Surprise, surprise! Microsoft has announced that its Office 2010 software will include “lightweight” versions of the Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote programs. These applications, due to be launched next year, will be made freely available on the Internet for download by customers.
This latest move by Microsoft is seen by many as a reaction to Google’s free online Docs suite and reports of a new free Google operating system called “Chrome” although some analysts warn that it might cost them very much. Perhaps, the first positives that these action brings to mind is the gradual movement of major software programs by technology giants to the web environment which should promote healthy competition and eventually benefit consumers in the long run.
This latest move by Microsoft is seen by many as a reaction to Google’s free online Docs suite and reports of a new free Google operating system called “Chrome” although some analysts warn that it might cost them very much. Perhaps, the first positives that these action brings to mind is the gradual movement of major software programs by technology giants to the web environment which should promote healthy competition and eventually benefit consumers in the long run.
Update
An update to this article can be found here: Microsoft Launches Free Office 2010 Program
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It’s indeed high time that they started having lightweight versions of their applications. Things like word processors and spreadsheet should load fast. Period.
amen!
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I don’t think it’ll be free, they make billions of $ from Office.
let me know when it’s actually free, i have microsoft office 2007, i think im 3 years behind? lol
Software as a service (or web-based software) will be the next steps for Microsoft Office to compete with Google. I’m surprised that Microsoft isn’t offering the software as an online suite, comparable to Google Docs.
They could integrate it with the offline versions and potentially make a very powerful platform. Imagine being able to edit and recover documents created in the offline version to the online version.
I think that’s a smart decision and i will probably use their free software. Much better than sending my private Data straight to Google.
If this happen’s in reality then it will be benificial for everyone.
it’ is really for freee? i don’t think so.
…lightweight versions…?
What, 3 paragraph / 15 column limits? I’m just kidding….
Great idea, dimbulbs: Open Office is unrestricted, are you just trying to convince users that Microsoft does nothing for consumers unless money is involved? “Oh, I want to do xxx, so I will call Microsoft and pay $200+ to continue.”?? Oh, wait, I’ve been using free as in beer Star Office ever since Sun bought Star Office and began giving away Star Office v5.0, and now I use Open Office. I haven’t been a Microsoft Office fan for over a decade.
Abiword,
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Google Chrome is a web browser, not an os.
o-O
Please note that Google Chrome (Browser) is different from the yet- to-be-released Google Chrome (Operating system).
That’ll be cool if they make a lightweight version that is free. There’s a lot of competition out there that make very good free, Office-compatible software. A lot of private businesses that need basic software functions but don’t want to invest in full business versions are already starting to use non-Microsoft software. Microsoft might as well “lure” people with their lighter free versions if they want to stay above the competition.
Yeah, I heard microsoft was doing this too. But isn’t the free version just an online only version similar to Google Documents?
I dont use MS products anymore. Rather give free solutions to people to move out of MS claw. I bet it will be a “Express edition”.
Nice guess
I don’t think it will be free completely, may be some of the package link Microsoft words and powerpoint will be free. But the full package will not be free.
Microsoft has become Microsoft by selling software and not offering it free. The light versions in my opinion are nothing more than readers or online office suites in line of Google docs.
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Perhaps that only company in the market with no work of its own. word stolen from lotus, silverlight from flash,vita from mac osx,c# from java and the list continues. I dont even understand why such companies exist who cannot innovate anything on their own. Those of you using MSoffice yet…please take a look at :
http://www.openoffice.org/
Its free and much better.
Microsoft Office for free! That’s great news, these products are normally quite expensive but essential for everyday office use. I’d certainly be downloading it.
This is a great news, its really amazing. We’ve been using Microsoft office 2007. i would really want to try Microsoft 2010, I’m so pleased to have glance in this site. Keep up on posting good and interesting news.
Office 2010 is finally here. You can read my the latest post on the program over here. Thanks for your contributions.
will wait until it’s available for download.
Come on Guys think about it, they will give away the free version of the software with a month or 2 trial and then limit 75% of it or limit it all and then you will have to pay for it, its a good marketing tactic.
The office suite can’t be offered for free because that will adversely affect Microsoft revenue. I believe what they will offer will be stripped version of the Office suite, believing that users will be convinced to upgrade to the full version once they get hooked.
Take it or leave it, Microsoft products are better at “spoon-feeding” computer users. That is one of the reason the computer geeks hates them
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You do have a point although I’m not sure how many computer geeks though ‘hate’ their products particularly because MS is still one of the biggest computer organisations out there today.
Yeah, don’t all jump up and down, this is just microsoft trying to lure in more people and then getting them to pay once they’re hooked. microsoft office is great but i really don’t think a stripped down free version is in the public interests!
hahaha , will they make it then using it with many bug and limitation included
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The free MS Office offer isn’t there anymore. Anyone know if Microsoft will be doing the free beta thing again?
Was it just a beta thing? I somehow had the assumption it was a sure thing… as in… free forever!
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We don’t discuss Microsoft Office 2010 offers free versions or not. Because Microsoft has already launched on May. The admin has posted more detail about it. Please refer to this link for your information : http://techsling.com/2010/05/microsoft-launches-free-office-2010-program/
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Thanks Paris. I have included a link to the update in the article.
I would like to appreciate you the way you have presented the useful and informative post with us.
You do have a point although I’m not sure how many computer geeks though ‘hate’ their products particularly because MS is still one of the biggest computer organisations out there today.
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i would really want to try Microsoft 2010, I’m so pleased to have glance in this site. Keep up on posting good and interesting news.
Microsoft Office for free is good new indeed, almost too good news. I hope they have an option to return to the older style of user interface, I’m using Office 2007 and it’s simply confusing compared to the old drop down menus.
That’s impossible, he never make it free,
If yes, maybe he set up a trap to make you upgrade to office pro ver
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The free MS Office offer isn’t there anymore?
This update should answer your question – http://techsling.com/2010/05/microsoft-launches-free-office-2010-program/
Is there any link to get the paid version?
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Follow this link for the paid version – http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/products/
Well its about time. The future is free software and with Google revamping its apps suite, which is FREE, I think this is a good move.
I guest Microsoft we come up with more free download of software in the future, if they want to real compete with Google.
If it happen it’ll be a big step of microsoft to google competition.
This is really a surprise that everyone should know about..