Mac 365

Buy Microsoft Office 365 for Mac from SaveOnIt

For all the significant benefits of Microsoft Office on Mac over the years, there are also some complaints that often arise from use. The suites have too few programs, for instance, or users are forced to only work on either their PC or their Mac when they need both. At the same time, it can be a pain to have to upgrade every few years to keep up with features and security. It’s a significant up-front expense that isn’t always easy to come up with. Mac users looking to get a new Office version need no longer complain, though. All the previous problems with Office suites have been fixed with one new Office option: Microsoft Office 365.

How Microsoft Office 365 Differs from Traditional Office Suites

There are a number of significant differences between Office 365 and the traditional suites, all of which are laid out in this section. In some ways, it’s better to think of 365 as a wholly new approach to Office. While the programs you expect are included, so is much more, and the way you get it is also entirely different.

Subscriptions vs. One-Time Payments

Office users are used to putting up a significant chunk of money up-front and getting a suite of programs either through download or in a box that stays on their computers forever. Everything about the Office 365 experience is different. With 365, users subscribe. For a small and more manageable monthly or yearly fee, users get to use the suite of their choice (more on those choices below).

Every Update Included

An Office 365 subscription comes with a lot of benefits. The most important of which is the ability to get every update to every program as soon as it’s available. There’s no need ever to purchase another Office suite again. As soon as Microsoft releases a new version, it’ll download onto your computer. It’s that simple.

The End of Mac or PC

There’s also no need to choose between PC or Mac. Every Office 365 version can work on either. That also means the look of Office 365 programs are much more aligned than previous Office versions were. It’s now much easier to switch between devices and get the same experience.

Multiple Installations

Another way Office 365 removes the PC and Mac divide with users is by offering up to five installations with more 365 subscriptions. That allows users to install on all their PC and Mac devices, including their phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.

More Cloud Options

Office 365 bills itself as a cloud-based service and there are a few significant reasons why. First of all, all users get a complimentary 1 TB of cloud space on Microsoft OneDrive, so they’re able to save all their documents and retrieve them quickly on all their devices at all times. There’s also the Office Web App browser versions of the programs, so users can even work on devices that aren’t theirs.

Finally, Office 365 subscriptions can be controlled through the web, so changes can easily be made, installations and re-installations efficiently run, and information about Office 365 easily gathered.

All the Office Programs

One thing users tended to begrudge with Office was the need to choose which of the main Office programs they wanted in their suites. Office 365 removes this choice by providing all Office programs in all but a couple of their versions. That means Mac users will get:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft OneNote
• Microsoft Outlook

PC users also get:

• Microsoft Publisher
• Microsoft Access

There are also many other programs that are available in particular Office 365 packages.

More Version Options

A final way that Office 365 distinguishes itself is the through the vast number of options. While previous versions of Office for Mac were often limited to just two choices, Office 365 has far more, each one tailored to a more specific customer requirement.

The Microsoft Office 365 for Mac Suite Options

With so many Office 365 options, it’s important to get introduced to them quickly before making your choice. In general, Office 365 versions can be broken down into three categories: Personal, Small Business, and Enterprise (or big businesses with more than 300 users). Choose the category that is right for you and then choose the suite that fits you best.

Personal Suites

There are two main Personal suites on offer through Office 365:

• Office 365 Personal
• Office 365 Home

Both suites include all the above programs and all of the Office 365 features like cloud space and automatic upgrades. The difference is that Personal only comes with one installation, while Home comes with five.

Personal is designed for individuals who want a cheap Office option and don’t need multiple devices with Office apps. Home is better for users with a lot of devices or a family they want to share their subscription with.

Small Business Suites

For small businesses there are three main Office 365 options:

• Office 365 Business Essentials
• Office 365 Business
• Office 365 Business Premium

Business Essentials (and the Enterprise version, E1) distinguishes itself from other suites by not including the main Office programs (they are only available in an online form). Instead, it has a number of cloud-based communication tools that help businesses improve collaboration and discussion. These tools include SharePoint, Exchange, and Lync.

Business is more of a traditional suite, with the same package found in Home (all the programs and five installations per subscription), only with a business focus. Business Premium combines these two for those businesses that want all the program options.

Enterprise Suites

Large businesses have the most options and the most features. They get four main Office 365 versions:

• Office 365 Enterprise E1
• Office 365 Enterprise ProPlus
• Office 365 Enterprise E3
• Office 365 Enterprise E5

Like Business Essentials, E1 provides those cloud-based communication programs without a desktop version of the main programs. ProPlus is like Business in only providing the Office programs and none of the communication extras.

E3, like Business Premium, combines the two and also has a few higher-end features. E5 gives everything E3 does to its users but then adds a whole lot more security, business intelligence, communication, and other advanced tools. It’s the most advanced Office 365 options.