Microsoft Office 2010 for Free?

[sanssecret]

Well, ok it's only the Beta version that's free, but I've just downloaded it and have to say, even though I've only checked out Powerpoint so far, it's pretty good.

Initially had a few problems with the download, but managed to sort them out (can't have been that difficult if I managed it )

You get to use this till October which is ample time for you to create some amazing videos. For those of you interested in trying it out you can get it from
www.office.microsoft.com

And if you want to see it in action, I made a short video, but can't seem to get it to show up here?

YouTube - Microsoft Office 2010 Beta Version

Damn! How come it doesn't show up in preview, lol

[M Thompson]

I've been using powerpoint 2010 for the video course i am running at the moment and it's superb, I like how MS are getting people to beta test their stuff now, it's made a big difference to the quality.

Originally Posted by sanssecret

Well, ok it's only the Beta version that's free, but I've just downloaded it and have to say, even though I've only checked out Powerpoint so far, it's pretty good.

Initially had a few problems with the download, but managed to sort them out (can't have been that difficult if I managed it )

You get to use this till October which is ample time for you to create some amazing videos. For those of you interested in trying it out you can get it from
www.office.microsoft.com

And if you want to see it in action, I made a short video, but can't seem to get it to show up here?

YouTube - Microsoft Office 2010 Beta Version
Damn! How come it doesn't show up in preview, lol

[sanssecret]

This is the first time I've noticed a beta version available but I have to say it works brilliantly. Now, if I can just quit playing with it I might actually be able to make use of it, lol.

[impulsell]

Do you find it's much better than 2007? because I'm pretty happy with that at the moment.

[M Thompson]

Originally Posted by impulsell

Do you find it's much better than 2007? because I'm pretty happy with that at the moment.

i was happy with 2007 until i tried it..I just found it so easy to use.

[sanssecret]

Originally Posted by impulsell

Do you find it's much better than 2007? because I'm pretty happy with that at the moment.

I have to admit I wasn't that impressed with 2007, each to their own I guess. This I love, and I've finally managed to quit playing with Powerpoint and go check out Word.

Really good. So good I might actually have to buy the flipping thing. Sheesh, maybe downloading it wasn't such a good idea after all, lol

[CDarklock]

Originally Posted by sanssecret

I have to admit I wasn't that impressed with 2007

Hmph. I finally ship products that people actually use, and they're among the most hated products in Microsoft's history. Isn't that just my luck? (I worked briefly on the Excel 2007 team, primarily on the analytics engine, and was part of the Vista selfhost team that handled install and upgrade procedures.)

[scottallison]

Originally Posted by sanssecret

Well, ok it's only the Beta version that's free, but I've just downloaded it and have to say, even though I've only checked out Powerpoint so far, it's pretty good.

I am always afraid of BETA version. Hope this will not be in conflict with my Office 2007 if I decide to remove the BETA later.

I watched your video and will most likely download.

Thanks

Scott

[sanssecret]

Originally Posted by CDarklock

Hmph. I finally ship products that people actually use, and they're among the most hated products in Microsoft's history. Isn't that just my luck? (I worked briefly on the Excel 2007 team, primarily on the analytics engine, and was part of the Vista selfhost team that handled install and upgrade procedures.)

Ha, so you're to blame for Vista. Now,if you'll just tell me who's behind Windows 7 please? That is some serious piece of rubbish.

Scott, I don't think there's any problem when (if) you come to uninstall it. There are instructions on the site. I reckon they're banking on those who use this upgrading to the 'real' version and in the case of yours truly, they're probably right.

[Michael Silvester]

Originally Posted by scottallison

I am always afraid of BETA version. Hope this will not be in conflict with my Office 2007 if I decide to remove the BETA later.

I watched your video and will most likely download.

Thanks

Scott

I installed it today after reading this thread....and now my
computer is in the shop. Luckily I have other computers
as back-ups.

It was on my computer for all of 20 mins before it completely
crashed and buggered my computer.

Proceed with caution...

Take Care,

Michael Silvester

[travlinguy]

Most new Microsoft products (mainly operating systems) are buggy as hell and they don't get srtaightened out for a year or more... Some, like Windows ME, never did. And that takes patch after patch and lots of updates. I wouldn't go near a beta version of anything by Microsoft.

[sanssecret]

Originally Posted by Michael Silvester

I installed it today after reading this thread....and now my
computer is in the shop. Luckily I have other computers
as back-ups.

It was on my computer for all of 20 mins before it completely
crashed and buggered my computer.

Proceed with caution...

Take Care,

Michael Silvester

Michael, I'm really sorry your computer busted. Mine is working just fine, it hasn't affected any of my other programmes. Nothing bad at all as far as I can tell. To be honest, if it had I'd have been up the creek without a paddle.

Like I said, I did have a few problems at the download stage, but nothing major. More just the time it took and the fact it seemed to stop half way through but really hadn't.

[tweetzon]

2010 its okay to me basically is just the same as the old one. as far as i concern

[Kat Bartone]

Initial excitement turned to hopes dashed.

> Installation would not complete on my Windows XP Pro desktop. Got stuck on step 4 of 4. Couldn't cancel. Rebooted computer. Attempt to redownload launched a repair wizard. Message said repair was successful. Attempted to open Word, got stuck loading, and finally crashed, application failed to load. Just finished uninstalling the damn thing.

> Installation on my Windows Vista laptop completed successfully. Applications open, but the first thing is to register the product via the internet. Application would not recognize that I AM connected to the internet, and gave me a communication error, check internet connection. Rebooted computer. Opened another Office app, same problem. Last thing I will try here is to use a hard-wired connection (laptop is wirelessly connected) - and if that fails, I'll dump it.

Not a good experience. As previous poster pointed out, very buggy.

Thanks for the suggestion though, sanssecret.

- Kat

[AmyBrown]

I've been using it for 3 weeks on a Vista laptop. The only issue I had was when I accidentally opened Outlook 2007 instead of 2010. This apparently changes settings so I had to reinstall Outlook 2010 however no data was lost. I'll confess - I made the same mistake twice before removing the shortcut

[Chris Broadhurst]

This had been out for ages now, I got my new laptop back in Decemb er and downloaded it then have been using it ever since of Windows 7 not single issue just keep it up to date its a great piece if software but again as with most of Microsofts newer products if you are trying to run ot on old outdated machines that are worth less than tghe software to begn with expect problems.

Same with Windows 7 never had 1 days worth of issues with but then again I always make sure my hardware is as up to date as my software

Michael highly doubt your "busted" machine was anything to do with Office 2010 and if your "tech shop" says ot was then dont pay them because they are talking crap, maybe pass your comment onto Microsoft Im sure it will amuse someone there.

[Don Schenk]

Originally Posted by CDarklock

Hmph. I finally ship products that people actually use, and they're among the most hated products in Microsoft's history. Isn't that just my luck? (I worked briefly on the Excel 2007 team, primarily on the analytics engine, and was part of the Vista selfhost team that handled install and upgrade procedures.)

So you're the culprit! Now I know who to fuss at when I use Vista. I wista vista were different. Oh wait! Now it is. The new versision is called something 7.

@sanssecret, thanks for finding that. I'll go play.

:-Don

I wonder how long before Sun Microsystems clones it into Open Office

[Mohammad Afaq]

Thanks for the link. It's being downloaded as I type

[Steve Baker]

Mick, maybe it's that dinosaur version of XP that gave you all of your problems. Get with the times son.

[Cardsearch]

I downloaded it and the only problem I have had is it took forever to download. Otherwise great.

[skatir]

Is it free trial? I am using open office and I am happy with it. yet didn't figure out how Microsoft office it better.

[Kat Bartone]

I had nothing but trouble with this, on both my XP (installation hung, then needed repair, then the apps wouldn't open) and Vista (installation completed, but registration process failed - and it can't be done manually) machines.

Granted, I was trying the home and small business version, which seems to be an on-demand type of app - wherein some basic files are installed, but it's when you open the app that the various elements are actually downloaded, at least temporarily. I think this is MS first step toward server-side application, rather than client-based. This is why they say this 'version' is for those with fast internet connections.

The other one, MS OFfice 2010 Professional - is one that I suspect is the standard client-based suite. I say this because I started installing it, but I aborted - but the download/install process was taking such a long time that it seemed to be doing a clientbased install. This would also explain why they recommended this version for slow internet connections - not because of the installation requirements, but because of the greater speed requirements for the mostly-server-side version.

Maybe I'll try the Pro version, but I like the different features of the SmallBiz version, and the necessary removal of the SmallBiz version was quick and left my MS Office 2003 untouched.

- Kat

[Rezbi]

Originally Posted by M Thompson

I've been using powerpoint 2010 for the video course i am running at the moment and it's superb, I like how MS are getting people to beta test their stuff now, it's made a big difference to the quality.

They've always done this. It just hasn't been to everyone.

If you were on certain of their 'lists' then you got to test the beta versions.

[jazbo]

Open office for me, and as soon as their is a viable alternative to Window, I'm ditching that as well.