Microsoft will be using a new marketing and distribution technique with the advent of Office 2010. The latest projection for the new software release is sometime near the end of the third quarter. They will be installing “Microsoft Office Starter Edition” on all PCs. It will replace the never popular Works program. The Starter Edition will be basic versions of the programs. To get the full versions with all of the features, users will have to buy a Product Key.
We have found that a large number of our clients only need the basic features of Office. So there is a good chance that you can use the free version and never miss a thing. Try out the Starter Edition to see if it does what you need to do with word processing and a spreadsheet.
Depending on your technology level, you may want to delay upgrading to Office 2010 for six months or so. Let someone else test it and find all the bugs. Then after the first service patch is issued, you can be confident upgrading. When you upgrade to Office 2010, you will want to upgrade to the same version of Office that you have – Student, Small Business or Professional. Or you can move up to an edition which includes more software modules.
The second new piece of Office 2010 is the Product Key Card. As mentioned earlier, you will need to purchase a Product Key to unlock the Starter Edition to access the full featured version. It’s already going to be on your PC, you just won’t have access until you register the Product Key. The Product Key will be sold on a Card very similar to a gift card. This will make it possible for retailers to sell the Product Key Card without having to inventory the actual software. Once you pay for the Card, it will be activated so you can use the Product Key to register/unlock the full Office program.
We have found that a large number of our clients only need the basic features of Office. So there is a good chance that you can use the free version and never miss a thing. Try out the Starter Edition to see if it does what you need to do with word processing and a spreadsheet.
Depending on your technology level, you may want to delay upgrading to Office 2010 for six months or so. Let someone else test it and find all the bugs. Then after the first service patch is issued, you can be confident upgrading. When you upgrade to Office 2010, you will want to upgrade to the same version of Office that you have – Student, Small Business or Professional. Or you can move up to an edition which includes more software modules.
The second new piece of Office 2010 is the Product Key Card. As mentioned earlier, you will need to purchase a Product Key to unlock the Starter Edition to access the full featured version. It’s already going to be on your PC, you just won’t have access until you register the Product Key. The Product Key will be sold on a Card very similar to a gift card. This will make it possible for retailers to sell the Product Key Card without having to inventory the actual software. Once you pay for the Card, it will be activated so you can use the Product Key to register/unlock the full Office program.
from the May newsletter of Digital Bridge Business Solutions
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