Microsoft Office Archives

Ribbon changes are coming to Microsoft Office

cyberguru Training October 23, 2018October 29, 2018Classic Ribbon, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Office, Office 365, Ribbon, Simplified Ribbon

After twenty years of faithful service the familiar Microsoft Office ribbon, containing your menus and commands, is going to change. As part of the latest round of updates, a new look is being rolled out progressively across the Office programs, beginning with Outlook. But don’t worry, you will have two choices of ribbon – the simplified ribbon or the classic ribbon.

If you have been using Office for a while, you will begin to notice some changes to the look and feel of the various products. Starting with Outlook, Microsoft is revising how the user interface appears. The simplified ribbon aims to help users “focus on their work and collaborate naturally with others”. The simplified ribbon will streamline the existing top section of the screen, reducing the space it takes up on the screen.

Here’s an example of how it looks in Outlook:

Ribbon changes are coming to Microsoft Office - Example of Ribbon changes - Microsoft Outlook — Example of Ribbon changes – Microsoft Outlook

You can switch between the simplified ribbon and the classic ribbon by using the switch icon, which is located near the top right of the window.

These changes will also follow on Word, Excel and PowerPoint. In addition, the ribbon has a new appearance with new colours and icons and has been designed to scale on screens of any size.

For more information on the simplified ribbon, please see the Use the Simplified Ribbon support page (link opens in new window) and reference guide (link opens in new window).

CyberGuru provides consulting, training and support in Office 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint as well as a range of other products. If you would like to know more or want to enhance your knowledge and skills, please contact us.

Microsoft announces price increase for Office software

cyberguru Consulting September 24, 2018November 26, 2018Microsoft Office, Office 2013, Office 2016, Office 2019, Office 365, Price Increase

Microsoft Office 2016

With Microsoft Office 2019 due for release shortly, Microsoft has advised that their price for the Office software will be increased by approximately 10% on 1 October 2018.

If you are considering upgrading your Office license, we suggest one of the three following options:

Buy a perpetual license of Microsoft Office 2016 before 1 October and save 10%.
Wait until 1 October and buy a perpetual license of Microsoft Office 2019.
Buy a subscription to Office 365 and receive the latest version of Microsoft Office.

There are different editions of Microsoft Office available for each option depending on your needs.

If you would like further information about these options or for assistance in determining which option best suits your needs, please contact us today.

Coming in mid-2018 – Microsoft Office 2019!

cyberguru Consulting March 20, 2018March 19, 2018Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Office, Office 2016, Office 2019, Office 365

Microsoft has announced the next perpetual edition of Microsoft Office, Office 2019. In keeping with Microsoft tradition, it will arrive in the middle of preceding year rather than the year of its name.

In breaking with tradition, Office 2019 will only run on devices using Windows 10 and not on older editions of Windows, namely Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

Microsoft have also advised they will release Office 2019 with five years of mainstream support and approximately two years of extended support to align with the current version of Microsoft Office (Office 2016) which is expected to end on 14 October 2025. For more information, please see the Microsoft TechNet article.

While this seems harsh, we often still see computers running versions of Windows and Office well past their use by date. By the end of this year, Office 2007 will be nearly 12 years old, and Office 2010 not much younger. We strongly suggest that now is the time consider upgrading to Office 2013 or 2016, or transition to Microsoft Office 365.

It looks like the subscription model is becoming the increased focus from Microsoft, and purchasing Office 365 will be the way going forward to continue to keep getting the latest features. We expect Office 2019 will likely be the last version that Microsoft release, with future releases all being subscription-only.

CyberGuru is able to provide consulting, support and training in Microsoft Office applications, and able to support you in the transition from one version to another. If we can assist in any way, please contact us.

Ask CyberGuru: What is the difference between the desktop and web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint?

cyberguru Support September 28, 2017September 16, 2017apps, Ask CyberGuru, desktop, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Office 2013, Office 2016, Office 365, web applications, Web Apps, web versions

In this month’s Ask CyberGuru, we are asked, “What is the difference between the desktop and web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint?”.

Whilst Microsoft includes the desktop version of Office as part of both Office 2016 and most editions of Microsoft Office 365, if you are looking for an alternative, the web version may be a possible solution.

The web versions allow you to create documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint and to save them in OneDrive. You can access these documents any time you wish to on practically any device and your work is saved automatically. You can also share and edit documents in real-time with others and they can see the changes you are making.

The web version is free if you have a Microsoft Account, although functionality is somewhat limited. Having an Office 365 licence gives you greater functionality and the feature set in the online versions is improving on a regular basis. However if you want the full functionality you have come to expect from Microsoft then the desktop versions of Office 2016 and Office 365 remain your best option.

If you need help with Microsoft Office 365 or Office 2016 products, please contact us.

Ask CyberGuru: What is the difference between Microsoft Office 2016 and Microsoft Office 365?

cyberguru Consulting October 30, 2015October 28, 2015Ask CyberGuru, licencing, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office 2013, Microsoft Office 2016, Microsoft Office 365;, Office 2013, Office 2016, Office 365

CyberGuru is often asked, “I am about to update the computers in my workplace. Does it come with Microsoft Office and what version does it come with?”. This is a common question that is asked by many especially upon the purchase of a new computer and one we are happy to address in detail!

There is a misperception that Microsoft Office is included a part of Microsoft Windows. There may be a trial or limited edition included with a computer, but Windows and Office are two different products by Microsoft. Generally, they are bought together when a new computer is purchased as computer manufacturers may bundle them as part of an offer. Another common misperception is that when Office as originally bought it is owned but in fact it is only a licence that is granted, not ownership of the product. This means they can often not be transferred between devices.

Essentially, Microsoft Office 2016 (and earlier versions) is bought once as a fully licenced product, usually from retail stores at the same time as the purchase of your computer. This means you can use the same version of product without the need to renew a subscription for the life of the product (which Microsoft commonly refers to as “perpetual” licencing). The individual Microsoft Office products, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access and Publisher can be purchased separately or together. If the entire suite of Microsoft Office products is purchased through via a Home & Student, Home & Business or Professional edition, a significant discount is offered. However, you can only purchase it individually for each device, and you cannot upgrade between versions and generally not move the licence between devices.

Microsoft Office 365 changes the purchasing model altogether. Rather than purchasing outright, you can purchase a monthly or yearly subscription, which provides you with the latest version which you can generally install or transfer between devices. Microsoft Office 365 entitles you to ongoing upgrades for as long as you have this subscription activated. When a new version comes out, as has recently occurred with Office 2016, this is distributed to users automatically. Depending on the version you require, you can purchase two different types of Office 365 subscriptions – one for home use, and the other for organisations, including schools and workplaces. Depending on the type of subscription or edition purchased, it may provide you with use on either one or up to five devices.

CyberGuru is happy to discuss individual requirements with any organisations looking to upgrade to Office 2016 or Office 365 ensure they are making the best purchasing decision to meet their needs and budget. Please contact us today for further information.

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