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Microsoft

Office 2010 nearing RTM, free upgrade for some 2007 users

By Matthew DeCarlo, TechSpot.com
Published: March 5, 2010, 3:13 PM EST
If you've been eyeing a copy of Microsoft Office 2007, there's no better time than the present to make a purchase. In a blog post yesterday, Microsoft announced that customers who buy and activate Office 2007 will receive a free upgrade to Office 2010.

Gaining eligibility to the program -- called "Office 2010 Technology Guarantee" -- is easy. Simply purchase Office 2007 or a new PC with the software and activate it between today and September 30, 2010. You will also need a Windows Live ID, and the offer must be redeemed by October 31, 2010.

Additionally, Microsoft confirmed that Office 2010, SharePoint 2010, Visio 2010, and Project 2010 are all on schedule and will hit RTM next month. The 2010 set of products will be available to businesses on May 12, and as expected, consumers can get their mitts on the productivity suite in June -- possibly June 15.

Pricing for Office 2010 will be as followed:

  • Professional: $499 boxed, $349 for product key
  • Professional Academic: $99 boxed only
  • Home and Student: $149 boxed, $119 for product key
  • Home and Business: $279 boxed, $199 for a product key

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User Comments (49)

Post a comment
ourboyblue
on March 5, 2010
3:26 PM
You can't use free and Mico$oft in the same sentence.
No, Really it's written somewhere.

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mv670
on March 5, 2010
3:59 PM
I guess this doesnt apply to those who already had office 2007, oh well.

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TomSEA
on March 5, 2010
4:36 PM
Well that's weak. What about those of us who bought Office 2007 a year ago? We don't get props for supporting the Office product?

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Matthew
on March 5, 2010
4:43 PM
You get to show your support all over again.

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alexandrionel
on March 5, 2010
5:28 PM
Professional Academic will be something like Student Edition?

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fadownjoo
on March 5, 2010
5:34 PM
Awesome! i actually just bought it too hehe

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Matthew
on March 5, 2010
5:44 PM
Professional Academic will be something like Student Edition?
Here's a full comparison of all the editions: [link]

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Guest
on March 5, 2010
6:26 PM
I have a question. If I buy 07 now can I install '10 on a different PC later?

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danteoz
on March 5, 2010
6:37 PM
I still need to try this out and see how it improves on 2007

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boyese
on March 5, 2010
6:58 PM
Think i'll stick with Office 2007 till the next version, its got nothing new I need.

Unless I can buy it through work for £11!

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tonylukac
on March 5, 2010
8:10 PM
What about the court injunction Microsoft had preventing it from selling office? Is that gone? I never read about the remedy in Techspot.

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yorro
on March 5, 2010
8:35 PM
I have tried out the beta, a lot of improvements have been made. Although if you are extremely satisfied with 2007, there is not much benefit.

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seefizzle
on March 5, 2010
10:24 PM
I don't understand how this business model will last too much longer. Google offers google docs for free. I can access it from any internet connection anywhere. Even on my phone. It's not as robust as Microsoft Word, but how often are you really ever using all of the features in Word? Soon enough, Microsoft Office will be irrelevant.

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zenphic
on March 6, 2010
1:00 AM
I just purchased Office 2007. I'm pretty sure I'll make it through University with it, albeit "outdated" when Office 2010 will come out lol.

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Archean
on March 6, 2010
1:14 AM
I don't understand how this business model will last too much longer. Google offers google docs for free. I can access it from any internet connection anywhere. Even on my phone. It's not as robust as Microsoft Word, but how often are you really ever using all of the features in Word? Soon enough, Microsoft Office will be irrelevant.
I don't see google docs penetrating the corporate space in foreseeable future; reason being 'the issue of control over their critical business processes/information'. No online service can be trusted as such to hold such data online; let alone google. Also, there is issue with what you can actually do with all that information/data; and google is nothing more than rubbish at that for advance users atm.

However, for ordinary user who just need type couple of letters once in a while, or for SE's that seems not too bad of a solution.

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eltigre4jc
on March 6, 2010
4:07 AM
I am fascinated by Office 2010. No, really, it's much better than 2007, although is in the RC stage. I can't wait to get the full functional pack...

As for those who don't write too much.....this ocasion( buy 2007 and upgrade free to 2010) , it's a great thing....

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buendia
on March 6, 2010
4:56 AM
I use beta for a little while, seemed pretty much faster than 2007 (x64 version of Office 2010 on Windows 7x64), but I experienced a slight incompatibility in documents created with 2007 and edited with 2010 (some spaces between words and sentences used to just dissappear).
It had been probaby some sort of bug which was hopefully fixed by now.

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recipe7
on March 6, 2010
5:52 AM
Am I still the only one using Office 03? I am dissapointed by the incompatibilities between 03 and 07, and I may have to take the big leap for 10. I hope there are better compatibilities with the 2 older versions.

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Puiu
on March 6, 2010
5:52 AM
I was thinking of trying Office 2010 because many say that it's a big improvement compared to 2007, but there are still to many bugs and for that reason alone i can't use it for work.

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mrtraver
on March 6, 2010
7:32 AM
Am I still the only one using Office 03? I am dissapointed by the incompatibilities between 03 and 07, and I may have to take the big leap for 10. I hope there are better compatibilities with the 2 older versions.
I still use 2003 at home. We "upgraded" to 2007 at work last year, and i STILL hate the ribbon interface. Give me back my menus, so I can find things again!! I couldn't even find the "help" button on 2007.

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pyari
on March 6, 2010
7:41 AM
this meaN M$ excited to sold office 2010 like win 7.....office 7 is quite good but saving extension is (docx) is very annoying to novice user. hope this will be very easy to use in day to day work.

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Kovach
on March 6, 2010
8:04 AM
I'm using beta 2010 Office for 2 months. I think it just improved version of 2007. Nice visual effects and ofcourse it works like a charm! I suggest everyone.

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supyo
on March 6, 2010
10:05 AM
MS office really started to suck after Office 2003. I don't like 2007 and from what i've seen of 2010 i think i'll like it less.

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BlindObject
on March 6, 2010
10:35 AM
Sure are some pricey software, I don't think I could ever put money down like that.

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Yoda8232
on March 6, 2010
10:51 AM
Reasonable prices, I hope the new Office uses less RAM and is faster than 2007. 2003 was perfect just need a nice skin.

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