“Excel 2000 for Windows”

July 13, 1999

Maria Langer, author of “Excel 2000 for Windows,” chats about her book and shares more insights into the popular program.

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TCCdefiant: Welcome to NetCafeLive where we host authors and celebrities throughout the month. Thanks for joining us! Borders NetCafeLive is a joint production of Borders.com & Talk City(tm), a Talk City, Inc. Production. Tonight our guest is computer expert Maria Langer, author of “Excel 2000 for Windows.” Maria Langer is a computer expert who has written several books on topics ranging from Pagemill to Quicken, and Mac OS to Excel. Her Visual QuickStart Guide books from Peachpit Press have become popular reference guides due to their easy-to-follow instructions and helpful illustrations. Borders Online and Talk City, Inc. are pleased to welcome tonight's guest Maria Langer. Welcome to Talk City! Ms. Langer, I love the Visual Quick Start series. What got you started writing them?

Maria Langer: I always liked VQS books. I wrote one of the Mac Bible books for Peachpit. I asked them if I could do a VQS. They offered me Excel 5 for Mac. Since then, I've done about a dozen VQS books.

Cloudrules: I haven't heard much of this what exactly is Excel 2000?

Maria Langer: I believe it was finally released last month.

TCCdefiant: What other books have you written that might help computer users?

Maria Langer: I've written more than two dozen Mac and Windows books since 1992. Recent books were about Word 2000, Quicken 99, Mac OS 8.6, Word 98 and Excel 98 for Mac, and FileMaker Pro. I've written for a number of publishers, but I do most of my work for Peachpit Press these days.

TheBestNess: How did you get started with computers?

Maria Langer: I first started using computers at work. Then I got an Apple IIc for home use. I used it mostly for writing. In 1989, I got a Mac IIcx and began running a BBS. I began freelancing in 1990, mostly teaching people to use computers. The jump to writing about computers came naturally.

Shawksie: Is EXCEL 2000 available in a MAC version? And if so, is it essentially the same as the Windows version, or are there many differences as there have been in previous editions?

Maria Langer: The current Mac version is Excel 98. The two programs are VERY similar. If you know one, you can easily use them both. But the Windows version has a few advanced Internet features. One of my favorites is the ability to create spreadsheets that can be manipulated over the Web.

Symmetry: Can you tell us some of the main differences in the new Excel 2000 and the old Excel for windows?

Maria Langer: The Internet features are the most obvious. The interface has a few slight changes. Also, the program has been improved to allow bigger spreadsheets and more advanced charting.

TCCdefiant: Ms. Langer, I have to admit to still using Office 95. Is now the time to upgrade?

Maria Langer: It really depends on your needs and your computer system. If you need the new features and your computer can support them, it's a good idea to upgrade. You might want to check out the Microsoft Web site for a complete list of changes. That'll give you the info you need to make the decision. One of the things I don't recommend to people is upgrading just so they have the latest version. Upgrade when you need to, not when the software developer tries to sell you something they say is better.

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