| When most customers are looking for an office suite to handle word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, they go out and buy Microsoft Office software. Microsoft Office Software, which is currently in the Microsoft Office 2007 release, contains every type of tool that a person would expect in a bundled package. There is a word processor in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel allows the user to create spreadsheets with complex functions and formulas for data analysis, and PowerPoint creates graphically rich presentations that can be interactive and rich with multi media effects.
To have the complete gamut of productivity, a potential customer should be looking at the Microsoft Office Professional which includes the basic Word, Excel, and PowerPoint from Microsoft, but also includes Microsoft Publisher for desktop publishing projects, Access for building query rich databases, Accounting Express that allows for personal and business bookkeeping, and an enhanced Outlook email client that comes with the Contact Manager add on.
Microsoft Office products can be quite expensive. Although they come bundled with most home computers, this version of the software suite lasts for a short period of time as they are only trial versions. One way to save money when buying Microsoft Office is to scale back the software included. Microsoft Office has many different editions of the software available. The Professional Edition is one of the most expensive due to the inclusion of certain programs. If these programs are not needed, then a lighter edition can be purchased.
The Microsoft Office Student version provides the students, and home users, with a scaled back package providing the basics for a reduced cost. The Student and Home Edition contains tools specific to its target market. Included in this bundle is Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft One Note. One Note is a program that allows a user to organize projects, thoughts, notes, and any other type of information in virtual manila folders. As many folders that are needed can be created for any type of organization. Users can add pictures, sound, text, or even write directly onto the folder or other documents if a pen and tablet are available.
Microsoft’s Small Business Office software edition takes office to a different market. The Small Business Edition is much like the Professional Edition except that it lacks the Access database program. Like the Student and Home Edition, Small Business can be purchased for a reduced price.
Moving in a different direction altogether is the Ultimate Edition. The Ultimate Edition contains everything that the Professional Edition has plus InfoPath for creating forms, and Groove which allows for collaboration. Other editions of the Office System contain software tailored to specific tasks in an organization.
Microsoft Office is not the only office software on the market. Used in the legal profession as the de facto suite is Corel Office Suite featuring Corel WordPerfect. For quite some time, WordPerfect was the number one word processor until it was passed over by Microsoft Word.
Open source office suites include OpenOffice.org from Sun Microsystems that is free to download and use. Also, ThinkFree offers an online office suite that can be used on any operating system since it runs online. Google is also venturing into the online office game with Google Documents and Spreadsheets.
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