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Microsoft Office is the staple software of modern home computing. Got a PC? Then you need to buy Microsoft Office to get Word, Excel and PowerPoint, right?
That used to be the case.
Nowadays, millions of people have ditched Office for the free Google suite of Docs, Sheets and Slides and embraced cloud computing. But for some, the comfort and familiarity of Microsoft’s productivity software is too much to give up and besides, Microsoft offers cloud storage too.
It used to be simple: buy a computer, then buy a CD-ROM loaded with Office. An easy, one-off payment and the software was yours forever (or until your PC gave up). If you want to, you can still do it this way via a one-time download (RIP CD-ROMs).
But Office 365 is the way Microsoft wants you to buy into Office – as a monthly or annual subscription payment that embraces the convenience of cloud storage and services across your multiple devices.
Here, we take a look at what Office 365 gives you and if it’s worth investing in over buying Office outright.
What devices does Microsoft Office 365 work on?
Microsoft Office Worldwide
Office 365 is compatible with any modern PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone or Android tablet (check exact requirements here).
How much is Microsoft Office 365 in Australia?
There are two tiers of the Office 365 subscription: Home or Personal. There’s not much of a price difference between the two but go for Personal if you only need Office for yourself. For a little more, Home lets you share the benefits with up to six people so is ideal for families.
The annual costs saves you money compared to paying monthly, but the monthly subscription is more flexible as you can cancel at any time.
Microsoft Office 365 Home costs AU$129 per year, or AU$13 per month.
Microsoft Office 365 Personal costs AU$99 per year, or AU$10 per month.
You can try Office for one month as a free trial but it requires your payment details, and will charge you for an annual subscription at the end of the trial unless you cancel.
What does Microsoft Office 365 include?
Both Home and Personal include the full suite of Office apps and services. The only difference is that Home gives access to six people, while Personal is just for one.
Microsoft Office 365 Home includes:
Office for up to 6 people across all their devices
Apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Outlook
Publisher (PC only)
Access (PC only)
OneDrive with 1TB storage for 6 people
Skype
OneNote
Technical support
Microsoft Office 365 Personal includes:
Office for one 1 person across all their devices
Apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Outlook
Publisher (PC only)
Access (PC only)
OneDrive with 1TB storage for 1 person
Skype
OneNote
Technical support
Either one is a great deal as it offers every Office service and unlimited sign-ins across devices, so you can use Office on your computer, tablet and phone and any other device you might have (for example more than one computer or on your personal and work phone).
You just download the apps you want from the app store on your PC, Mac, phone or tablet and then sign in with your Microsoft account details.
As well as access to everything and a generous 1TB of cloud storage, Office 365 is great because it will automatically update all of the software to the latest version. So when Microsoft improves Word, you’ll get the update over the internet.
That perk goes for every service on Office 365.
It’s worth noting that if you stop paying for Office 365, you can no longer access any of the services. You have to keep paying to keep access to the apps and your existing files.
Office 365 suggests you save those files in the cloud using OneDrive, but it is possible to save files directly to your devices instead if you prefer, which is an easier way of having access to your saved files if you plan to only pay for Office for a short amount of time.
Can you buy Microsoft Office outright?
If you don’t like the idea of a monthly subscription and would prefer to pay once for Office and have it forever like the good old days then you can still do that with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 (current version at the time of writing).
Office 365 does not have a year in its branding it as it is constantly updated. Buying Office Home & Student 2019 as a one-off purchase means you will forever have that edition of Office, and you won’t receive software updates to add new features or upgrade to the next year’s version. It does however receive security updates.
Office Home & Student costs AU$199 as a one-off payment and includes:
1 person for only 1 PC or 1 Mac
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
OneNote
Unfortunately, that’s it - buying Office outright does not get you popular apps like Outlook for email or OneNote. It also doesn’t get you OneDrive cloud storage, and you can’t use the apps on your phone or tablet - you must download Office to one PC or Mac and forever use it there.
It is quite restrictive, and we only recommend Office Home & Student’s one-off payment if you want the basic Word, Excel and PowerPoint set up on one computer and if you save files locally to the computer or a hard drive.
Otherwise, Microsoft is clearly pushing a superior version of Office with Office 365. While it might take a while to get your head round an annual payment for software, the advantages are clear to see. Think of it as the Netflix of home computing.
You get the latest version of every app regularly updated, generous cloud storage, an email client, sign-in across all your devices for up to six people and technical support. That’s a pretty good deal.
If you’re comfortable with cloud storage and need Office on more than your computer then Office 365 is worth the spend - it’s more the getting used to paying a subscription for something that used to be a one off purchase that is the barrier rather than the value of the software itself.
This article was originally published on the 19th of December 2019.
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A classic productivity tool for PCs!
Word is one of the most popular and commonly used products from Microsoft Corporation. The latest version of Microsoft Word integrates well with Microsoft Office 365 and serves as a full-fledged document processing software. With the program, you can type, publish, and edit documents in real-time. Microsoft Word comes with improved features but retains the original layout for ease of use. It runs on Windows 10 and above, and is also available for Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
Create high-quality documents with ease!
If you’ve been using a Windows PC, it’s likely that you’re already familiar with Microsoft Word. For document processing, typing, publishing, and editing, Word has been the standard program in Windows devices.
In recent years, it has received some tough competition from Google Docs. However, the veteran word processing software has been able to retain a strong fan following. The simple interface, plenty of features, and integration with Microsoft Office 365 products make Word an excellent choice.
Is Microsoft Word easy to use?
While programs like Trio Office come with a simple interface, Microsoft Word’s ribbon interface has been hugely popular among Windows users. For many years, it has been able to give Word a relevant and fresh look, while most of the computing world made a radical shift to the web and mobile devices.
The only drawback is that some labels and icons might confuse users who aren’t familiar with Microsoft Office, OneDrive, or similar products. But if you’ve always been a Windows user, you’d find it easy to navigate through the program. With the latest version of the program, the interface remains uncluttered and clean.
Microsoft Word Free Download
Microsoft Word comes with the ‘Tell me what you want to do’ feature, which is quite useful for beginners and veterans alike. It acts as an ‘assistant’ and allows you to save a good amount of time. While it won’t be wrong to say that the interface could do with some improvements, Microsoft has done a good job of offering a range of features without much complexity.
Can you work in real-time with Microsoft Word?
With Microsoft Word, you can continue to work in real-time, at least with the full version. Considering the increasing adoption of online word processing software and tools, Microsoft has tried to introduce some significant improvements to the program. With the original layout, you get better integration with Microsoft Office 365, which lets you work in the Cloud.
Since you’re able to work in real-time, editing is much easier with Word. The program makes it easier to collaborate with several people simultaneously and lets you view edits or changes in real-time. Microsoft Word keeps storing progress and automatically updates the document smoothly and efficiently.
Does Microsoft Word feature a translator?
With the all-new translation tool, you can break a wide range of language barriers. The feature allows you to translate several phrases or even the entire page into a different language.
This saves you from the trouble of using third-party translation software. Within a couple of clicks, you can set the language to any of the ones available in the program’s huge accessory pack. This lets you share a polished document without any grammatical or spelling errors.
Does Microsoft Word offer any additional features?
For a lot of people, reading long text can be straining and tedious. With Microsoft Word, you can use several interesting features, such as spacing adjustment, page color changes, etc. This gives your eyes a much-needed break. Moreover, Word can read the text, ensuring you don’t have to indulge in tiring and long reading sessions.
Word integrates perfectly with Microsoft Office 2019, and leverages features like 3D image concerts and LaTex, which turn the program into a powerful learning tool. With 3D models, you can bring your projects and content to life, and can even write formulas. While these features may be overwhelming for beginners, they’re quite useful for veteran users.
Our take
Microsoft Word is an excellent document processing software. It goes beyond the usual programs available online. Moreover, the regular updates have transformed Word into a full-fledged collaboration and learning tool.
The integration with Microsoft Office 365 is an additional benefit. The Enterprise version can be used by small businesses, while there’s a dedicated subscription for students. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most ideal choices among word processing apps.
Should you download it?
Yes, definitely! Microsoft Word is the perfect choice for Windows PCs. With minimum hassles and a simple interface, you can use a wide range of features to leverage real-time editing, translation, and automatic updates. The program is also available for other operating systems.
Highs
- Integrates with Office 365
- Works in real-time
- Integrated translation tool
- Familiar interface
Microsoft Wordfor Windows
2019