The Many Versions of Office 2007 and Windows Vista

Microsoft's plans for its two new major product releases is a little confusing for those of us folks who are out to simplify our lives. Here is what I mean: The gentle giant from Redmond is planning to release seven versions of the new Office 2007...and six versions of the new Windows Vista.

The new Office 2007 (formerly called Office 12, if that isn't confusing enough) will have versions for the student, the home user, small businesses, and really big companies. For most folks, the standard version will be fine, although it does not contain the Access database software. You have to upgrade to a higher version to get that. By the way, the list price for the standard version is $399, the same it has been for previous versions.

Here are a couple of major changes that I found interesting. Apparently Microsoft figured out that many non-students were buying the Student/Teacher Version of Office. So, in the new Student Version, Microsoft is removing Outlook as part of the package. To get Outlook, you will have to buy the Standard Version.

The other change I found interesting is that none of the new Office packages will include FrontPage, the web site design package that Microsoft has been selling for several years. Apparently they will still sell software separately for a while, but the plans are to delete the product completely from the Microsoft family.

FrontPage has fallen on hard times, saleswise, to other more powerful packages. Also web designers have figured out that people get angry with Web sites that can only use Internet Explorer to render the pages properly, which is what FrontPage does if you use their extensions. Microsoft is planning a new Web page designer called "Expression."

As for Vista, Microsoft expects Windows Vista Home Premium to be the best selling consumer product, allowing users to record and watch high-definition television, burn and author DVD's and perform other multimedia functions. It also incorporates Tablet PC technology to decipher handwriting to let users write notes on the computer.

Vista Home Premium will be the middle option for consumers, sandwiched between the high-end Windows Vista Ultimate, which also includes business-oriented features, and a bare-bones Windows Vista Home Basic without the multimedia capabilities.

For business users, Microsoft plans Windows Vista Business for small and medium-sized businesses...and Windows Vista Enterprise for the big companies. The sixth version is a stripped down version for emerging countries. Interestingly, unlike the current Windows XP, there will no versions designed specifically for advanced 64-bit computing, multimedia computers or Tablet PCs...at least for now.

Both of these products are scheduled for release sometime towards the end of the year. If you have any questions, don't call me. After writing this blog, I need to take two aspirin and lay down as my head is swimming.