Office 2010...here's how they're gonna get you to buy it.

Office 2010...Resistance Is Futile

Microsoft knows its biggest competitor to its new office release is its own installed base. I'm still running Office 2003, and when I want something fancy dancy, I'll click on Open Office. And who knows what Google is going to come up with through its new cloud-based software?

Buy Or Die

So according to today's MS Engineering blog on Office 2010, here's how they're gonna get you and who knows? maybe even me to buy this stuff.

When you are buying a new box, Office 2010 will come pre-loaded (think MS Works) including a new Product Key Card. This will enable you to use the new offering, and also entice you to consider an upgrade to the more robust versions to include: Office Home & Student 2010, Office Home & Business 2010, or Office Professional 2010.

The MS blog adds: "An added bonus: The card’s packaging is smaller than the full package (DVD) product, and is eco/retail-friendly....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.
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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.


Click To Run
And there will also be a 'click to run' version for people like me. We'll be able to download the Office Starter product and run it alongside our existing Office install--2003 or 2007 and decide whether the new offering is worth it.  I kinda like this, because in the past, when downloading new Microsoft stuff, I was frightened that it might-block out my use of my trusty and perhaps dusty version(s).

Beta Coming This Year
Microsoft says it will have a beta of Office 2010 later this year and will invite people to become familiar with Office 2010, and then of course 'easily upgrade to a full version' when you're ready to buy. To find out more information about Office 2010 visitwww.microsoft.com/office2010.

Great! I guess.