Microsoft to Release Office for Mac 2011 in Late October

[MacRumors]

Microsoft today announced launch details for Office for Mac 2011, revealing that the latest version of the company's flagship productivity suite will be released in over 100 countries in late October.

The suite will come in two editions to purchase at retail -- Office for Mac Home and Student 2011 and Office for Mac Home and Business 2011. For better alignment across platforms, the Office 2011 pricing and edition options map closer with Office for the Windows operating system. In addition, starting today, if customers purchase Office 2008 for Mac, they will be able to upgrade to Office 2011 when it is available at no additional cost through the Microsoft Office for Mac Technology Guarantee Program.

Editions and pricing include:

- Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Student 2011: Includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Messenger and is priced at $119 for a single install or $149 for a Family Pack allowing up to three installs in a single household.

- Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Business 2011: Includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Messenger and is priced at $199 for a single install or $279 for a Multi-Pack that allows a user to install Office on two of their Macs.

- Microsoft Office for Mac Academic 2011: Includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Messenger and is available for higher education students, staff, and faculty, with a single install priced at $99. This academic version may only be purchased from authorized academic stores or direct from Microsoft.

Microsoft has also released details on its Technology Guarantee program that allows customers to purchase Office for Mac 2008 today and receive a corresponding edition of Office for Mac 2011 for free when it is released.

Article Link: Microsoft to Release Office for Mac 2011 in Late October

 

[Blue Velvet]

Goodbye Entourage.

 

[amac4me]

Would have been better for them if they got it out prior to the start of the academic year but the free upgrade works.

 

[Theclamshell]

I like the icons they look nice

 

[Veri]

That should be W : P O X

 

[davebarnes]

The uplift for Outlook is absurd

If you own 1 Mac the additional cost for Outlook is $80.
If you own 3 Macs the additional cost for Outlook is $330 (or $110/Mac).
Microsoft proves that it is greedy and stupid.

 

[MorphingDragon]

Until Office:Mac has the decency to work reliably I couldn't care less.

 

[JoshBoy]

Been using the beta of this and it's great. Can't wait for it to come out

 

[Winni]

So if you want to use Outlook, you have to purchase the more expensive edition. That's just great, because Entourage is the only Office 2008 app that I really use. Since Apple Mail still suck, I sure hope Outlook for Mac will be worth the money.

 

[ouimetnick]

I still like iWork better. No one can beat Keynote. Keynote has some amazing slide transitions and effects.

 

[kolax]

So if you want to use Outlook, you have to purchase the more expensive edition. That's just great, because Entourage is the only Office 2008 app that I really use. Since Apple Mail still suck, I sure hope Outlook for Mac will be worth the money.

+1

Mail is great because it is lightweight, but it is pretty plain and lifeless..

 

[MorphingDragon]

So if you want to use Outlook, you have to purchase the more expensive edition. That's just great, because Entourage is the only Office 2008 app that I really use. Since Apple Mail still suck, I sure hope Outlook for Mac will be worth the money.

I find Apple Mail and Thunderbird to be on par. Usable, but wouldn't want to actually use it. Its a "dial up grade" mail client. (Clients like Thunderbird, Outlook Express(AKA Live Mail , Apple Mail) I would rather use Evolution, Outlook or Kontact.

I use the online interfaces for my email anyway so I don't care.

 

[Salacion]

So if you want to use Outlook, you have to purchase the more expensive edition. That's just great, because Entourage is the only Office 2008 app that I really use. Since Apple Mail still suck, I sure hope Outlook for Mac will be worth the money.

How does Mac mail 'suck'?

 

[ghostface147]

I am excited for Office 2011. I'll be getting this version "somehow". However keep in mind that Outlook:Mac will only work on Exchange 2007 and above.

 

[ditzy]

If this had one note I'd buy without thought, but without it, I think that I'll pass.

 

[-SD-]

Excellent. I've been looking forward to this. Now if only M$ would release an Office suite for the iPad.

 

[robbieduncan]

I hope it doesn't take too long for this to appear on our corporate home use program...

 

[eponym]

God those icons are ugly.

 

[mabaker]

I fear the launching times the most.

 

[cleanup]

God those icons are ugly.

I think they look rather cool. The Outlook one should've been a Mobius strip, though.

 

[NomadicTy]

So Outlook is $80, and it would only work with Exchange 2007 and above? That's an expensive email program!

 

[Ed91]

I like the icons they look nice

Are you serious? Perhaps it's just me, but the Word icon for mac makes me want to kill myself. Really.

 

[Salacion]

God those icons are ugly.

I personally never liked the Adobe and Office icons; complete lack of creativity. Letters as icons, or letters in boxes are not a win, as far as design goes.

 

[nwcs]

Those icons are ugly. I've never really had an issue with Office and I have iWork at home. I wonder if they'll have an Outlook only version for Mac? That's really the only thing I want. I don't use the others enough to justify the expense.

 

[impierced]

So Outlook is $80, and it would only work with Exchange 2007 and above? That's an expensive email program!

I'd pay 3x that amount if it was really Outlook. Unfortunately, it's more akin to someone painting black stripes on a white horse and calling it a zebra.