Article Title: Microsoft Office XP - Not Exactly Death and Taxes for Most Small Businesses
Author: Joshua Feinberg
Web Site Address: http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com
Publisher of "Tips":
KISTech Communications - Morganville, N.J., USA
Word: 845 words
This article is also available online at
http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com/news/archives/tips060401-bn1.htm
Keywords: Microsoft Office XP Small Business Upgrade
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Microsoft Office XP - Not Exactly Death and Taxes for Most Small Businesses
Despite Microsoft's massive advertising and media blitz for the Microsoft Office XP launch, small businesses will likely classify this newest upgrade as "optional".
By Joshua Feinberg, Editor of Smallbiztechtalk.com http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com
Copyright (C) 2001, KISTech Communications Corporation
For many small businesses that have yet to fully utilize their existing investments in Microsoft Office 2000, or even Microsoft Office 97, Microsoft Office XP just doesn't have that "must have" killer feature set that will draw the masses during these challenging economic times. Obviously, this scares the heck out of folks in Redmond, WA and on Wall Street.
Granted, there will be some niches where Microsoft Office XP could receive rock-star-like appeal. But the jury is still out and we doubt many small businesses are out searching for Microsoft Office XP nirvana, or losing sleep over the ramifications of staying with their existing Microsoft Office 2000 or Microsoft Office 97 applications.
Is this the end of the line for Microsoft Office Small Business Edition?
In a seemingly bizarre turn of events, Microsoft has dropped Microsoft Office Small Business Edition from the Microsoft Office XP retail product lineup. Don't waste your time trying to purchase it online or head down to the local computer superstore. According to the Microsoft Office web site (http://www.microsoft.com/office), the retail SKU for Microsoft Office XP Small Business does not exist.
Even stranger with the Microsoft Office XP launch, Microsoft Office Small Business Edition has not totally disappeared from the scene. Apparently Microsoft's leading PC OEMs are able to bundle Microsoft Office XP Small Business. Late last week, I was able to configure both a Dell Dimension L and a Gateway Professional Series PC with Microsoft Office XP Small Business.
So, what are the Microsoft Office XP retail products?
First there's Microsoft Office XP Standard, which includes Microsoft Word 2002, Microsoft Excel 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2002, and Microsoft PowerPoint 2002. For new users, the retail price is $479 U.S. or $239 U.S. as an upgrade from a qualifying Microsoft Office 2000 or Microsoft Office 97 product.
Next, there's Microsoft Office XP Professional, which adds Microsoft Access 2002 to the feature set of Microsoft Office XP Standard. Microsoft Office XP Professional is priced at $579 U.S. ($100 U.S. more than Microsoft Office XP Standard) for new users, or $329 U.S. ($90 U.S. more than Microsoft Office XP Standard) for upgrades from qualifying Microsoft Office 2000 or Microsoft Office 97 products.
Microsoft Office Premium bundle retired, after just one version
In another shuffle of Microsoft's Office bundles, the Microsoft Office 2000 Premium bundle has been transitioned to the Microsoft Office XP Professional Special Edition. However, there are some unexpected caveats with this offering as well.
First, Microsoft Office XP Professional Special Edition is not being sold as a retail SKU for new users; it's only available as an upgrade, priced at $479 U.S. ($150 U.S. more than Microsoft Office XP Professional). Microsoft Office XP Professional Special Edition adds four applications beyond Microsoft Office XP Professional: Microsoft FrontPage 2002, SharePoint Team Services from Microsoft, Microsoft Publisher 2002, and Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer. However, even more important to note, Microsoft Office XP Professional Special Edition will only be available "for a limited time", whatever that means.
Confusion over future of Microsoft Publisher, sans Microsoft Office Small Business Edition
For those die-hard desktop publishing fans of Microsoft Publisher, ourselves included, if you don't need all the software included in Microsoft Office XP Professional Special Edition, there is still a viable retail option for purchasing Microsoft Publisher 2002.
You can upgrade to Microsoft Publisher 2002, from a qualifying Microsoft Office 2000 or Microsoft Office 97 family product, for $99 U.S; for new users the price is $129 U.S.
And Clippie gets the axe
Finally, those of you who've grown fond of the animated Office Assistant paper clip in Microsoft Office 2000 will be saddened to know that Clippie didn't make the cut either.
Not that our favorite Office Assistant is bitter or anything, but Clippie did lay it on the line in his warm up for Bill Gates' launch presentation for Microsoft Office XP.
Said the disgruntled Office assistant, "I was the most helpful paper clip ever."
But then Clippie went on to sarcastically explain how Microsoft Office XP is about "easier collaboration and increased productivity, but it (XP) also stands for ex paperclip."
As an oversized magnet pulls Clippie off the stage, in his last plea for clemency, he can be heard encouraging the audience to chant, "Bring back Clippie! Bring back Clippie!"
For an entertaining look at Clippie's opening remarks, surely some of the most interesting news surrounding the Microsoft Office XP launch, be sure to fire up your Microsoft Windows Media Player and check out Bill Gates Launches Office XP at http://www.microsoft.com/office/xplaunch/default.htm.
Tip: You can find links to download the Microsoft Windows Media Player and other useful tools in the Smallbiztechtalk.com Resource Kit at http://www.smallbiztechtalk.com/resourcekit/rkhome.htm.
The Bottom Line
Over the next several months, we'll be bringing more coverage on Microsoft Office XP and evaluating specific areas where it may be beneficial to your small business. However, for now, I would limit your purchases of Microsoft Office XP to cashing in on the "best deal in town": when it comes bundled with the purchase of a new PC from Dell, Gateway, or a comparable tier-one OEM.
Copyright (C) 2001, KISTech Communications Corporation
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Joshua Feinberg is an internationally recognized small business technology expert, consultant, columnist, author, keynote speaker, and trainer. He is a published Microsoft Press author, as well as the creator of and two-year veteran writer of the Microsoft Direct Access
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