Microsoft Office 2010 - Packaging
| Office Professional Plus (Volume licensing only) |
|
| Office Professional 2010 |
|
| Office Home & Business 2010 (New) |
|
| Office Standard 2010 (Volume licensing only) |
|
| Office Home & Student 2010 (Non-commercial license) |
|
1983
After the release of Multi-Tool Word the first version of Microsoft Word 1.0 for MS-DOS was released.
1985
Microsoft Word 1.0 and Microsoft Excel for the Mac and also Word 2.0 for MS-DOS are released.
1986
Microsoft Word 3.0 for the Mac and Word 3.0 for MS-DOS are released.
1987
Microsoft buys Forethought, the original company behind PowerPoint.
1988
Microsoft launches PowerPoint 2.0 for the Mac.
1989
Office 1.0 for the Mac is launched It includes Word 4.0, Excel 2.2 and PowerPoint 2.01.
1990
PowerPoint 2.0 for Windows is announced. Office 1.0 for Windows is available and includes Excel 2.0, Word 2.1 and PowerPoint 2.0.
1991
Microsoft announced the availability of Microsoft Excel for Windows 3.0.
1992
Office 3.0 for Windows is available and includes Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0 in combination with Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0 and Microsoft Excel 4.0.
1993
Office 4.0 for Windows ships with updated versions of Excel and Word.
1994
Office 4.3 Professional for Windows is available, featuring Access 2.0.
1995
Office 95 is the first complete package of 32-bit applications available for Windows 95.
1996
Exchange Server 4.0 is released. This is the original version of Exchange Server and was introduced as an upgrade from Microsoft Mail.
1997
Microsoft Outlook 97 and Exchange Server 5.0 are available.
1998
Office 98 the Mac Edition includes Word 98, Excel 98, PowerPoint 98 and Outlook Express.
1999
Access 2000 and Microsoft Office 2000 are launched.
2000
Exchange 2000 Server is released.
2001
Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2001 and Microsoft Office XP are released.
2003
Microsoft launches Office 2003, with Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003. Microsoft Office OneNote and InfoPath have been added the Office line-up. Exchange Server 2003 is released.
2005
Microsoft buys Groove.
2006
Exchange Server 2007 is released.
2007
Microsoft Office 2007 is released, including Office SharePoint Server 2007.
2008
Microsoft announced the worldwide availability of Office Live Workspace beta.
2009
Live@edu services become known as Outlook Live while Exchange 2010 and Office 2010 are launched respectively as Beta and Technical Preview.
The best way to take a look at Windows 7 is to actually see it. Although my video making skills could best be described as ‘crap’, adding a bit of music to it does show a slight improvement on earlier attempts.
The six Windows 7 versions are:
Windows Home Basic
Home Basic is not intended for Microsoft’s main markets therefore it will only be available in countries that come under the underdeveloped category.
Windows 7 Starter
At the bottom end of the Windows 7 spectrum that will be available is Windows 7 Starter, which, to my knowledge will be pre-installed on Netbooks and appear on some low-end computers.
What you get is the basic Windows 7 interface minus the good bits. The ‘good bits’ being the Aero and preview effects which will be covered in detail later. It does include such features as the Action Center, Windows Search, Windows Firewall, Windows Media Player (not Windows Media Center), Windows Gadgets and the usual games and accessories (Paint, WordPad Etc.). Unless you buy a Netbook with Windows 7 pre-installed you can place it safely on the ‘don’t touch with a barge-pole’ list. The unnecessary restrictions on things like changing the desktop image and the absence of the visual effects make it unattractive.
Windows 7 Home Premium
Have a good look at Windows Home Premium because for the next few years this is what you are going to be using. I will cover the features included with Windows 7 Home Premium and other versions in the next post.
Windows 7 Professional
If you need to handle up to 192 gigabytes of ram (in 64 bit version) as opposed to 16 gigabytes and you also need a virtual PC that runs Window XP (licensed version of Windows XP service pack 3 included) for the remaining compatibility issues that will linger, then Windows 7 Professional is for you. Network backup and EFS (Encrypting File System) support are also included.
Windows 7 Enterprise
Like Windows 7 Home Basic there is not much to be said about a product that will not be available. Windows 7 Enterprise contains all the features of Windows 7 Ultimate but is aimed at Microsoft’s corporate customers and is not available for purchase by individuals.
Windows 7 Ultimate
Top of the range is Windows 7 Ultimate which will contain all Windows 7 components, including BitLocker Drive Encryption is the choice for someone who has to have everything. Unfortunately for those who have to have everything is that the ‘everything’ not included in Windows 7 Home Premium can be downloaded from third party software makers.
Try them all
When you buy a Windows 7 disc (any version) and try to install it, it will install the version you bought, obvious really. But if you like playing around with things like that then you will discover that all versions are contained on the disc. To access the other versions and try the 30 day trials for them you need to rip the disc and delete the ei.cfg file. After creating an ISO image (minus the deleted file) and burning it to a new disc the next time you insert the disc there will be a ‘Select the operating system you want to install’ screen showing all versions except Windows 7 Enterprise.
