The FREE online version of Microsoft Office 2010 goes live this Wednesday

[Jason California]

By Sharon Pian Chan (http://search.nwsource.com/search?searchtype=cq&sort=date&from=ST&byline=Sharon%20Pian%20Chan)
Seattle Times technology reporter
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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/zoom_photo.gif (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/zoom/html/2011818813.html)ERIKA SCHULTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Chris Capossela, senior vice president of Microsoft Business Division, says the Redmond company is used to competition and "We have to focus on a really great product our customers will love."


In the beginning, there was word processing.
Then, simply, Word.
Spreadsheets became Excel. Presentation software, if it was ever known by such a name, was simply PowerPoint. Long before Google's preeminence in search, Microsoft dominated business and personal software with a suite known as Office.
The company launches its latest version, Office 2010, on Wednesday in New York — and the stakes couldn't be higher.
The lucrative franchise is threatened by a changing market spouting a four-letter word: free. The biggest threat comes from Google, specifically Google Docs, Web applications accessible from any computer.
Because of Google, Microsoft has been forced to make a free ad-supported version called Office Web Apps.




More in link
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011818423_microsoftoffice09.html

[NATE!]

Or you could just get OpenOffice....

[Jason California]

Or you could just get OpenOffice....

Yes, that is true. In fact Open Office is mentioned in the body of the article. The article explains that this is an attempt at getting various groups using MS. There are the Open Office and Google Docs users, People that have not upgraded since 2003 or earlier, and the pirates. If they can get them over to Microsoft ad supported version of Office they are making money they would not otherwise have got. They also state the Office online will offer more functionality than Open Office

[Jason California]

Today is the day
http://www.officelive.com/en-us/

[capntightpants]

I was using the beta version of this, and there are some features that I liked in Outlook that I missed when I jumped back to 2007.

But damn is the design ugly.

[Akira]

I'm using OpenOffice and so far haven't seen any thing that would make me switch.

[nightwing22dg]

I've only had my computer for a year and a half. I kept MS Office that came preinstalled. My resume is in Microsoft Office Doc and I figured I needed to keep it to open docs. Never bought it though, only used it to open a document, then close it. Can I still open docs in MS Office format if I got rid of the program from my computer. I did download Open Office, and found out that my Mom couldn't open a document I sent her with it since she didn't have the program on her computer. Any suggestions from anyone would be appreciatied. I don't have a home printer either, just wondering which free program is best. Also wonder if I use MS Office Online can I open Docs on my computer with it too? I'd like to get rid of at least one program from my harddrive.

[Jason California]

I've only had my computer for a year and a half. I kept MS Office that came preinstalled. My resume is in Microsoft Office Doc and I figured I needed to keep it to open docs. Never bought it though, only used it to open a document, then close it. Can I still open docs in MS Office format if I got rid of the program from my computer. I did download Open Office, and found out that my Mom couldn't open a document I sent her with it since she didn't have the program on her computer. Any suggestions from anyone would be appreciatied. I don't have a home printer either, just wondering which free program is best. Also wonder if I use MS Office Online can I open Docs on my computer with it too? I'd like to get rid of at least one program from my harddrive.


Open Office will allow you to open Office docs. You do not need MS office installed in your computer anymore. Open Office will by default save your documents in Open Office format though.

If you want your mom to be able to open the document you will have to select 'save as' and then chose office document instead of open office document in the drop down menu.

I can't tell you either is going to be better for you. It will ultimately be one of preference. You will simply have to try and compare.

[nightwing22dg]

Open Office will allow you to open Office docs. You do not need MS office installed in your computer anymore. Open Office will by default save your documents in Open Office format though.

If you want your mom to be able to open the document you will have to select 'save as' and then chose office document instead of open office document in the drop down menu.

I can't tell you either is going to be better for you. It will ultimately be one of preference. You will simply have to try and compare.

Thanks a lot for the info. So it sounds like I can not only open Microsoft docs with Open Office but also save them as a word file. That would be extremely helpful. Most places that request resumes probably want them in Microsoft word format. Sounds like I can do that with Open Office. Guess I will be freeing up a lot of space on my computer.