Skip to Content

Submit your nominations for the Luxist Awards' Best in Decor
AOL Tech

Microsoft Works posts

Filed under: Office, Microsoft, Commercial, Freeware

Why you have to pay $40 for MS Works while some will get it free

Microsoft Works 9You know that free, advertising-supported version of Microsoft Works 9 we told you about the other day? Yeah, it turns out it's not for everyone. Any by not for everyone, we mean both that you can't just download a free copy for yourself, and that you'll probably find more of the features you're looking for in OpenOffice.org.

Microsoft has released its latest version of the Works suite, which is available for $40, or $10 less than Microsoft Works 8 had retailed for.

Microsoft plans to launch a free version of the program soon, but only as part of a small pilot program. Several computer manufacturers will preinstall the software, called Microsoft Works 9 SE on their computers. Of course, some computer makers have been selling PCs with Works preinstalled for years, but they're usually passing the cost of the software on to customers.

The ads will be viewable whether you're online or off and will vary in size depending on what Works application you're using. There's no word yet on what companies will be selling PCs with the software.

Filed under: Windows, Office, Microsoft, Freeware

Microsoft Works 9 to be free and advertising-supported

Microsoft Works 8
If you bought a cheap PC that didn't come with Microsoft Office preinstalled, or at least MS Word, you may have gotten a free copy of Microsoft Works. It's always been sort of an ironic name for a product, because it just barely works. Sure, if all you need is a basic spreadsheet, calendar, or word processor, MS Works will do. But since it can't handle most MS Office documents, Works is barely worth the $50 you'd have to pay if you actually went out and bought a copy.

All of which is to say we have mixed feelings when we hear that Microsoft plans to launch the next version of Works as free, advertising supported software. ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley got the scoop on the new product from Microsoft V.P. Satya Nadella, but nobody else from the company has confirmed the details.

On the one hand, it's great to see Microsoft exploring ways to raise revenue without charging consumers an arm and a leg. On the other hand, a number of other companies have released free MS Office competitors such as OpenOffice.org, Google Docs & Spreadsheets, and Zoho. Releasing Works, a stripped down version of Office hardly seems like the way to compete.

Featured Time Waster

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

View more Time Wasters

Featured Galleries

Defective by Design, London: Protest Pictures
Microsoft Security Essentials
Chromium Pre-Alpha on CrunchBang Linux
Safari 4 Beta
10 Firefox themes that don't suck
IE8 RC1
Download Squad at the Crunchies After-Party
Download Squad at the Crunchies
WordPress 2.7
Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals
Windows 7 Hands On
Comodo Internet Security
Android First-look: Amazon.com MP3 Store
Android First-look: Twitroid
Google Reader Android
Android Hands-On
Twine 1.0
Photoshop Express Beta
Mozilla Birthday Cake
Palm stuff
Adobe Lightroom 1.1

 


Follow us on Twitter!

Flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

More Tech Coverage

AOL Radio