office

Free Office 2013 alternatives

Microsoft Office 2013 has officially hit the streets, and it offers a significantly upgraded interface, more tools, and perhaps most importantly, a cloud-friendly system that lets you work from anywhere. While CNET's Jason Parker did give the updated Office suite high marks, he was also quick to say that its new $100-per-year subscription scheme will likely be hard for many people to swallow. Sure, there are (confusingly) single-pay standalone versions available as well, but those don't offer quite as much as the Office 365 subscription version.

In any case, if you are part of the camp that is … Read more

How to use Office on any PC with Office on Demand

Many of the new features of Microsoft Office 2013 are cloud-based. One of the more intriguing of those features is Office on Demand. Office on Demand allows subscribers of Office 365 to stream Office to any Internet-connected Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC.

If you're traveling without your own PC with Office on it, but can get to a guest machine, Office on Demand is a convenient way to access Office. You can even use it to edit your files stored on SkyDrive. And once you log out of the PC, the programs and documents are no longer accessible … Read more

Office 2013 desktop suite pops up in Windows Store

Microsoft's Office 2013 desktop application has a home in the Windows Store.

The Windows Store hosts apps for Windows 8 and RT, which you can download directly. But it also serves as a pointer for traditional desktop applications. Instead of letting you download desktop programs directly, the store aims you at a Web site where you can download and purchase the product. And that's the case with Office 2013.

Running a search for "Microsoft Office" in the Windows Store displays several results, including one for Office 2013. Click on that result, and you'll see an … Read more

Edit and create documents with Olive Office Premium

The world of document editing has recently entered the realm of small mobile devices. When your laptop is somewhere else and you need to edit documents, Olive Office Premium is at your service. This is a fairly stable application that gives users all the useful tools they need.

Following a quick and easy installation, this app welcomes you with a bold and bright menu. This menu allows the user to view recent files, search for files on the device, and make use of cloud services. The cloud services are all the popular ones such as Google Docs, Dropbox, and Box. … Read more

Microsoft's Ballmer disses Dropbox as a 'little startup'

SkyDrive or Dropbox? That's a decision many people face when seeking online storage. But Steve Ballmer doesn't see much in the way of competition.

In a chat with BusinessWeek published yesterday, Microsoft's head honcho touted his own company's online audience over that of Dropbox.

SkyDrive had more than 200 million users as of October, according to comments from then Windows president Steven Sinofsky. DropBox reached 100 million users in November.

"Well, you've got to remember, 100 million sounds like a pretty small number to me, actually," Ballmer told BusinessWeek. "We've got … Read more

Microsoft Office 2013: Everything you need to know (FAQ)

Microsoft has finally unveiled Microsoft Office 2013. CNET's already had a chance to do an in-depth review of Office 365, the subscription version of Office 2013. Have more questions? Check out our answers below.… Read more

Microsoft pushes Office subscriptions

Tuesday's CNET Update doesn't need another yearly fee:

Microsoft Office 2013 comes in several flavors, so today's show breaks down what you need to know about upgrading. A single copy of Office 2013 with the basic programs costs $140. But Microsoft is pushing a new yearly subscription version called Office 365. The $100 yearly fee brings regular updates, as well as bonus cloud storage space and free calling time on Skype. The fee also gives customers the option to download Office on five computers.

Also in the news:

- Apple announced it will offer a 128GB iPad on February 5, … Read more

How and where to buy Office 365 and Office 2013

Updated at 2:27 p.m. PT: This story has been updated to further clarify the differences among the Office options.

Along with all the new features, the latest version of Microsoft Office, released today (read CNET's review), is now available as a standalone suite and by subscription. The options are tailored toward different use cases, depending on your productivity requirements.

Office 365 Home Premium, $99.99 per year, five PCs/Macs/Windows tablets: This is the "Microsoft recommended" version of Office. It comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, 20GB of SkyDrive storage, 60 … Read more

Microsoft pushes subscription model for Office 2013

After existing in preview form since last summer, Office 2013, the next version of Microsoft's productivity software, is now available for download.

More than a few versions of the software are available, but the basic story is that individuals can buy Office Home and Student 2013 with all the familiar apps like Word and Excel for a one-time fee of $139. Yet, since this stand-alone package won't entitle you to any subsequent upgrades, Microsoft would rather that you choose a pricier and more complete subscription model for $99 per year that delivers the various updates over the coming … Read more

Office boss: Within 10 years, every customer will subscribe

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer insists the software giant is really a devices and services company.

Today, the company makes one of its biggest pushes yet, launching a subscription service of its Office franchise to consumers who are increasingly doing their computing on mobile gadgets and Web applications. The software giant debuts Office 365 Home Premium, the latest offering from its widely used productivity software group.

The new service, which costs $99.99 a year, offers consumers access to the most recent version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access. The license covers up to five devices and … Read more