Last week, I tried to get a subscription to Microsoft Office. I expected to simply find an Office licence that included what I needed for a simple price. Instead, I discovered that Microsoft's Office licenses are infuriatingly complex, making it nearly impossible for anyone to get what they need without overspending.
The free web-based version of Microsoft Office just got much better. Now you can now quickly open or create a new Office Online document from the Chrome extension or use Skype instant messaging or video calling within an open Office document.
Microsoft Office has so many options that often the trickiest task is working out where to find the option you need -- something the Ribbon interface doesn't entirely solve. Office Online, the free browser-based version of the suite, now incorporates a "Tell Me" feature, where you can search for what you want to do using plain English and relevant menu choices will automatically be displayed.
The free online versions of Word and Excel don't have all the features of the paid version, but they're steadily coming closer. The latest batch of updates includes improved comment support in Word and the ability to correctly open spreadsheets which include VBA code in Excel.
