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Filed under: Office, Microsoft, Commercial, Freeware

Microsoft Works Sponsored Edition launches

MS WorksAs predicted almost a year ago, Microsoft has begun offering a free, advertising supported version of Microsoft Works, its office application suite for people too cheap to spring for Office. But it doesn't appear that there's any way to download and install Microsoft Works SE (Sponsored Edition) yourself just yet. Rather, computer makers are starting to install the software on new PCs.

Basically the program works just as well (read that statement however you'd like) as the full version of MS Works, but users will see a small advertisement in the program window, whether they're editing a spreadsheet or text document.

The new version of Works is available to computer makers for free. Of course, OpenOffice.org is also available for free, but you don't see PC makers including that on computers that ship with Windows yet. Works SE isn't available everywhere yet. It's apparently showing up on selected computers in the US, Canada, and a handful of European countries.

Filed under: Windows, Office, Microsoft

Microsoft Works Converter makes your Works documents useable

Works 6-9 ConverterIt's happened to everyone at one time or another. You buy a shiny new computer, take it home, and realize that it doesn't have Microsoft Office installed. How are you going to write your term paper, letters, or other office documents?

So you fish around in the box and find a copy of Microsoft Works. The computer maker must have thrown it in there as a freebie. And hey, it's got a word processor and spreadsheet. What more could you need?

Well, for basic office tasks, Works does fine. But if and when you decide you need a bit more oomph, you'll find that many other office suites just don't know what to do with documents created in Works. Fortunately, Microsoft has updated its free Works Converter to support Works 6-9.

Now the real problems arise when you find old Works 2.0 documents lying around on a floppy disk. Sure, you can open those documents in Excel or Word. But where are you going to find a floppy disk drive?

[via ActiveWin]

Filed under: Business, Internet, Web services, Microsoft

Microsoft online applications in the works?

microsoft online applicationsIt looks like Microsoft could have finally realized that the future of software is all about online applications. Microsoft has said that they might be considering launching an online free, ad supported version of its software. The software it might be planning on integrating for online usage is Microsoft Works, which retails for $50 currently. Works has a calendar, spreadsheet, web browser, and email. It is currently a pretty basic home use software package, but at least Microsoft is stepping into the new software generation, and thinking about providing it for free online use.

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, ...

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