Microsoft offers OEMs bloatware discount for bundling Office 2010 Starter

We've known about Microsoft's plans to release a stripped-down, free version of Office 2010 for quite some time. What's been slightly less publicized is the fact that Office Starter will only be available on brand new computers. That doesn't seem like such a big deal, but there's more to the story.

Take a look at the image above. Microsoft wants OEMs to preload Office 2010 (most big companies like Dell, HP, Acer, Toshiba, etc. already do this). However, instead of using a free 60-day trial like they did with Office 2007, Microsoft wants those same OEMs to pony up for Office Starter.

If they're willing to tack on the added bloat of the Bing Bar and Live Essentials, it'll only cost them $2 per PC -- otherwise, it's $5. That doesn't seem like much, but you're talking about millions of new PCs over the next three or four years (likely how long it will be until Office 2010 is replaced).

OEMs, maybe it's time to look at alternatives. Maybe drop some shortcuts to Google Docs or Zoho on your systems instead. Or heck, you could even point them to Microsoft's own Docs.com!

This sure is strange behavior -- considering Microsoft removes all the bloatware from computers they sell in their retail stores. You may now begin complaining about cash grabs and bullying. Microsoft Outlook 2010 Microsoft Publisher 2010 Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 FULL VERSION [DVD]

Comments

How To Hide Text In Microsoft Word 2007, Reveal It & Protect It

Sometimes what we hide is more important than what we reveal. Especially, documents with sensitive information, some things are supposed to be ‘for some eyes only’. Such scenarios are quite common, even for the more un-secretive among us. You want to show someone a letter composed in MS Word, but want to keep some of the content private; or it’s an official letter with some part of it having critical data. As important as these two are, the most common use could involve a normal printing job. Many a time we have to print different versions of a document, one copy for one set of eyes and others for other sets. Rather than creating multiple copies and therefore multiple printing jobs, what if we could just do it from the same document? That too, without the hassle of repeated cut and paste. We can, with a simple feature in MS Word – it’s just called Hidden and let me show you how to use it to hide text in Microsoft Word 2007. It’s a simple single click process. Open the docum...

Boom, the startup that wants to build supersonic planes, just signed a massive deal with Virgin

Have you heard about Boom? Boom is a relatively new startup that’s aiming to build something pretty crazy. They’re not building an app… or a social network… or even some new gadget for the Kickstarter crowd. Boom wants to build planes. Really, really, really fast planes. Specifically, they’re trying to design and build a supersonic passenger plane that goes 2.2x the speed of sound. If all goes to plan, they’ll be able to shuttle people from New York to London in 3.5 hours, and SF to Tokyo in 4.5. Sound crazy? I wouldn’t disagree. It’s worth noting that the company is in the very early days for something as intensive, massive, and hugely expensive as designing and producing a passenger aircraft. They’re still working on their first prototype, and hope to fly it by late next year. But it’s also worth noting that the team behind the plane has some serious talent in its blood: the company’s 11 employees have collectively contributed to over 30 aircrafts — having worked on thin...

Fun Tools to Translate Your Name into Japanese Calligraphy

Japanese calligraphy is an artistic writing style of the Japanese language. Its Chinese origins can be traced back to the twenty-eighth century BCE. Calligraphy found its way into Japanese culture in 600 CE and is known as the karayo tradition. For Westerners, calligraphy is forever fascinating. However, it takes years to learn how to properly draw the signs. Two basic principles must be known to understand Japanese writing: there are different writing styles and different alphabets. Kaisho for example, is a writing style most commonly used in print media. Tensho on the other hand is used in signatures. Other writing styles are Reisho, Gyosho and Sousho. The alphabets include Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana. Katakana is used for writing foreign words. It can also serve to highlight words, in analogy to capital letters as we know them from the Roman / Latin alphabet (Romaji in Japanese). Each Kanji character has a meaning of its own, while Hiragana or Katakana characters merely repres...

Kiran Upadhyay

Search This Blog