Other Popular Software Suites

Microsoft Works isn't the only software suite available today. Some manufacturers opt to include other software suites with their new PCs; you can also buy these other applications in standalone versions.

tip

If a specific type of project isn't listed on the Projects page, click the Blank Project button to build your own custom project and To Do list.

Microsoft Office

The most-used software suite in the corporate environment is Microsoft Office, a suite of professional-level applications that are more fully featured than the ones in Works. Not to be confusing, but Microsoft sells several different "editions" of Office. Each edition contains a different bundle of programs; which Office programs you get depends on the edition of Office you have.

note

Don't confuse Microsoft Outlook with Outlook Express. Outlook Express is primarily an email program, whereas Microsoft Outlook adds contact management and scheduling functionality. (Learn more about Outlook Express in Chapter 24, "Sending and Receiving Email.")

The edition of Microsoft Office bundled on most new PCs is called the Standard Edition, and it includes the following programs:

• Microsoft Word A full-featured word processing program, discussed previously.

• Microsoft Excel A full-featured spreadsheet program. (Learn more in Chapter 14, "Working with Numbers.")

• Microsoft PowerPoint A program that creates professional-level presentations. (Learn more in Chapter 16, "Working with Presentations.")

• Microsoft Outlook A full-featured scheduling/contact/email program.

Microsoft Office Small Business Edition adds Microsoft Publisher, which is a graphics program you can use to create brochures and other projects. The Professional Edition adds both Publisher and Microsoft Access, a sophisticated database program.

tip

If you're currently using Microsoft Works and want to upgrade to Microsoft Office, I recommend purchasing the Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition. This version is identical to the Standard Edition (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and costs just $149. And you don't have to be a teacher or student to purchase it.

Corel WordPerfect Suite

Although most of the world is standardized on Microsoft products, there are still some who prefer a non-Microsoft alternative. For them, Corel publishes the WordPerfect Suite, which includes the following programs:

• WordPerfect A Word-like word processing program.

• Quattro Pro An Excel-like spreadsheet program.

• Paradox An Access-like database program.

note

Some manufacturers that opt for the WordPerfect suite also bundle a copy of Intuit's Quicken personal finance program with their new PCsas do many manufacturers that don't offer the WordPerfect suite. (Quicken is a very popular program!)

These programs work similarly to Microsoft's Word, Excel, and Access applications.

The Absolute Minimum

Here are the key points to remember from this chapter:

• Most new PCs come with a suite or bundle of applications pre-installedthe most popular of which is Microsoft Works.

• Works' Task Launcher lets you launch individual programs, create new documents by choosing a particular template or project, open old documents you've worked on, or create and manage big projects.

• Other popular software suites include Microsoft Office and Corel WordPerfect Suite.