[localzuk]

That statement used to exist on the 2010 option too. It is there because there is also a download for the Office Web Apps in the same place as the usual installable.

[StevieM]

Oh, ok. We've already got our school email with MS Live/365/Outlook whatever they're calling it now, so staff and pupils already have access to the cut down Web Apps.

[Sylv3r]

We've gone to 2013 this summer with no issues.

 

2003 > 2010

or

2003 > 2013

 

Is going to be a massive learning curve for both staff and students no matter which one you choose.

[localzuk]

Does SIMS.net support 2013 yet? It didn't when I looked before summer I don't think.

[Arthur]

Does SIMS.net support 2013 yet?

Not officially until the Autumn 2013 upgrade, but it appears to work just fine. I haven't had any teachers complaining so far since starting back.

[Guest Guest]

Not officially until the Autumn 2013 upgrade, but it appears to work just fine. I haven't had any teachers complaining so far since starting back.

 

This. As said it's going to be a learning curve either way so just go for 2013. Saves upgrading a year down the road and going tthrough all the headaches all over again.

 

We're on 2013 and we've had almost no complaints at all - unbelievable when you think about it!

[m25man]

Whilst we have not had any problems with Office 2013 itself, we have had no end of issues with 3rd party apps that use Word as an editor!

Template issues, Macros and of course the actual application versions (Word14 I think).

 

If you have any form of Word/Excel integrated applications, you really do need to check that 2013 is actually supported before rolling it out everywhere.

 

In most cases it will be the 3rd Party software provider that needs to provide the compatibility update but many are dragging their heels in doing so.

[StevieM]

Whilst we have not had any problems with Office 2013 itself, we have had no end of issues with 3rd party apps that use Word as an editor!

 

That's a REALLY good point. We use the Nelson Handwriting software, which uses macros to create the cursive element of the font. I had so many problems getting it to work on 2003 in the first place that it's bound to be an issue on an upgrade. I'll be sure to check that out on the test machine before I roll it out across the school.

[Sylv3r]

Good point about Office 2013 compatibility with other software.

 

Our Sage BI package doesn't work with 2013.

[apeman]

The question now is will you go with Office 2013 32bit or 64bit??

[free780]

32bit in case you have software that has 32bit plugins.

[StevieM]

All our curriculum machines have a 32-bit OS, so I don't even have to consider that question.I've installed Office 2013 on my own laptop now and the Nelson Handwriting font works. It's even easier to enable the macros in 2013 so we're good to go on that one. The next step is to deploy it to a test machine on the domain and try different users with various privileges and network locations. Then, all being well, I'll roll it out across the school next week. I've got to say I really like it. As others have said, it will be a steep learning curve for staff and students (and a rewrite of ICT planning!), but I think the fact that staff can buy their own copy for £8.95 is a bit of a sweetener. Even if I get moaned at, we can't stay on Office 2003 forever.

[SYNACK]

32bit in case you have software that has 32bit plugins.

 

 

 

 

even ms themselves recommend using 32 bit Office even on a 64bit os because of compatibility, they only recommend 64bit excel if using large spreadsheets ie millions of rows.

[StevieM]

Thanks everyone. Testing went perfectly and I am now deploying to one of our ICT suites as I type.