pdh@lia (Peter Henry) (02/01/91)
Does anyone know what the real differences are between the retail and academic versions of Word and/or Excel for Windows? The packaging is slightly different, and the WfW package comes with some templates for writing thesis papers, but without opening up a commercial copy, I can't tell if there's anything missing from either of these two. Thanks! Peter Henry (pdh@lia.com)
PDS2@psuvm.psu.edu (Paul D. Shan) (02/01/91)
In article <1991Jan31.234517.1487@lia>, pdh@lia (Peter Henry) says: > >Does anyone know what the real differences are between the retail and >academic versions of Word and/or Excel for Windows? The packaging is >slightly different, and the WfW package comes with some templates for >writing thesis papers, but without opening up a commercial copy, I >can't tell if there's anything missing from either of these two. The only difference between the two packages of Excel is that the Academic version does not come with a "roadmap", "Getting the Most from Your Hardware", "The Microsoft Excel Sampler", additional templates, and both size disks. Also although you get a registration card, it looks different, and the manuals are bound differently. The software is IDENTICAL and the manual content is identical. Judging by other products, I think Word for Windows has the same differences between the two editions...as well ass most of the other MS products. Hope this helps! (Source: Microsoft Education Sales Program booklet) Paul D. Shan Microcomputer and Personal Workstation Support Center for Academic Computing 12 Willard Building University Park, PA 16802 (814) 863-4356 PDS2@PSUVM.psu.edu
U39648@uicvm.uic.edu (Darius Vaskelis) (02/01/91)
In article <1991Jan31.234517.1487@lia>, pdh@lia (Peter Henry) says: > >Does anyone know what the real differences are between the retail and >academic versions of Word and/or Excel for Windows? The packaging is >slightly different, and the WfW package comes with some templates for >writing thesis papers, but without opening up a commercial copy, I >can't tell if there's anything missing from either of these two. I asked the folks at Microsoft this question once before. I was told: 1) Smaller box for academic editions. 2) Documentation for academic editions is a softcover, commercial has a very nice hardcover book that can occasionally stay open to the page you are looking at without having you use another hand or a brick on top. 3) Academic Editions do not always have the software/hardware discount "BUY ME!" coupons in them, or not always as many. These comments are for Word for Windows and Excel for Windows, some other products actually were the regular products with *no* productive documentation. Eg: QuickPascal. It came with the program and some getting started info. The theory was you'd learn what you'd need in class and would get a textbook. Current QuickPascal Academic Editions don't differ an IOTA from the regular ones, so maybe enough people complained. - Darius ========================================================================= BITNET: U39648@UICVM | "Don't set fire to strangers." Internet: u39648@uicvm.uic.edu | - Mr. Zarniwoop
acook@athena.mit.edu (Andrew R Cook) (02/02/91)
The academic version of MS Word (DOS) does not include the reference manual, only the Working With Word Manual. Not a big loss, but can be a pain at times. Nothing a trip to the local bookstore cannot fix however... Functionally, the versions are identical. By the way, someone mentioned that a difference was in softcover/hardcover binding of the manuals. I found that this was *not* true. I have bought both commercial and academic versions of Word (DOS) and both come with the same lousy paperback manuals. It seems MS has cheaped out, and went to softcover to cut costs. Alas, the books no longer stay open by themselves, thus requiring an extra arm(which most people(?) do not have) to hold the book. Andy
U39648@uicvm.uic.edu (From The Mind Of) (02/03/91)
In article <1991Feb1.162531.26114@athena.mit.edu>, acook@athena.mit.edu (Andrew R Cook) says: >By the way, someone mentioned that a difference was in softcover/hardcover >binding of the manuals. I found that this was *not* true. I have bought >both commercial and academic versions of Word (DOS) and both come with the >same lousy paperback manuals. It seems MS has cheaped out, and went to >softcover to cut costs. Alas, the books no longer stay open by themselves, >thus requiring an extra arm(which most people(?) do not have) to hold the >book. Word for Windows comes with a nice, large, hardcover manual for the commercial version, and a cheap softcover in acdemic edition. - Darius ========================================================================= BITNET: U39648@UICVM | "Don't set fire to strangers." Internet: u39648@uicvm.uic.edu | - Mr. Zarniwoop