One more reason to upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10: Free Office suite.
Ever heard of the expression “Christmas in July”? As we approach July 29th, the official release date of Microsoft Windows 10, this expression seems increasingly applicable. Not only the tech giant is about to let existing users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 upgrade to Windows 10 for free, the company is rumored to throw into the deal a free version of Microsoft Office.
The free bundle is likely to include entry-level applications, such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint. These apps already exist in “preview” form, and available as a free universal App download, for iOS, Android and Windows Phone users, as well as from the Windows Store. The free apps currently available allow the creation and editing of various kinds of Office documents, while lacking the more advanced features part of the full, commercial version of Microsoft Office.
The new suite is rumored to be included in multiple releases of Windows 10, including its Home edition, however, no confirmation has been provided yet, in that regard. Seven versions have been announced, ranging from the entry-level Windows 10 Home and Windows Mobile, to the more feature-rich and business-oriented Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise, as well as Windows 10 Education, for students, as well as an additional version for IoT, designed to run on microdevices, like networking equipment and appliances. As previously mentioned, it’s unclear whether all versions, or just some, will come bundled with the free version of Office, however, the company seems to be considering a different approach towards competing office suites by Google and other open source vendors, where entry-level options could be more accessible.
The rumor has spread soon after the release of a press statement announcing the Archos PC stick, a micro-PC device, or “PC on a stick”, which is planned to run Windows 10, and include Word Mobile, Excel Mobile and PowerPoint Mobile, as part of the introductory offer. By the same token, similar verbiage has been used in the past for other products, and does not necessarily provide any better indication on whether the version of Office which will be included with the device will be a full version, or simply a limited time evaluation version.