The new Office 2013 is here and many are wondering whether the switch to this new version is one that is worth investing in. With the constantly expanding new features of cloud computing and the simplicity of the new look, the question many people are asking is whether or not it’s worth upgrading for. Let’s take a look at the differences of what the 2010 and 2013 versions have to offer.
Positives of Office 2013
With everything new comes exciting possibilities of what you can find and the new ways to use those programs that you’ve become dedicated to. Here I will focus on the positives of what the Office 2013 has to offer you. Known as “The New Office”, 2013 is full of features and designs unknown to previous versions.
Cloud Computing
With the addition of internet based cloud computing you can interchange many of your documents over various devices. This allows a constant saving feature that is stored via the internet. This will make versatile usability possible with a simple way of achieving that. The auto save feature will make sure you don’t lose anything important as well.
Touch Screen Usability
Along with the specific design Windows 8 brought us with touch screen capabilities, so too does Office 2013. The advances into this design are geared towards the ability to use the interface with a friendly touch screen design. Though this is true, users of a touch screen only device may still find difficulty accessing all the features due to the size of the essential buttons.
PDF Editing
Though there are programs you can download to assist in PDF editing, Microsoft Office 2013 has a built in feature to provide that for you. 2010 only gave the option to a save a document as a PDF. This is a big difference than being able to drag and drop photos from the document as well as crop, rotate and delete pages.
Design Simplicity
Taking a step back from making things pretty, Office 2013 gears itself towards more humble aesthetics. This allows users to focus in on the task at hand and not be distracted by bright colors or designs.
Negatives of 2013
There are, of course, many things that you may not find yourself pleased with when using 2013. It is with these changes that you may find yourself wondering why you upgraded at all. Of course these could be minimal in your eyes and you’ll have to make the decision on your own.
Pricing
The price difference between 2010 and 2013 are definitely considerable. Ranging from $140 to $400, this price only covers a single installation. If money is a key factor in purchasing your Office programs, 2010 serves as the best version to go with.
Set to One Computer
Though the price is for one computer, you may reinstall this software on a separate computer as long as it belongs to you. The problem is that you must wait an additional 90 days after you have installed it once on a computer to install it on another. With the removal of disk installation this is easily controlled by Microsoft. Thus 2010 is a better choice when using it for multiple devices.
Many Options
Though there are always going to be design flaws in every program, 2013 seems to be coming along as a popular new option. Some will swear by previous versions and keep their focus on finding a way around having to upgrade and add all the new features the new version offers. Either way the choice is up to you as each has its redeeming qualities and it’s ever expanding functionality.
Freelance writer, Wesley Foldessy, contributed this article on behalf of online software retailer, Software King.
