How to Move Into Your New Rented Office 365

Many PC users have become familiar with Microsoft's suite of Office applications in their workplaces but have not taken advantage of it at home, due to its steep price. Earlier this year, Microsoft launched a cloud-based version designed specifically for home use. It includes all the familiar applications, and users can rent it for just $9.99 per month or $99 per year.

Office 365 Home Premium, the 2013 Windows 8 version of Microsoft's latest version of its Office product, amusingly remains a suite of applications that run under the Windows desktop -- as in earlier, non-tiled versions of Windows.

Although Office installs quick launch tiles, each core element, like Word or Excel, is an application, not a ballyhooed app. Go figure.

Major differences from earlier Office versions include heavy SkyDrive cloud integration and Skype Voice over IP telephony. Cloud functionality allows full-featured Office applications to be streamed to any Internet-connected PC. With its personalization features, your settings are remembered wherever and whenever you sign in.

For the first time, there is no software-loaded CD for purchase -- you can only get Office 365 Home Premium online. Any store-bought product ultimately pulls the software from the Internet. Online-only ostensibly allows for continual version upgrades -- and presumably reduces the manufacturing costs.

Office 365 Home Premium is the first version to be launched in this rentable format. Other versions, including office Home & Student and the products geared for business, can be purchased outright only.

You can try Office 365 Home Premium for a month for free; you can buy it for US$99.99 per year or $9.99 a month. The one-subscription license is for five PCs or Macs and multiple Windows 7.5 and higher phones and tablets. PCs can be running Windows 7 and higher; Macs can be operating Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.

The license includes version upgrades.

Office applications within this version will install depending on device; they include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access. Access previously was bundled only with pricey business versions.

You can try Office 365 Home Premium for a month for free; you can buy it for US$99.99 per year or $9.99 a month. The one-subscription license is for five PCs or Macs and multiple Windows 7.5 and higher phones and tablets. PCs can be running Windows 7 and higher; Macs can be operating Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.

The license includes version upgrades.

Office applications within this version will install depending on device; they include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access. Access previously was bundled only with pricey business versions.