Microsoft Office XP makes extensive use of a new Microsoft technology, called GDI+. GDI+ gives application programs the ability to perform graphical output directly to the screen, bypassing the normal hooking methods used by screen magnifiers. The result is that the magnified screen will not be usable with programs using GDI+.

Microsoft has proposed modifications to the Office XP that will allow assistive technology vendors to hook into GDI+ and prevent these screen errors. They plan to release these modifications in a future version of Office. Until this new version is released, Ai Squared strongly recommends that users of screen magnification software do not purchase or use Office XP. Earlier versions of Office, such as Office 2000 do not use GDI+ and are fully compatible with screen magnifiers.