Windows 7 Microsoft Office 2010 Review

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Microsoft's Office 2010 review | Technophile | Technology | guardian.co.uk

Microsoft's Excel 2010 web application

I'm writing this using the beta of Microsoft Word 2010, part of the Office 2010 suite due to hit the shelves later this year. You can try out the whole suite for free, too – the beta is available for download.

So what's new in Office 2010? A hell of a lot: the reviewer's guide that Microsoft helpfully provides for the likes of me runs to 174 pages, covering everything from the extension of the ribbon interface to Outlook 2010 to how to drill down and display data in Excel pivot tables. Other highlights include being able to slice and dice video into a Powerpoint presentation, and out-of-the-box PDF support, which Adobe isn't going to like. Neither is Adobe going to like the fact that you'll be able to edit images directly within Office apps.

What's more interesting, however, is the determination of Microsoft to make Office 2010 as widely available as possible, including online and via mobile devices. There's no need to buy – for large sums of money – the entire suite; you will be able to access via any browser and your Windows Live login pretty much full-featured versions of Excel, Word, Powerpoint and OneNote and use them to work collaboratively. If you're a business, you'll be able to host the Web Apps on your Sharepoint server and your minions will be able to access them via that.

This means, for example, if you're at a conference with a Powerpoint presentation on a USB stick and no laptop, and suddenly some new data arrives via email on your mobile, you'll be able to plug the stick into any computer and update the presentation using the online version of Powerpoint. It doesn't matter if it's a Mac and doesn't have Powerpoint installed; and, unlike the current version of Outlook Web Access on Exchange 2007, it doesn't matter what browser you use, either: the Web Apps are fully featured on any browser.

Clearly a riposte to the mighty Google and its Google Docs, Microsoft's Web Apps are, for my money, a better and richer experience than Google's offering. Like Google Docs, they will be free for the casual user. But why offer a free version of one of your biggest cash-generating suites of software? The answer is to expose as many people as possible to Office 2010, and to hope that they'll love it so much they'll shell out for the entire suite.

This version of Office is very much more focused on the world outside your PC. As well as the collaborative nature of the Web Apps, you'll be able to keep on top of what your colleagues and contacts are up to, either via your company's Sharepoint infrastructure or via the big social networks. So, via Outlook, not only will you be able to check up on whether Jack from Accounts has said yes to the meeting, you'll also be able to see, via Facebook, if he's still hungover from the weekend. Which would explain why he's showing up in your People Pane in Outlook 2010 as "out of the office".

As is usually the case with Microsoft, there will be lots of different flavours of the suite, ranging from the least eyewateringly expensive version aimed at students and home users – which, infuriatingly, won't include Outlook – up to the all-singing, all-dancing Office Professional Plus.

Pros: richer multimedia tools, ability to use apps free online and to collaborate online.
Cons: Bound to be expensive, sheer size of suite and variety of tools can be confusing.
Office.microsoft.com

 

[ChatGPT]

It looks like you’re sharing a detailed review of Microsoft Office 2010, highlighting its new features and benefits. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s break it down:
### Overview of Office 2010 Features
| Feature | Description |

Ribbon Interface	Extended to Outlook 2010, providing a more intuitive user experience.
Excel Pivot Tables	Enhanced data analysis tools to visualize information effectively.
Video Editing in PowerPoint	Ability to include and edit videos directly in presentations, making content more dynamic.
PDF Support	Built-in support for creating and editing PDFs, taking a direct shot at Adobe's offerings.
Image Editing	Direct editing of images within Office applications, eliminating the need for additional software.
Web Apps Access	Full-featured online versions of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and OneNote accessible via a browser.
Collaboration Features	Real-time collaboration on documents, enhancing teamwork efficiency, especially remotely.

### Accessibility and Availability

• Online Access: Users can access Office 2010 applications through any browser using a Windows Live account, making it convenient for users on different devices, including Macs.
• Mobile Integration: Office 2010 aims to streamline workflows, especially for on-the-go professionals needing to update presentations and documents seamlessly.

### Competitive Landscape
- The launch of Office 2010 is a direct challenge to Google Docs, offering a richer user experience and more features. Microsoft’s approach with free versions for casual users aims to expand its user base and foster potential upgrades to the full suite.
### Summary
In conclusion, Microsoft Office 2010 represents a significant step forward in terms of functionality, accessibility, and user collaboration, making it a strong contender in the productivity software market.
If you have experience trying out the beta version, what are some features you found most useful or challenging? Would love to hear your feedback!
For more information, you can explore the original review here: Microsoft's Office 2010 review | Technophile | Technology | guardian.co.uk.
If you have any particular questions or need assistance with Office 2010, feel free to ask!