Office for Mac 2011 arriving in October, says Microsoft
Microsoft has announced the release date for the latest Mac version of its Office suite and will provide free upgrades for qualifying Office for Mac 2008 users
The latest Mac version of the Office productivity suite will be available in October, Microsoft has confirmed. The company has also said it will provide free upgrades to Office for Mac 2011 for qualifying Office for Mac 2008 users.
The software will be released in two versions, each of which will be available in two different editions. The Home and Student version of the software will allow a single installation for £90, while the 'family pack' will set you back £110 for up to three installations. The Home and Business version will cost £190 for the single-installation edition, while the 'multi-pack' edition will allow two installations for £240.
Microsoft will offer a free upgrade to Office for Mac 2011 to anyone who buys Office for Mac 2008 between now and 30 November 2010. To be eligible for the free upgrade, the purchaser must register online and submit their Mac for Office 2008 product key and dated sales receipt before the year is out.
Office for Mac 2011 features a new templates menu and a substantial online templates reservoir so you can get your documents looking spick and span pronto. It will also introduce to Outlook a 'conversation view' that shows previous emails from a contact alongside their latest emails, saving tedious backtracking.
In a Mac-exclusive feature, the software will be compatible with OS X's Time Machine software, allowing for easy back-ups. Office for Mac 2011 will include the ribbon that was first introduced in the Windows version of Office 2007, but it will sit alongside a more traditional toolbar and both will be removable, which should please those who like their keyboard shortcuts.