Do you need the new version?
Since the second beta release of Microsoft Office 2010 last fall, over 2 million users have downloaded the test release, with the official release of Microsoft Office 2010 on June 15. Every application in the suite has been enhanced in an effort to make it easier to navigate and use, so plan on some learning time to get the most from the applications.
Office 2010 is also part of the Microsoft pay as you go licensing program that we participate in for our clients. It allows you to pay for each copy of Office that you are using on a monthly basis. Why is this great? If you are running Office 2003 or 2007 and want to upgrade to 2010, but have held back because of the up-front cost, this program allows you to upgrade all of your systems at the same time without the up front capital costs. How much does it cost per month? For 10 desktops or more, you are looking at $14.95/month per user. Using that number, it takes 18 months of use before you get to the MSRP for one off the shelf copy of Office. In addition to that up front cost savings, you get upgrade protection for as long as you participate in the program, so when Office 2012 comes out, you get to upgrade at no additional cost. Here is a simple table to compare the cost of these two options:
Retail: 10 users * $279 = $2790
Managed Service Client: 10 users * $14.95 = $149.50
Cloud Computing
One of the major new changes to Office 2010 is the ability to collaborate and work using Microsoft’s Cloud Computing file storage. Using Windows Live you are able to save your files to Microsoft’s hosted servers and allow coworkers to access and edit the files from wherever they are—no more emailing documents around—pretty cool.
Outlook
Outlook now includes new features and capabilities
designed to help you stay connected with people and better manage time and information. An improved
conversation view lets you to track and manage related email messages, regardless of what folder contains the message. You can see the complete course of conversations, replies, and the most recent response; the emails are stacked together similar to the Gmail interface. Outlook also integrates with FaceBook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Windows Live.
Word, Publisher, PowerPoint and Excel
Co-authoring in Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher makes collaboration easier and reduces the time it takes to finish a large project with several contributors. Integration with SharePoint is greatly enhanced and improved, with some great new features for collaboration. Furthermore, Word and PowerPoint now have a syncing mechanism to avoid overwriting changes while working/saving.
Excel has been modified as well, with easier-to-read color-coded spreadsheets and smart tools to bring you the information you need. You can easily import data from connected sources and flip through tabs, diagrams, charts, etc. It also allows you to compare data across multiple cells that are easier to read and analyze.
Will It Run on Your Computer?
If your current computer can run Office 2007, it can run Office 2010. If you are purchasing a new laptop or PC, it can run Office 2010.
Pricing
Office 2010 Professional costs around $499, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. Office Home & Business includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook and costs $279. Unfortunately there is no upgrade pricing for Office 2010, because Microsoft found there was little interest in upgrades at retail outlets.
For businesses wanting to deploy or upgrade their systems to Office 2010, the pay as you go model is the least cost alternative, and a killer deal in our opinion. We have had a number of clients jump at the chance to use this program for company-wide upgrades that they normally would not have done if they had to use the old pricing model.
Office 2010 is a valuable upgrade for those who desire new templates and visual styles, better ways of editing multimedia content in publications and presentations, and easier methods of collaboration in email and social media. Additionally, if you are using SharePoint, or plan on using SharePoint, Office 2010 is a must (in a good way).
Call us at 503-241-2499 to learn how your business can get Office 2010 today for a fraction of what you thought it would cost. Δ