Microsoft declares Office 2003 dead -- long live Office 365!

It's fun to remember. When old friends get together, nostalgia often takes over, and conversations turn to "remember when". Recalling years past can bring back feelings of yore -- old girlfriends, your first car, your first kiss -- all that jazz.

However, do people look back on old software with the same fondness? Microsoft seems to think so, as it looks back at Office 2003. The Office Suite will die the same day as Windows XP -- April 8th, 2014. You see, on that date, Office 2003 will still work, but the company will end support for the popular software. Microsoft would like Office 2003 users to switch to 365, but should they?

"As much as the world has shifted culturally over the past decade, technology, undoubtedly, has changed the most dramatically. Over ten years ago we introduced Office 2003 into the market, and at the time it was on the cutting edge of productivity -- it sported a new Office logo, gave birth to OneNote and had a new look and feel that excited our customers. But Office 2003 no longer meets the needs of the way we work, play and live today. For this reason, it is time to say farewell to Office 2003 and embrace the productivity solution of today -- Office 365", says the Office Team,

The team further explains, "with Office 365, creating files is just the tip of the iceberg. You can now share and collaborate with family members in real-time. Whether you’re using free Skype world minutes to call your cousin in Italy or co-authoring with your family to create the perfect PowerPoint for grandma’s birthday, one thing is clear, the Office of today if is the most expansive and capable of any version in our history. You can also share your Office 365 account with up to five other people – making it a breeze to store all of your vacation photos in the cloud to instantly share your memories amongst your circle of friends and family".

Of course, Office 365 is not for everyone. Many people still dislike subscription-based software. However, this is the route that Microsoft is taking, and if you compare pricing, you may find that it is actually a great value.

Kudos to Microsoft for the below infographic, as it is both funny and informative for people who haven't upgraded in a decade. However, just because something is declared "modern" does not mean that it is better. Sure, there are many new features in Office 365, but Office 2003 is perfectly functional and still meets many users' needs. With that said, it is never a smart idea to use unsupported software. And so, if you are committed to staying with Microsoft, switching from Windows XP and Office 2003 to Windows 8.1 and Office 365 is probably a good idea. Microsoft will even pay you $100.

Do you feel that Office 2003 is dead? Will it be unsafe after April 8? Tell me in the comments.