Microsoft Office 2013 doesn't launch until early 2013, but previews are already streaming in for the new productivity suite. While the Redmond company has included an array of new features, perhaps the most striking change is 2013's new subscription payment model. So, what does the new Office have offer?
The Register postpones pricing discussions, but commends Office 2013 for being a "worthy - if not particularly exciting - follow-up to Office 2010." The site adds that the SkyDrive "integration may be appealing to customers who are already heavy users of Microsoft's online storage." However, users who don't make use of cloud are unlikely to be "lured away from the version of office they're currently using."
PC World warns that Office 2010 users should hold off on purchasing 2013, but "people whose interactions with Office occur primarily on desktop computers within the big four core apps-Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook-will generally find more formatting options than ever, plus more view modes." Labeling the upgrade as non-essential, editor Yardena Arar notes that single desktop users can simply find free third-party clouds alongside Office 2010 to sidestep Microsoft's new subscription model.
Office 365 Home Premium will cost $99.99/year, and Office 365 Small Business Premium will cost $149.99/year. If Office users opt for the traditional licensed offering, Office Home & Student 2013 will be priced at $139.99, Office Home & Business 2013 at $219.99, and Office Professional 2013 at $399.99. Office Small Business Premium offers its suite for $12.50/month and can be used by up to 25 employees. Office 365 University costs either $79.99 for a four-year subscription, or $1.67/month.
Microsoft has further incentivized the new Office with a promotion that encourages any consumer who purchases Microsoft Office 2010 between now and April 30, 2013 to apply for a free upgrade to Microsoft Office 2013 or a one-year subscription to Office 365, the Redmond-based company's cloud service.
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