Like Matthew, I enjoy the beta. Trying things before other people, playing with the latest and greatest, restarting programs after they crash again and again. And also like Matthew I signed up for the Windows Vista beta… but I'm too scared to install it on my current PC knowing it will take HOURS to get everything up and running again. However, when I saw that the new version of Microsoft Office was in beta I snatched it up. I knew I could handle whatever complications it tried to throw my way, and figured it would be interesting to see what all the fuss was about.
The top toolbar is completely redesigned (at least in some programs) and is MUCH easier to use and more intuitive. I was at first afraid because it is radically different from previous versions.
Looking at it doesn't compare to using it, it makes a lot more sense than it use to. The second cool new feature happens when you highlight text and then hover it:
The small box fades lighter and darker the closer you move the mouse to it and provides quick formatting options.
There's also a blogging feature that lets you quickly post your blog to select sites (I don't think mine's listed as far as I could tell).
Wow, I can post thumbnails with links to the full-size image. Classy. Guess you learn something new all the time eh?
**ADHD tangent**
Speaking of "eh", at work it's sometimes neccessary to call Time Warner Cable to schedule an installation, and the office just happens to be in Canada. It's interesting because they NEVER have the traditional Canadian accents, and I've never heard one of them ever say "eh". I told the girl the other day I realy wish they would say, "So you need to set up an installation, eh?" in their nice Canadian accents. She laughed at me.
One really interesting part of the whole new beta is the fact that MS still hasn't made any noticeable difference to Publisher. It still looks pretty much the same, and they care so little about it, they didn't even change the bar to match the rest of the suite!
Lazy programmers.
All in all I say it's fantastic! It's free to test, though at the end of the test you have to uninstall and reinstall and old version or pay for the new one. If you're interested, head on over to Microsoft's site and give it a whirl!