Best offers
|
Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade from... | $79.99 STAPLES More info |
|
Office 2007 Home and Student (Full... | $105.73 Royaldiscount.com More info |
|
Windows Anytime Upgrade Windows 7... | $139.99 STAPLES More info |
|
Windows 7 Professional (Upgrade) | $89.99 STAPLES More info |
|
Office 2007 Professional (Academic) | $127.89 Royaldiscount.com More info |
Benchmarking Windows 7: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger?
Often hailed as the solution to Windows Vista performance problems, we wanted to know just how much better Windows 7 really is. We put one of our most recent test platforms through its paces to find out, benchmarking raw performance and responsiveness. Read More
-
Tom's Definitive Linux Software Roundup: Communications Apps
This is the second part of our Linux Software Roundup. Part one covered Internet Apps. Today we'll be looking at Communications Apps. This includes personal information managers, email clients, instant messengers, VoIP software, and IRC clients. Read More
-
How To: Windows XP Mode In...Ubuntu Linux?
Windows 7's XP Mode has already convinced many users who sat out for Vista to go out and upgrade. But will they buy the right version of Windows 7 to get XPM? You do know you can get the same XP functionality from a Linux distribution for free, right? Read More
Partners
The Games selection
adventure :
Scoobydoo: Episode 2
The sequel of Scooby and Sammy's adventures. Same principle as in the previous episode (available on this website). Click on "Instructions" to see...
|
crazy :
Xiao Xiao 7
A great fight scene from the animation movies Xiao Xiao.
|
Sponsored links
Microsoft Office 2010 Starter to Display Ads
Next news- Email |
- Print |
- Comments (48) |
- Share
In 2010 Microsoft will ship new machines with Office 2010 Starter, a basic, stripped-down version of Office 2010 designed to provide minimal functionality right out of the box.
Of course, the idea is that people will use the Starter version for a little while but inevitably upgrade to the full version of Office 2010. Now, as if reduced functionality weren't enough of an incentive to upgrade, Microsoft has said in its blog that the Starter edition will be ad-supported.
It all starts off fairly innocently with a blog post detailing new ways to try and buy Office 2010. Microsoft talks about the number of users, growth and all that business before moving on to "big improvements in the way we’ll deliver the next version of Office to consumers."
As part of Office 2010 software that will be pre-loaded by the PC manufacturers on their PCs, we’re introducing Microsoft Office Starter 2010. Office Starter 2010 is a reduced-functionality, advertising-supported version of Office 2010, available exclusively on new PCs. Office Starter 2010 will provide new PC owners with immediate exposure to the Office 2010 experience on new PCs right out of the box.
Office Starter 2010 will include Office Word Starter 2010 and Office Excel Starter 2010, with the basic functionality for creating, viewing and editing documents. Office Starter 2010 will replace Microsoft Works, offering a consistent Office user experience, such as the Ribbon, with a simple path to upgrade to a fully-featured version of Office 2010 directly from within the product.
Hands up who's totally stoked about ads inside Office? That's what I thought.
Check the full blog post here.
Source : Tom's Hardware US
Sponsored links
Related articles
-
We have seen Silverthorne so far on paper, talked with the engineers behind the product and saw it running in a lab environment. There is a big vision behind this chip, one that could reach far beyond the MID and enable a new generation of notebooks and even desktop computers that will be capable of running all the basic tasks in a much more power efficient manner than what we have today. In fact, I can't wait to get one of these systems into my hands. There are a few drawbacks of this first-generation design, mainly the huge SCH and the power consumption of these devices, which may limit the usability of this product category initially. If you are interested in buying on these MIDs, we suggest that you don't buy them over the Internet, but actually go into a store and play with them so you get a feel how heavy and bulky they are. The success of Atom is not a given in our opinion - and this is not just because ARM is dominating this segment now (and is unlikely to just watch Intel take away market shares) and the fact that Intel is in this game alone, without the support of another major technology partner such as Microsoft. To us, it looks like the marketing department may be shooting itself in the foot. Since the very first time Intel began talking about Silverthorne, the company highlighted the fact that this would be one cheap processor, the cheapest one since the 286. In fact, we checked with our sources again earlier today and we received a confirmation that the production cost is somewhere in the $6 - $8 neighborhood. The cheap processor claim raised expectations that Intel would roll out a processor that would also be cheap to purchase. But what was announced today is not really cheap. $45 for the entry-level platform is on the high-end of analyst estimates and we have no idea what exactly justifies $160 for the 1.86 GHz version. The same money could buy a 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo E8200 CPU ($163). Either there is a really high demand for Windows Vista MIDs or Intel simply wants to limit Microsoft's access to this market segment. There is no doubt that prices for Silverthorne are artificially high right now. They will have to come quite a bit, if Intel is serious about establishing a new mass market product category. Buying a first-generation MID means that you will have to pay a premium for the privilege of owning a new communication device. But if you can also accept the low battery life and bulky form factors, you are likely to enjoy your MID. All other users may want to wait until 2010: Moorestown will bring much smaller MIDs and more capable smartphones for less than $500. In our opinion, this will be the device generation consumers are actually looking forward to. {gallery}200804013{/gallery}
-
TG Daily: You say that we're living in a "capitalist democratic society." Now, I would think that if we were more capitalist, we wouldn't have any choice; suddenly, we'd find these AACS-type measures inside our computers and our set-top boxes. If we were more democratic than capitalist, we would have the right to be able to unplug those things, or not to let those things enter our homes and offices to start with. Schneier: You have the right. The question is, do you have the ability? In a capitalist democratic society, you only have the options that are presented to you. The market failure is the monopoly/oligopoly market failure, where the option to turn it off, or the option not to have it, isn't presented to you. Cell phones is a good example...I don't have the option to go with - even if it's more expensive - a better quality service provider. There isn't one. They all suck. They all suck, because they realize that competing on service doesn't make sense, and they're better off hiring Catherine Zeta-Jones to be in ads. That's the unfortunate truth. You have a monopoly in operating systems, basically. If Microsoft and, I guess, Macintosh go along with saying, "Only these sorts of things will happen," by cutting out Linux - because who cares? - that's your only option. But the fear is, I have no choice but to buy a DRM-enabled computer, because there isn't anything else available, because it's all the market will give me. That's the fear. This is a market failure. I'm always amazed at people who are big fans of the market, who don't understand what it looks like when a market fails, and what systems don't work in a market. This is an example of it. If there were hundreds of operating systems, and you could pick the best one, sure, there'd be one that didn't do DRM, and we'd all use it, and DRM would die. But all you need is Sony and the big media companies [working with] the two big operating system companies, and you're done. The choice is no longer there. TG Daily: Okay, let's assume a worst-case scenario. Besides writing our congressman, how is the consumer going to react to this? What's the alternatives available? Schneier: Well, Congress reacts to money. So I don't believe that petitioning government for redress really is going to work here. The alternative is what I do: to fight at every turn, try to keep it out. TG Daily: How does one accomplish this? At least the way it's phrased in the press sometimes, it's phrased as a David-and-Goliath type battle. If this is a capitalist democratic society, then it's supposed to be a Goliath-and-Goliath [battle]. Schneier: Have you been following politics recently? Unfortunately, it's less about reasoned people making decisions on the issues, and more about, who has the money. Money fuels politics too much to have it be like it should be. I think politics is failing us. It's producing results that aren't in line with what people want, because the power structure [goes with] the money. People don't want DRM. If somebody were to say, "Here, we're going to give you something for your computer that will make you use it less," no one would say yes. TG Daily: Is there any possibility, then, that somebody could derive an alternative to this? In other words, the basic notion of having cryptography solutions in hardware is not, in and of itself, a bad thing....What if we could sell the original purpose again? Schneier: That'd be fine. I think it's a really good security tool against bad things on your computer. Done right, it's a smart idea. TG Daily: So could a small industry consortium mount a concerted effort to help swing TCM over to its original objective? Schneier: Don't know. It isn't a technology problem. It's a political problem. I'm not sure what the solutions are...Computer security is bad, and no one wants to fix it. And fixing it is hard. TG Daily: Suppose somebody were smart enough to bring this up. "You realize, guys, we're creating a system that, frankly, the consumers don't want, where a constant battlefield takes place inside our set-top boxes and PCs." Would you expect the representatives from the technology companies, Intel and Microsoft, the studios, the manufacturers, to stand up and say, "Yea, the consumers don't want it, but you know, [to heck with] 'em?" Schneier: No, they're not going to say that. They're going to say, "This helps security." This is the same as my fear on all this Trusted Computing technology, that it's being sold stealthily as it will help you consumers, while in reality, it's not. That's why I think we have some subterfuge going on. TG Daily: Will consumers not want this thing enough, in their cell phones or their set-top boxes or PCs, to not purchase it? Schneier: Nope. TiVo just came out and said, in violation of every thing that's normal, that if you tape a show on your TiVo, and at some later time, the [content provider] company says, "We don't want that out there any more," the company will reach into your TiVo and delete it. This just, like, blows "fair use" completely to hell. Where's the outcry? TG Daily: It's "fair use," but somebody else is doing the using. Schneier: Right.
That's lame.
I am just starting to get used to Office 2007, I hope the transitions isn't as drastic.
You realize it is free but stripped down version with ads. Most people will use it and won't care as long as they can type up thier mid term papers etc. I think MS, by doing this and as evil as they can be sometimes, wins.
And Open Office...may be on the extinction list.
If it's free (i.e. it doesn't cost the manufacturer or user any money), then I don't have an issue with it. However, if they're charging for it AND making you watch ads, that's unacceptable.
For the love of god, if you buy the starter edition, DO NOT CLICK THE ADS!!!
People don't realize that annoying ads can be stopped by simply not clicking them. If no one clicked those stupid ads, they wouldn't make any money and they'd stop using them.
I understand advertising is currently the economic model employed by the internet, and some ads are beneficial. A Google Ad on a search can lead you to the product you wanted instead of someone's blog about the product. However, when its just a company trying to pad its budget for a product it admits isn't worth the asking price, just say no.
That said, lets see how many inline ads Kontera inserts into my little post here. PC iPod Widows Browser iPhone email IM blah blah blah.
Hmmmm....'copy' but no 'paste'? 'Save', but no 'save as'? Can't resize fonts? I wonder what will be cut out of the starter edition. It would have to be something super important or else fewer people will upgrade than Microsoft anticipates.
If it's free (i.e. it doesn't cost the manufacturer or user any money), then I don't have an issue with it. However, if they're charging for it AND making you watch ads, that's unacceptable.
I feel the same way. I dont give a crap if software is ad supported as long as I dont have to pay anything for it.
I am just starting to get used to Office 2007, I hope the transitions isn't as drastic.
I've been using 2010 for a few months, I like it better the 07. It responds better and the navigation is even more simpler, they have updated it with a new ribbon and a lot of new features.
Talking about ad-ware.
Well, at least we should be rid of Microsoft Works
wonderful. more microsoft bs. basic word processing should be a no-nonsense included feature with any major operating system. having them provide it in a reduced functionality mode AND with advertising is rediculous
Damn screw ups: put adds and full functionality; pay for it for no adds.... simple enough... damn idiots
I have an foolproof fix to not see the advertisements in MS Office lite.
It goes something like this:
"Welcome to Ubuntu, would you like to use the entire drive?"
I will click on yes, permanent fix is done.
Oh Great, Just what we Don't Need!
MS Office will become just one more piece of AdWare and worse....
It may even provide a new venue for Malware Purveyors to infect systems on which the Starter Edition is installed.
Damn screw ups: put adds and full functionality; pay for it for no adds.... simple enough... damn idiots[citation][nom]jimmy1989[/nom]wonderful. more microsoft bs. basic word processing should be a no-nonsense included feature with any major operating system. having them provide it in a reduced functionality mode AND with advertising is rediculous
[/citation]
You have certain demands for your free software? I'd hate to meet you at the soup kitchen.
This is an interesting move. I kinda like the idea and am curious what major functions are removed from the Starter editions. It can see lots of starving students trying to make this work for them; and Microsoft could keep making some money from them by placing gaming ads.
For those of you that hate the idea of free ad supported software but want demand a free word processor and spreadsheet, download Open Office.
You have certain demands for your free software? I'd hate to meet you at the soup kitchen.[/citation]
Lol just little pissed of at people doing half the work. Then leave costumer with crappy frustrating software (and they say they did a good job)Just recalling the 60 day office 2007 trial.... witch once disable, costumers complains because they can't do anything with their work.
Just like minister of Health in canada, letting the health system in decay..... costing more and more tax payers money.....
Just think about that.
That's lame.
Microsoft is lame. Even MSN Messenger displays adds, and there is no way to shut them down!
My company uses office 2003 for the most. Even when some use 2007 and it's ribon toolbar thing, and can't seem to find 'save as .doc instead of .docx' so that the rest of us can read the thing, there's a fix in MS website so 2003 can read those files. I don't care about the product being old, bugs, patches and the rest. None of these can save you when you click on whatever comes to your inbox, or when you visit whatever you think it's safe or when you don't have any script block or updatet antivirus.
Will we miss office clippy?
It gives them revenue, and it keeps things free. I don't see a problem. I agree with lamorpa.
And @ the comment about don't click - Yes, that's Google Ads. High profile companies like Microsoft, or high profile websites, usually make people pay for adspace. They make money regardless of whether you click on it or not.
Dont these people realise that the more they try and use Ads as an irritation, the more the recipients will filter it?
If IE and Firefox had AdBlock built it, does that mean Google would be broke ass?
Office needs to die the dinosaur's death it deserves. I swear Word 5.0 was a better piece of software and ran off of a floppy. The need for new is getting old, no pun intended - come on, why can't we just pick a standard and leave it alone. 99.99% of all MSWord use is stupid school papers and emails - make openoffice the standard and move on. If people actually need "desktop publishing" then they can pay for it. Excel is no better- when I use it, even in a work setting, I'm probably using 1% of the capabilities, all of which can be had for free from numerous venues. Powerpoint is a joke - it's turned presentations into something even more boring and unhelpful, if that is possible. I'd say msoffice has a real value of about $20 tops.
How much time and money is wasted in the US paying for and learning new Microsoft software?
How much time and money is wasted in the US paying for and learning new Microsoft software?
Well said. That statement holds true even if the software was distributed free to everyone.
As long as you can't get your hands on older pieces of software when you want them, for whatever reason you might want them, you are lacking choice, and choice is good for the market. People have the right to keep old habits going. Mozilla knows that and makes the new, security/speed improved FF version as similar in appearance as the old one. But even if FF was way to different to the old version, they hold just 20% of browser market share, you don't like them, don't use them. While MS has a different position, and can impose it's presence like it did with Vista (yeah, I have used it, I have troubleshot it, and my brother, computer power user, still using it for lack of drivers for his laptop, and hates it all the way) and should be regulated. That's my opinion.
My experience: most of the people who liked the UI of Vista and office 2007 could not change the wallpaper of Vista unless they used 'set as wallpaper' on programs, just because the working part of the UI was different from XP. Or could not find 'show menu bar' in IE7+, or never use more than 0.01% of the capabilities of office like jawshoeaw mentions (like 'ctrl+shift+greater than', but the new toolbar is so shiny and pretty). Still, are those users who ask more about how to do this and how to do that. If you don't want to learn the new thing, why did you get it in the first place (you know, they generally think they got a choice and chose to go for Vista and office 2007 with most new computers).
For the sake of being honest, I know computer enthusiasts who really really like Vista (that is to say, they are not paid to give excellent positive reviews about it), enjoy advances in pretty software and learn the new OS inside out. But they themselves don't use Vista in a production (/productive) environment. They use Office 2007 (and know how to save in .doc so others can read, and will use office 2010, and will combine Windows7 with Office 2010 in production environments, but enjoy Vista for pretty purposes and supported Microsoft pushing/forcing it to the rest of us who thought otherwise.
I won't rant anymore, sorry about that.
I can't help wondering what's in it for the PC makers to pre-install this junk instead of the full OpenOffice suite, which would cost them nothing to include and would offer the customer far more out-of-the-box functionality
[begin conspiracy theory]
Microsoft forces OEMs to include this stuff by threatening to remove their OEM discount for the Windows license if they don't (or threaten other sanctions if they dare to include any rival freeware), so that every new PC becomes a marketing platform for Microsoft
{end conspiracy theory]
Time for the EU to raid their offices again, then hold a 5-year investigation, then force Microsoft to provide a start-up screen with 12 alternative office products to choose from...
"I can't help wondering what's in it for the PC makers to pre-install this junk instead of the full OpenOffice suite, which would cost them nothing to include and would offer the customer far more out-of-the-box functionality"
I'am sure that vendors would love to preinstall OpenOffice but the problem but MS office is prevalent so most users won't want it for a number of reasons.
The problem right now with OpenOffice is its support for MS Office formats which isn't its fault. If you tried to convert a OpenOffice to an MS office format it isn't always accurate. Think about a simple situation you type out your resume in OpenOffice only to find out later that the align is all messed up when the recruiter/HR tries to read it.
It would be nice if majority of places that require word documents would also accept an ISO standard format but it isn't always so.
Do these Ads come with the software package or are they downloaded from the internet? If from internet, can they be blocked by Anti-Adware software?
If all you really need is very basic word processing, there's always Windows
Wordpad. Open Office is always an option. Not complaining here. If it's
free, i'll give it a try. But do i need to buy a new PC or notebook?
The starter is completely free and the ads are only on the right bottom of the screen in a small box that will not intrude in anyway. so I think this is a win.