Conclusions

While Office 2007 wasn't the turkey that Windows Vista turned out to be, rather like Windows 7, Office 2010 has the feeling of completing the process started by the 2007 version. While the Ribbon interface in 2007 was used sparingly and was in its early stages, in 2010 it completely takes over and the package benefits greatly from returning to a uniform and consistent interface.

Backstage View, while rather heavy on marketing for such a straightforward feature, is a useful addition thanks especially to the newly rationalised print menu. Paste Preview is another clear improvement, while the new image editing tools and PowerPoint's video editing features mean you can do a lot more with just Office, saving time and potentially money as well if your requirements are relatively minor.

There's also a pillar of the 2010 package that we haven't covered just yet, Office Web Apps. That's because they haven't launched yet, but when they do they'll be Microsoft's largest step yet into the brave new world of ‘cloud computing'. Combined with Office Live Workspace, the Web Apps will make it possible to access your documents and edit them from anywhere through your browser. Whichever way you look at things, such flexibility can only be good.

Overall, Office 2010 seems unlikely to damage people's faith in the suite. Most of the new features are overwhelmingly positive and though the migration from 2003, which is still widely used, to 2010 would be a very difficult one due to the radically different interface, if you're not already on 2007 then 2010 is definitely worth considering. Upgrading from 2007 might not be quite so clear cut. While there are interface improvements over 2007, their impact will depend to a greater extent on how you use Office. Hardcore power users may well spot the differences more easily, but most people only use a fraction of the suite's capabilities and they're less likely to see the benefits.