28 May 2009

Windows, Office and Explorer: Which versions are recommended?
 
To upgrade or not to upgrade?  That is eventually the question with software.  Newer versions bring improvements, which can increase your productivity.  Unfortunately, new versions are sometimes incompatible with other software that hasn’t been upgraded, and things can "break."  Medical Information Technology is very conservative about deploying (or recommending) upgrades for this reason.

If you use a Windows-based personal computer, here are your big choices: 

Which version of Windows do you recommend?
 
We continue to recommend Windows XP.  It is mature and stable.  (We take no position on the contentious issue of its merits relative to Mac operating systems.)
 
Windows Vista offers improvements, but for most persons these changes are not compelling enough to motivate an upgrade.  More importantly, Vista can require considerably more computing horsepower than XP, and with an older computer you will probably notice a reduction in speed.  Some clinical applications on campus remain incompatible with Vista.
 
Microsoft recently announced the availability of an early version of Windows 7, the successor to Vista.  We will not be deploying Windows 7 to the campus until after a long period of testing, and we do not currently provide any troubleshooting or assistance for this version.  We strongly recommend against its installation on your personal system at this time. 

Which version of Office do you recommend?
 
Office 2007 is recommended.  Its components "including Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher and Word" have many new features.  Outlook 2007 in particular is much improved.
 
Be aware that Office 2007 has a very different look and feel than its predecessor, particularly with respect to the arrangement of menus and sub-menus.  Be prepared for some “transition" time while learning the new geography.
 
It is ok to continue with Office 2003 for the foreseeable future, particularly if you have older hardware that may not run Office 2007 as efficiently.
 
What version of Internet Explorer do you recommend?
 
Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) is recommended.  All major campus applications are now compatible with it.  IE7 brings features like "tabbed" browsing (multiple windows open in the same session) that are very helpful, and contains many improvements to help with use and security.
 
Microsoft recently released Internet Explorer 8 (IE8).  Many campus applications are not yet compatible with IE8.  Accordingly, we strongly recommend against upgrading to IE8 at this time.
 
Alternative browsers like Firefox have much to recommend them.  But remember that many campus web-based applications are designed for Internet Explorer, and will not provide the same functionality (or work at all) if you use a browser other than IE.
 
How do I upgrade to Office 2007 or Internet Explorer 7?
 
You can download Office 2007 or Internet Explorer 7 from the Windows Software Download section of the Medical Information Technology web site. 
 
If you do not have administrative rights on your campus computer (required to install software), or would prefer to have a technician perform the installation for you, call the Medical IT Help Desk at 305-243-5999.  A Help Desk technician can install the software without need for a site visit.
 
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