Choosing between an Excel 2003 advanced workbook and an Office 365/Excel 2019 comprehensive text is really a decision about your work environment. If your classes or office tasks still live in Excel 2003, the older spiral-bound guide makes sense. If you need current Office 365 skills, the comprehensive textbook is the obvious direction. Beyond that, the listed price and the format help settle the rest.
Quick verdict
For most people learning with the modern Excel interface, the New Perspectives Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 Comprehensive is the more practical everyday choice. It is listed as Brand New, described as a New Edition, and comes in a trade paperback format. The Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced guide is the niche pick: it targets a legacy Excel version and is in Acceptable condition, which means visible wear and a possible absence of supplemental materials.
Comparison at a glance
| Item | Listed price | Price bar | Condition | Format | Key focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced (Illustrated Course Guides) - Wermers | $28.05 | Acceptable | Spiral | Advanced Excel 2003 | |
| New Perspectives Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 Comprehensive | $19.57 | Brand New | Trade Paperback | Office 365/Excel 2019 comprehensive |
The two books sit at different listed prices, and the formats make them easy to tell apart: one is a spiral-bound legacy reference, the other a trade paperback current-edition text.
Where each product wins
When to choose the Excel 2003 Advanced guide
The Excel 2003 guide wins when your coursework or job still depends on the older Excel 2003 interface. Its spiral format and advanced focus suit someone who wants a dedicated reference for that version, and the listed author and ISBN make it easy to identify. If you prefer a narrower, skill-specific workbook over a broad survey, this is the one.
When to choose the New Perspectives Comprehensive guide
The New Perspectives book wins when you want current Office 365/Excel 2019 coverage in one volume. The New Edition status and Patrick Carey's authorship confirm it is the updated edition. The comprehensive scope is useful if you want more than a quick review and prefer a single textbook to carry through a business office course.
Product notes
Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced (Illustrated Course Guides) - Wermers
Choose this only if your learning goal is specifically Excel 2003. The book is a spiral-bound guide by Lynn Wermers and Elizabeth Eiser Reding, ISBN 9780619057749, and it leans into advanced topics for that version. A concrete reason to pick it is the focused 'Advanced' scope, which is narrower than the comprehensive text. The limitation is version: if you need current Office 365 or Excel 2019 features, this legacy edition won't cover them. It is also a specialized reference, not a general overview.
New Perspectives Microsoft Office 365 & Excel 2019 Comprehensive
Choose this when your work or class uses Office 365 or Excel 2019. This is a trade paperback by Patrick Carey, ISBN 9780357025765, and the New Edition feature means you are getting a current release. The title 'Comprehensive' indicates broad coverage rather than a quick skim. A concrete reason to pick it is the updated scope and the single-volume format. The limitation is version: if you are stuck on Excel 2003, this book covers a different interface and feature set, so it won't double as a legacy reference.
Final choice by use case
If you are enrolled in a business office course that uses Microsoft Office 365 or Excel 2019, the New Perspectives book is the one to take to class. It is current and comprehensive. If you are maintaining or teaching an older Excel 2003 workflow, the Illustrated Course Guides book covers that specific version, but keep the trade-offs in mind.
