Word 95 vs Word 97, 2000, etc.

[Fred]

I've been using Word 95 since it came out and never run across a limitation
or other reason to upgrade.

When I send Word files, all the later versions seem to read them fine.

Only problem I ever run across is that occasionally I have to ask later
users who send me stuff to save their file in the older format or (if I
don't need to see the formatting) I just open later version files in a text
editor, delete all the control characters and save as TXT or Word 95
version. Plus, then I have the same data a 1/3 of the size.

Other than compatibility with later versions, I'm wondering what are the
REAL advantages to upgrading to 97, 2000, etc....

 

[Courtney]

Neither 95, nor 97 are supported by Microsoft. Eventually, your constituents
will not be able to save documents in 95 format. In fact, Word 2003 can only
save 95/97 documents in rtf format, not doc.

courtney sends...

 

[Howard Kaikow]

Word 95 does not use VBA, so you will be restricted if you try to use 3rd
party apps that install Word add-ins that use VBA.
Not to mention that macro writers these daze are likely using ONLY VBA, so
you are missing out on goodies, free or not, that can enhance the
pleasure/pain of using Word.

Later versions of Office are more stable than Office 95.
Later versions of Office have additional features, some of which you may use
and grow to like.
If you ever need to use/acquire Word macros, Word 95 is brain dead in
comparison to later versions of Word.