bit-tech Shopping: Microsoft Project Professional 2003 (Full Product)

• Microsoft Windows 2000
• Microsoft Windows XP

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Wizards, Collaboration capabilities, Project Guide

Weaknesses: Some changes have unexpected results/limited choices

Summary: Microsoft Project 2003 is a powerful, easy to use project scheduling and management tool. Wizards guide novice users through the creation of project timelines, including the creation of dependencies and the scheduling of resources. Proficient users, who manage tight schedules, limited resources and tight budgets, will appreciate the ability to tweak resource allocation (by assigning a percentage of utilization to a human resource, for example)and the ability to track costs associated with each task. The Project Guide is available to both novices and experienced users who create project schedules infrequently enough that remembering menu commands is troublesome. Pitfalls include unexpected results/limited choices when certain project details are tweaked. For example, when leveling resources, reducing a person's percentage allocation to a task extends the project's timeline. An option to reduce the duration of the task is not available in this mode. In most cases, however, the application acts as expected. Overall, this is a fine, polished product with wide-ranging capabilities that can be used as simply or as comprehensively as a project manager desires.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Months

Strengths: Very competitive prices.

Weaknesses: none found so far.

Summary: I started buying software in the beginning of May to upgrade work stations one at a time. I just purchased the fifth version, with one more to go. The deliveries have been received in a timely manner, with no problems or difficulties in installing. The prices has been very competitive, and we will continue to purchase other items as necessary.