A new release or a new software?

It has been a while since I switched to OpenOffice.org for my everyday word processing needs. The reason behind it is very simple: my new laptop didn't come with Microsoft Office installed!
OpenOffice.org was a suitable alternative with many of MS Office capabilities and it was free. Besides, I had MS Office installed on my older laptop, in case I needed it.

I think MS Word 97 was the first word processing software that I ever used. And then there came Word 2000, and after that, 2003--which I kept on using for many years to come! When I think back, I do not remember having much difficulty transitioning from one version of MS Office suite to the next. Obviously, each new release had new features, but the main graphical user interface (GUI) stayed somewhat the same so the intermediate to advanced users could find their ways around it faster and with less effort.

Well, "there comes a time when we heed a certain call" (and by "we", I meant "I")! Obviously, it was not by choice that I had to start using MS Office 2007 at school! And did I wish I had a chance to familiarize myself with it prior to the class!?

This new release is by far the most changed version of MS Word I have ever seen. The GUI is completely new! They have changed the location of the menu items and toolbars dramatically! Even finding simple commands like "Save As" has become a chore! They call this new toolbar the "Ribbon"--an entangled one, I guess!

Obviously, just like any other Microsoft product, Word 2007 is not free of glitches either! For example, I was trying to change the font of one sentence and it changed the font of the entire document for me--and this happened three times in a row! I had also difficulties with inserting page breaks and numbered lists.

OK! Enough of sarcasm!
I must admit, I like the added color and the fluidity of the menu items! It has become more dynamic and visually appealing.
Maybe if I wasn't under pressure to learn this new release and produce a presentable document in one short hour, or if I didn't care for its more advanced features, I would have had better things to say about it.

Regardless, I believe there should be a limit on the amount change introduced in a new software release.