If It's Not Broke...

While some of us are still getting used to the new version of Microsoft Office, parent company Microsoft has just announced an invitation only technical preview to the new version of the program your probably using right now.

An article on CNET said the release of the software will be limited. Attendees of this week's Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans, as well as the recent TechEd show, will gain access to the desktop versions of Office 2010. Microsoft has also been taking sign-ups via its Office 2010: The Movie teaser Web site.

The move marks another major move by Microsoft, who made a splash earlier this month with the release of BING, the company’s attempt to challenge market leader Google in the lucrative internet search engine industry. Microsoft has set the industry with their Office program, (which features Word, Excel PowerPoint, and Outlook) which runs in practically every office environment across the country.

Office 2010’s biggest upgrade will be the addition of browser-based versions of Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and OneNote. Those so-called Office Web Applications are being demonstrated on Monday, but the technical preview of the Web apps won't come until later this year. For consumers, Microsoft plans to make the browser-based versions a free part of Windows Live next year, but hasn't decided whether they will include advertising. The applications which run in Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer are aimed at both expanding the number of Office users within businesses as well as holding the ground threatened by Google Docs and other Web-based productivity programs.

While the release of an updated version of Office always comes with pre-release hype, Microsoft must be careful not to deviate from its already proven template of the older versions of the program. Users who are familiar with the older version of Office, and are able to complete tasks quickly and easily while at the Office. The ability to quickly execute simple tasks with Office could easily be lost with the new upgrades, and core changes to the system.

It is understandable that Microsoft wants to continue to expand its empire and provide its customers with the best possible product they can. However, in an effort to do this, Microsoft is running the risk of alienating its current customers by continuing to change applications that seem to be doing just fine as is.