Are you trying to build a new skill path in business office courses but cannot decide between an older Microsoft Office training manual and a more current textbook? The real issue is not whether you need Office skills-it is which version your work, school, or side project actually uses. These four books span Office 2000, Excel 2003, Word 2007, and Office 365 with Word 2019, so your first move should be to match the book to the software version and the depth you need.
Quick take
The group offers one sealed training kit, one advanced Excel spiral, one intermediate Word guide, and one comprehensive Office 365/Word 2019 paperback. The listed price spread is about $42, with the Office 365/Word 2019 book at the low end and the Word 2007 guide at the high end. The right pick depends on how much you need current Office coverage and how comfortable you are with pre-owned condition.
Listed price comparison
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar | Condition | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Course in Microsoft Office 2000 Fast-Track Training Book w/ CD-ROM | $19.99 | Brand New | A sealed Office 2000 overview with a CD-ROM | |
| Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced (Illustrated Course Guides) - Wermers | $28.05 | Acceptable | Focused Excel 2003 advanced lessons | |
| Illustrated Course Guide: Microsoft Office Word 2007 Intermediate | $56.14 | Very Good | Word 2007 intermediate work with a clean spiral | |
| Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 Comprehensive | $14.07 | Good | Current Office 365/Word 2019 coverage on a budget |
Decision matrix
- Need current Office 365 or Word 2019 lessons? Choose the *Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 Comprehensive* and accept a Good-condition copy.
- Want a brand-new sealed package? The *Quick Course in Microsoft Office 2000* is the only listing described as Brand New and Sealed, and it includes a trial CD-ROM.
- Building serious Excel 2003 skills? *Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced* is the one specific to advanced Excel.
- Working through Word 2007 at an intermediate level? The *Illustrated Course Guide: Microsoft Office Word 2007 Intermediate* gives you a very good spiral-bound text, at the highest listed price.
Product notes
Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 Comprehensive
This trade paperback is the most current option in the group, and its "New Edition" label matches the Office 365 and Word 2019 focus. At the low end of the price spread, it is a practical starting place for anyone who wants modern Word coverage rather than a legacy-version refresher. The catch is condition: the listing says Good, so you should expect underlining, highlighting, minimal wear, or possible "From the library of" labels. If you are okay with a worn study copy and your goal is up-to-date Office skill practice, this is the one that brings the newest content for the lowest listed price.
Quick Course in Microsoft Office 2000 Fast-Track Training Book w/ CD-ROM
This is the only Brand New, Sealed listing in the comparison, and it comes with a trial CD-ROM, which makes it an appealing choice for someone who wants a clean, unopened training package. It is a fast-track overview of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, FrontPage, and Publisher 2000, with numbered instructions and screen shots that walk you through basics quickly. The limitation is timing: Office 2000 is an older release, so the commands and interface do not reflect modern Office. If you are setting up a lab or classroom that still uses Office 2000, this sealed paperback is a sensible buy; if you need today's workflow, you will outgrow it fast.
Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced (Illustrated Course Guides) - Wermers
This spiral-bound workbook targets advanced Excel 2003 skills specifically, rather than spreading attention across the whole Office suite. With authors Lynn Wermers and Elizabeth Eiser Reding, it is a course-style text for learners who already know Excel basics and want to go deeper into 2003 features. The price sits in the middle of the group, but the condition is the biggest limiting factor: it is labeled Acceptable, and the condition notes say the item is very worn and may not include discs, access codes, or other supplemental materials. Choose it only if your work still depends on Excel 2003 and you do not mind a heavily used workbook.
Illustrated Course Guide: Microsoft Office Word 2007 Intermediate
If Word 2007 is your classroom or workplace standard, this intermediate guide is well matched to the task. It is in Very Good condition, described as gently read with clean covers and a tight binding, and the spiral format lies flat while you follow along. Authors Carol Cram and Jennifer Duffy lead you through Word 2007 topics at an intermediate level. The main obstacle is the price: it is the highest listed price in this comparison, so you are paying more for a clean older-version guide. If budget is less important than a tidy, usable Word 2007 reference, this one earns its place.
Final recommendation by use case
- For current Office coverage at the lowest listed price: choose *Illustrated Microsoft Office 365 & Word 2019 Comprehensive* at $14.07.
- For a sealed, ready-to-use Office 2000 training set: *Quick Course in Microsoft Office 2000* at $19.99 is the brand-new option with a CD-ROM.
- For advanced Excel 2003 depth: *Microsoft Office Excel 2003: Advanced* at $28.05 fits learners who need that specific version.
- For a clean Word 2007 intermediate guide: *Illustrated Course Guide: Microsoft Office Word 2007 Intermediate* at $56.14 is the best-condition spiral in the group.
