Microsoft: Office 2010 Will Be Hottest Office Yet

Microsoft isn't afraid it might jinx itself with bold sales predictions for its upcoming Office 2010. In a recent interview, one company representative said they expect Office 2010 to be the most rapidly-adopted Office software yet.

Why the bold predictions? Well, you can forgive Microsoft for being a bit arrogant -- after all, Windows 7 has virtually flown off shelves, to the point where it's nabbed the number two position in the world amongst currently-used operating systems, just behind Windows XP.

At least one Microsoft executive thinks all that Win7 love is bound to spread to the company's other products.

"This version will be the best ever in terms of adoption speed, both because of the interest we are seeing and the Windows 7 adoption curve," said the senior VP of Microsoft's Office group, Chris Capossela. (Source: businessweek.com)

Difference Between Office 2010 and Office 2007, 2003

So, what's the big difference between Office 2010 and its predecessors, Office 2007 and Office 2003?

The simple answer is cloud computing. In a move to compete directly with Google's Apps software, Microsoft will allow users to collectively tinker with Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, and OneNote notebooks so long as they're connected to the web. Imagine completing one column of an accounting spreadsheet and having your friend in South Africa finish the next column, and so on.

Microsoft Needs the Boost

The predicted boom brought by Office 2010 couldn't come too soon, as sales for Microsoft's massive business division, a $19 billion sector, are expected to drop 3 per cent by the end of this fiscal year.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, Capossela's bold predictions are being challenged by industry analysts. Sarah Friar, of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., thinks the process of moving towards Office 2010 will be a bit slower than Microsoft thinks.

"It's still a precarious recovery," Friar said. "We're in the camp of expecting a more moderate migration. It's kind of, 'steady as she goes.' It's not a raging rush to upgrade."

Early reviews say Office 2010 looks a lot like it's predecessor, and once again offers way more software than most people could ever need. Criticisms thus far surround long, mandatory print previews and the lack of a decent spam filter. (Source: wired.com)

We'll have more on Office 2010 as it nears its June release date.