One “feature” that’s not obvious is the wider adoption by others using v2007 and v2010 as time goes by. If you stay with Excel v2003, you will find yourself shut out from opening those newer file formats as more people transition to the newer versions. (It may seem like Microsoft’s Compatibility Pack for v2003 to open v2007 files is the solution but it really doesn’t work for anything beyond the simplest spreadsheets.)
This is the same reason why you can’t use Excel 1995 today even if you wanted to — you can’t open everyone else’s v2003 files!
Sometimes, you can’t choose a particular technology by just looking at the itemized list of features of the new version. (The new v2007 has prettier charts?!?! So what I don’t care!) You pick it because everyone else has started using it and you want to maintain interoperability with the outside world.
Does 2007 or 2010 recognize dates before 1900? I have a lot of spreadsheets with them and the inability to sort (without jumping through annoying hoops) or do proper formulas is very annoying.
Going back to the OP, I guess what we are all saying is:
No, no major differences will convince you to switch
No, the differences are not major, some things have (strangely) changed place, but it’s no big deal, even sometime users manage easily, though certain changes are unsettling
Yes, if you don’t upgrade you will be left behind
Yes, the larger the company, the longer they will take to upgrade, and you will have to keep double standard, though quite easy in Office
Should one volontarily upgrade??? maybe a great debate
That link is to an interactive guide. If you know how to do something in 2003 this will show you how to do it in the 3007 (and 2010) versions.
Among the features is the default file format (xlsx) is compressed.
Also, check with your company to see what sort of licensing they have. Because I work for a large company with a corporate license, I was able to purchase Office 2010 Professional at a significant discount. Of course, if I leave the company or if they cancel their contract, my copy will no longer be legal.
I’ve been an accountant for 35 years- started with visi-calc- to lotus to excel and have been forced to make the changes every step of the way for a variety of reasons. The biggest challenge I have EVER had to deal with was moving from Lotus 123 and their macro’s to using Excel and their VB driven macro’s- but that is another story.
Make the change. If you keep using the 2003 version of Excel- you will be even more miserable with the inevitable change to Excel 2010 and the pending versions after that and so on. In my opion, 2007 Excel has a better pivot table, charting options, and sooo many other features but it frustrated the holy crap out of me to find my familiar tools- often hidden under different tool bars. After two or three moths- I eventually made a successful adjustment. I still keep the 2003 version for some macro’s and pivots that don’t seem to work well with some of our add-ins. Also, I don’t think version 2007 was/is ready for prime-time. Too many screen lock-ups and “send error report” issues.