Microsoft Introduces New Office Suite


Drum roll please. Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer gave a customer preview of the company’s new Office suite on Monday, announcing some interesting changes in the new version of the platform popular with so many business users. You can watch the full Webcast on demand and sign up to preview the new Office 2013. It’s expected that product releases as anticipated as this one will generate some mixed reactions, and we’ve got some different takes here for you. So let’s look at some of the analysis of the new Microsoft product and what it might mean for your business.

Meet Office 2013

Bold steps. “We are taking bold steps at Microsoft,” Ballmer told the audience during Monday’s announcement in San Francisco. And from most reports he meant it. “The new, modern Office will deliver unparalleled productivity and flexibility for both consumers and business customers,” Ballmer added. Microsoft News Center

A whole new model. With the introduction of Microsoft’s new Office, the company is adding a cloud-based subscription and a new business model, according to this hands-on review. You’ll be able to buy Office 2013 for your business PC the same as always, but now you’ll be able to add a revamped version of Office 365 too. Wired

Added features. Office 2013 also comes with other features business users may appreciate. In addition to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, the new suite has been redesigned for tablets, and includes Skype and Yammer integration. ABC News

But Wait! There’s More!

The developer’s friend. Not only did Microsoft pack the new Office 2013 with many innovative features, the platform’s new cloud app model will allow business users to build a new class of apps using both Web technologies and cloud services. Jason Zander’s blog

Not Everyone’s Enthusiastic

Much ado about nothing. It’s not that this blogger isn’t impressed with the features Windows 8 and Office 2013 have to offer. Sure, some of the new features are eye popping, but the question is whether the business user at the moment really needs these new tools with so many other options to choose from. The Var Guy

It’s complicated. Business users may be impressed with the exhaustive 53 page guide explaining the features of the new Microsoft Office. But the licensing of Office 2013 and the newly revamped Office 365 may be a bit more complicated. Business owners may be reluctant to spend the time to figure it out. TechCrunch

Customer experience is everything. Business owners know the importance of providing awesome customer service from day one. Though everyone expects a few bugs with beta-type software like the free preview of Office 2013, the bad experiences of some users so far may mean the company is off to a rocky start. NevilleHobson.com

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  1. Personally, I’m not holding me breath for this. Microsoft has made big claims in the past and I will wait and see if their claims about Office 2013 hold up.

  2. Well, we will see how this one turns out.