Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007

[ReviewAZON asin="B000HCZ8EO"]Please note that even though it is not noted on the box, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 is compatible with Windows 7

Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 is the essential software suite for home computer users and includes 2007 versions of Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and OneNote. This system enables you to quickly and easily create great-looking documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, and organize your notes and information in one place, making it easier and more enjoyable for you to get things done.



The new streamlined workspace and easy-to-browse tabs make program features easier to find and use. View larger.


Insert graphics and charts such as these into your documents to make them more appealing. View larger.


Use the new diagram and improved charting tools to create rich and stunning visuals and charts. View larger.


Quick and easy-to-use table styles help your tables look great and consistent across Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. View larger.


The Document Inspector helps find and remove potentially sensitive "hidden" information from your documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. View larger.


Office OneNote 2007 enables you to gather, organize, and search almost any type of information. The powerful search tool is shown here, with results highlighted in yellow. View larger.
This updated version features a new streamlined user interface that exposes commonly used commands, enhanced graphics, and formatting capabilities that let you create high-quality documents, plus a powerful note and information organization tool, and more reliability and security with the document inspector tool and improved automatic document recovery. With these enhancements, Home and Student 2007 makes it a pleasure to complete schoolwork and other tasks at home.

Which edition of Office is right for you? View a comparison of Microsoft Office 2007 editions.

Create High-Quality Documents
Home and Student 2007 gives you access to updated graphics, formatting galleries, and an intuitive user interface that exposes commonly used commands. These features enable you to easily produce high-quality documents that will make you proud. Improved picture, charting, and graphics tools help you produce better-looking documents, spreadsheets, and presentations more quickly, while a large library of standard charts, quick formatting tools, and SmartArt diagrams make it easy to include rich and stunning visuals and charts. The results-oriented user interface makes it easier for you to find and use product features so you can enhance your documents according to your specifications. More stable bullets and numbers, SmartArt diagrams, and graphics and charting galleries provide you with a wealth of other formatting choices. Meanwhile, document themes help ensure a consistent appearance among the documents you create in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, to make working across the programs you use most more convenient. PowerPoint also features context-sensitive tabs and easy-to-use galleries that make it simple for you to include tables and other graphics in your documents.

Enhanced Reliability and Security Features
With an improved automatic Document Recovery tool and the new Document Inspector tool for removing personally identifiable information from your documents, Home and Student 2007 helps you work with more confidence and security. Thanks to these two features, you'll never have to worry about losing documents after a system failure or exposing your personal identification information or unwanted comments to others before sharing your documents.



Formatting galleries make it easier to find and apply formatting changes. View larger.
User-Friendly Operation
Packed with innovative features and improvements, Home and Student 2007 has a streamlined interface and an enhanced Help system, including online tutorials with step-by-step instructions, so you can quickly learn the product and find the answers to your questions. In addition, command tabs on the results-oriented Ribbon reveal commonly used commands that previously appeared only in lengthy drop-down menus. The Help system also offers a smooth transition between the Help menu in the Microsoft Office system and Help on the Internet (when connected). Larger, more informative ScreenTips provide help concerning commands, and the command tabs themselves are context-sensitive, changing automatically depending upon the task that you are trying to complete, so you won't waste time figuring out the appropriate command. When you need more guidance, online tutorials provide step-by-step instructions for common tasks.

Organize Notes and Information
Home and Student 2007 includes OneNote, a digital notebook that helps you gather, organize, and search many types of information in one place. This means you can consolidate typed text, images, audio and video recordings, digital handwritten notes, Web clippings, and more on the same page. OneNote also provides flexible note-taking tools to help you organize information the way you want. Categorize important projects or information in a way that makes sense to you, using an easy-to-use layout of notebooks, sections, and pages. Type or organize content anywhere on the page and track important items with customizable note tags. To help keep you on track, the powerful Instant Search feature helps you to find information you are looking for quickly. With it you can even search handwritten notes, the text in images and scanned documents, and spoken words in audio recordings.

Preview Changes and Spot Trends
Home and Student 2007 saves you time by making it easier to format your Office documents with Live Preview. This tool lets you quickly preview proposed changes to your document while you're working on it without having to repeatedly search through layers of menus. Taking a look at your proposed formatting before committing to it lets you experiment without risk and can help minimize future edits. Excel features highly visual conditional formatting with new data bars, more colorful gradients, and icons that you can use to format data based on specific rules, so you can more easily identify key data trends, which can help you study and prepare written papers or reports.

Create and Save Custom Slide Layouts
PowerPoint lets you create presentations with ease using prebuilt and user-defined custom slide layouts. With the custom layout feature you can quickly create the precise layout you envision without being bound by one of the prepackaged, standard layouts. You can then save your custom layout for use in future presentations.

Broader Distribution of Your Documents
Home and Student 2007's features aren't limited to the work you do at home; they extend to broader distribution of your documents and presentations. New support for Portable Document Format (PDF) and XML Paper Specification (XPS) file formats helps ensure increased distribution and sharing of your documents with users on any platform. This is particularly ideal for either sharing documents with friends and families, or for presenting information and assignments in a computer-integrated class.

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Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

[ReviewAZON asin="B002DHGMK0"]Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV (a broadcast TV tuner may be required). Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. Do you use your PC for work, run Windows XP programs, or require enhanced security? Consider Windows 7 Professional.

More work, more play, and more of everything in between. Click to enlarge.

Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows. Click to enlarge.

With Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen. Click to enlarge.

Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar and Start menu.

The best entertainment experience on your PC

Easiest Windows to use ever

  • Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
  • Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
  • Setting up a home network and connecting to printers and devices is easier than ever.
  • Windows 7 Home Premium supports the latest hardware and software.

It's faster

  • Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
  • Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.
  • Connecting to wireless networks is fast and easy.

Best PC entertainment experience

  • Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
  • Blu-ray read/write support for data files.
  • Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks

Simple to use

Preview
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.

Pin
Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.

Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop. Click to enlarge.

Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC right from the Start menu with Windows Search. Click to enlarge.

Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center, and enjoy your favorite videos and music with Windows Media Player. Click to enlarge.

Jump Lists
Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar and Start menu.

Snap
Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.

Peek and Shake
Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.

Windows Search
Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.

Easy to connect

Setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks. Click to enlarge.

Enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming. Click to enlarge.

Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use. Click to enlarge.

Manage Backup and Restore and other features through Action Center. Click to enlarge.

Search, organize, and edit files across a network in the same way you would a single folder.Click to enlarge.

Wireless setup
With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.

HomeGroup
Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.

Easy to browse the web

Internet Explorer 8
Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.

Internet Explorer 8
Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.

Easy to communicate and share

Windows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.

Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.

Windows Live Family Safety
Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.

Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.

Works The Way You Want

Faster and More Reliable

Windows 7 will help your PC sleep and resume more quickly. It is designed to respond to commands more quickly and will help your PC to be more reliable.

Fewer clicks and less interruptions

Makes New Things Possible

Media on your terms

Windows Media Center
Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center
Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.

DirectX 11
DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.

New ways to engage

Windows Touch
Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.

Media on your terms

Windows Media Player
More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.

You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.

Work anywhere

Location Aware Printing
Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

Work anywhere with less effort.

  • Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
  • Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
  • Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
  • Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
  • Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
  • Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
  • Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.

Safeguard your hard work.

  • Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.

Choose the Windows 7 Edition That Is Best For You

Features

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows 7 Professional

Windows 7 Ultimate

Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation.
Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often.
Make your web experience faster, easier and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8.
Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC.
Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup.
Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode.  
Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join.  
In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network.  
Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker.    
Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages.    

[/ReviewAZON] Read more »

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade

[ReviewAZON asin="B002DHLUWK"]Upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium. Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV (a broadcast TV tuner may be required). Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. Do you use your PC for work, run Windows XP programs, or require enhanced security? Consider Windows 7 Professional.

Desktop

Windows 7 is designed to make your PC simpler--to be more reliable, more responsive and to make the things you do every day on your PC easier. Click to enlarge.

Upgrade to Windows 7

All editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista qualify you to buy an upgrade license.

1. Choose your edition of Windows 7
Explore key features and choose the edition that's best for you. Be sure to check the expanded list of extended features in Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate. System requirements vary for each edition of Windows 7 because some features might require special hardware.

2. See if your PC has what it takes to run Windows 7
In general, if your PC can run Windows Vista it can run Windows 7. To make sure, download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to do a quick check. If you want certain features, such as HomeGroup or Windows Media Center, check to see if your PC has the hardware that's needed.

3. Check which operating system your PC is currently running
How you make the move to Windows 7 depends on your current operating system.

  • Windows Vista
    The transition to Windows 7 should be pretty smooth, although you may need to update your system to the latest service pack first.

  • Windows XP (or any other operating system)
    Windows 7 is best experienced on a new PC with the latest hardware, but if your computer meets the minimum specifications, you can install Windows 7 on a PC running Windows XP. Windows 7 must be "custom" installed (also known as a "clean" installation) over Windows XP. Before beginning the installation, you'll need to copy your files and settings to an external drive. After Windows 7 has been installed you will need to re-install all of your programs using the original installation media and then copy over the files and settings you backed up to your external drive. Because Windows 7 requires a custom installation, we strongly recommend that you get help with this process from your local computer service provider.

More work, more play, and more of everything in between. Click to enlarge.

Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows. Click to enlarge.

With Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen. Click to enlarge.

Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar and Start menu.

The best entertainment experience on your PC

Easiest Windows to use ever

  • Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
  • Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
  • Setting up a home network and connecting to printers and devices is easier than ever.
  • Windows 7 Home Premium supports the latest hardware and software.

It's faster

  • Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
  • Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.
  • Connecting to wireless networks is fast and easy.

Best PC entertainment experience

  • Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
  • Blu-ray read/write support for data files.
  • Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks

Simple to use

Preview
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail previews and full-screen previews of open windows.

Pin
Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.

Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop. Click to enlarge.

Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC right from the Start menu with Windows Search. Click to enlarge.

Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center, and enjoy your favorite videos and music with Windows Media Player. Click to enlarge.

Jump Lists
Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar previews and Start menu.

Snap
Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.

Peek and Shake
Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.

Windows Search
Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.

Easy to connect

Setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks. Click to enlarge.

Enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming. Click to enlarge.

Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use. Click to enlarge.

Manage Backup and Restore and other features through Action Center. Click to enlarge.

Search, organize, and edit files across a network in the same way you would a single folder.Click to enlarge.

Wireless setup
With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.

HomeGroup
Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.

Easy to browse the web

Internet Explorer 8
Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.

Internet Explorer 8
Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.

Easy to communicate and share

Windows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.

Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.

Windows Live Family Safety
Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.

Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.

Works The Way You Want

Faster and More Reliable

Windows 7 will help your PC sleep and resume more quickly. It is designed to respond to commands more quickly and will help your PC to be more reliable.

Fewer clicks and less interruptions

Makes New Things Possible

Media on your terms

Windows Media Center
Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center
Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.

DirectX 11
DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.

New ways to engage

Windows Touch
Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.

Media on your terms

Windows Media Player
More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.

You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.

Work anywhere

Location Aware Printing
Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

Work anywhere with less effort.

  • Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
  • Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
  • Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
  • Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
  • Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
  • Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
  • Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.

Safeguard your hard work.

  • Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.

Choose the Windows 7 Edition That Is Best For You

Features

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows 7 Professional

Windows 7 Ultimate

Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation.
Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often.
Make your web experience faster, easier and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8.
Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC.
Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup.
Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode.  
Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join.  
In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network.  
Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker.    
Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages.    

[/ReviewAZON] Read more »

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition

[ReviewAZON asin="B000X86ZAS"]Homework and Home Work will be easier than ever with Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition. Get better results faster and create high-quality documents you can be proud of, with less frustration and more enjoyment.

Five Great Reasons to Get Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition:

Universal applications: Office 2008 runs natively on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs.

Intuitive interface: Reduce the time and frustration of learning new software and creating documents with visual galleries that present the right tools when you need them.

Your Mac, more compatible: Office 2008 for Mac and Windows-based 2007 Office products share the Open XML file formats and features like the Office Art graphics engine, so you'll be confident when sharing documents with colleagues, friends, and family across platforms.

Beautiful documents: Good design is a click away with hundreds of new templates, Smart Art graphics, Publishing Layout View, and professional quality clip art and photos.

Priced for home users: Don't need Microsoft Exchange Server Support or workflow management? Home and student users pay for just the features they need. Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition comes with three licenses of non-Exchange-enabled Office 2008 licensed for noncommercial computers.

Which Version of Office 2008 is right for you? View this comparison chart.

Simplify Your Work
Your presentation will make an impact. Your documents will be professional. Your analysis will be insightful. And Office 2008 will be there.
The latest version of the industry standard for productivity software on the Macintosh platform, Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac is more powerful and easier to use. Office 2008 combines Microsoft Word for Mac, Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac, Microsoft Excel for Mac, Microsoft Entourage for Mac, and Microsoft Messenger for Mac and lets you easily create high-impact documents and seamlessly share your ideas with others, whether they are on the Mac or Windows platform.

What's New in Office for Mac?

  • Universal versions of the most popular productivity applications on the Macintosh platform (Universal applications run natively on Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs.)
  • Microsoft Office for Mac natively supports the Open XML file formats for compatibility with Windows-based 2007 Microsoft Office products.
  • A redesigned user interface and powerful new tools for simplifying work, creating great looking documents, and exchanging ideas and information with others.

Highlights of Office 2008 for Mac

  • Office 2008 is a Universal Binary, was built by Mac users for Mac users, and includes many features which take advantage of underlying technologies of the Macintosh platform.
  • Office 2008 uses Open XML file formats for compatibility with Windows-based 2007 Microsoft Office products. XML file formats help reduce the risk of lost information due to damaged or corrupted files and also result in smaller file sizes--up to 75 percent smaller than comparable binary documents. Office 2008 for Mac is backward-compatible with earlier file formats and users can continue to use the older .doc, .xls, and .ppt binary formats.
  • Elements Gallery is the foundation of the new user interface, and gives easy access to the most commonly used tools and templates. With the new UI, you'll harness the capabilities of Office for Mac more easily than ever before.
  • Office 2008 includes OfficeArt, the powerful graphics engine also used in the Windows-based Office 2007 products. You get great cross-platform file fidelity and easy access to stunning visual and graphic effects.
  • Your words will make an impact with the modern styling of SmartArt graphics, which makes transforming text and bulleted lists into professional diagrams and graphics one-click easy.
  • A new Themes capability simplifies the process of applying a consistent look and feel across documents. Easily apply a complete set of colors, fonts, and effects to your Office 2008 documents, and change them as easily as changing your mind.
  • Automator Actions for Workflows in Microsoft Office enables you to automate Office 2008 with more than 70 pre-defined actions built to simplify your work and extend your productivity. (Available in Office 2008 for Mac and Office 2008 for Mac Special Media Edition.)

Entourage 2008, the hub of Office 2008, helps it to happen, one task at a time.

Enjoy powerful new tools, over 100 designer templates, rich themes, and an intuitive user interface in Word 2008.

Entourage 2008
Your e-mails will spark ideas, you'll schedule meetings where creativity abounds. Entourage 2008, the hub of Office 2008, helps it to happen, one task at a time.

  • My Day keeps you connected to the action. Schedules, tasks, and priorities in one easy, standalone interface. Time will have no choice but to be well-managed.
  • Use color-coded categories, status indicators, and flexible To-Do list management humble even the most hectic schedules.
  • Office 2008 for Mac and Office 2008 Special Media Edition enable users to access their Microsoft Exchange server accounts with Entourage.
  • Improved Junk E-Mail filtering capabilities and phishing protection tools help shield your inbox from the scourge of junk. Your inbox will breathe a sigh of relief.
  • Projects submit to your superior management skills when you unleash the power of Project Center, With project details like e-mail messages, documents, schedules, and contacts in one convenient place, Project Center helps keep your information--and your stress--under control.

Word 2008
Powerful new tools, over 100 designer templates, rich themes, and an intuitive user interface in Word 2008 will help you to make your ideas look as good as they are.

  • When you turn blah into brilliant, Publishing Layout View will elevate the way you think about Word 2008. This new specialized and customizable workspace lets users create incredibly rich documents such as newletters, flyers and brochures without a degree in design.
  • Great looking document construction won't require a hard hat. New Templates, Themes, and Document Elements like cover pages and bibliographies make creating professional-looking output a snap.
  • Your words will make an impact with the modern styling of SmartArt, which makes transforming text into high-quality graphics and diagrams as easy as one click.
  • Dynamic Guides will help you keep all of your words and graphics in line and on point.
  • Mass mailings will have a personal touch and Word 2008 Mail Merge Manager will guide you step by easy step.

Inspire your audience's imagination with compelling visuals and engaging layout in PowerPoint 2008.

Analyze, share, and manage your data, and easily create persuasive charts and thought-provoking graphs for powerful results with Excel 2008.

PowerPoint 2008
Your presentation is a story. PowerPoint 2008 will illustrate it. Inspire your audience's imagination with compelling visuals and engaging layout.

  • Great ideas will get their graphic due with SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint 2008. Start with a blank slide or a bulleted list, and, with a click of a button, you'll have a stunning chart, table, map, or diagram.
  • Designer Themes help you give your presentation a creative look, simply and quickly.
  • The new Object Palette allows quick access to all your shapes, art, symbols, and pictures--including iPhoto files--in one easy-to-access space.
  • Dynamic Guides will help you place and resize your graphic element to create professional-looking presentations in a snap.
  • You'll lay out custom designs to showcase your unique content with custom layout capabilities in PowerPoint 2008.
  • PowerPoint 2008 integration with Apple Remote Control lets you concentrate on your words, not your keyboard. Now control your presentation and engage your audience unleashed from the podium.

    Excel 2008
    It's a numbers game. With Excel 2008, analyze, share, and manage your data, and easily create persuasive charts and thought-provoking graphs for powerful results.

    • Ledger Sheets in Excel 2008 make tracking finances, inventories, even invoices and portfolios easy with preformulated spreadsheets and automatic calculations.
    • Charting improvements artfully convey the message your data is telling. You'll see your numbers in a whole new way.
    • The new prebuilt functions tackle the most common tasks and make creating error-free complex conditional formulas easier.
    • Quick access to formulas makes functions more functional with Formula Builder in Excel 2008.
    • Your data will know virtually no limits. Excel 2008 now supports over 16,000 columns and over 1 million rows.
    • Whether you're an Excel expert or a complete novice, Excel 2008 Formula AutoComplete simplifies your calculations by providing a dynamic pop-up menu so you can select and complete your formula.

    Messenger for Mac
    Convenience is the name of the game for Mac users who want to communicate instantly with family, friends and colleagues from one convenient place. Messenger for Mac is now a Universal application, and gives you more ways to share what's on your mind or on your plate.

    Use Messenger for Mac to instantly check the status of project team members, streamline workflow by sending documents directly from Word, or offer questions or comments on document changes instantly.

    • Yahoo! Interoperability will allow personal users to connect and message with Yahoo! Messenger for Mac users.
    • Your intentions will never again be in doubt when you create your own custom emoticons in Messenger for Mac.
    • Spelling Checker is now included in Messenger for Mac.
    • Let the world know your tastes when you display your iTunes selection with the new "What I'm listening to now" feature.
    [/ReviewAZON] Read more »

Chief Architect Home Designer Pro 9.0

[ReviewAZON asin="B002D38TV4"]Home Designer Pro 9.0 is the latest release from Chief Architect, the professional software design company and the software of choice by more builders, architects and designers. Home Designer Pro leverages the same professional quality from Chief Architect making it the most powerful and easy to use home design, remodeling and landscaping software. Design Like a Professional!

Professional home design software for the serious home enthusiast. Click to enlarge.

Professional Software
Chief Architect Home Designer Pro 9.0 is professional home design software for the serious home enthusiast. Enjoy the same tools that the professionals use for home design, remodeling, interior design, decks, landscaping and cost estimation.

Home Designer Pro has all the same great features as Architectural Home Designer, Interior Designer, Landscaping and Deck Designer plus advanced CAD tools, advanced building tools, the ability to create blueprints, manual framing and roofing and much more.

Designing like a Professional has never been so Easy!

Home Design and Landscaping Software
Create accurately scaled floor plans that automatically generate 3D models in minutes. Create any detailed view of your design using advanced 3D camera tools like Glass House, Doll House, Framing, Elevation and Cross-Sections. Create the Virtual Look and Feel Before You Build!

Manual framing tools for fully editable framing, including joists, rafters, trusses, beams, posts, and more. Click to enlarge.

Design in 2D and 3D. 3D Views are automatic with a point-and-click of the camera tool. Click to enlarge.

Artistic rendering techniques such as Watercolor, Glass House, and Technical Illustration Click to enlarge.

Powerful deck and patio tools allow you to design and visualize your new deck with 3D models and can help you estimate the costs. Click to enlarge.

Create Back-Clipped Cross Section and Elevation Views to limit your view to relevant details for precise plan editing. Click to enlarge.

Choose from over 3,600 plants with the Plant Chooser. Click to enlarge.

Design the kitchen of your dreams. Click to enlarge.

Glass House View provides a full translucent view of your design. Click to enlarge.

Use the Cabinet Designer tools to create unlimited cabinet styles. Click to enlarge.

Home Design Software by Chief Architect

  • Choose from over 5,000 Sample Plans
  • Choose from built-in style templates or create your own custom home design, or use the House Wizard
  • Powerful building tools like automatic roof generation, dormers, stairs, framing and foundations
  • Artistic rendering techniques for Watercolor, Glass House and Technical Illustration

Integrated Design Tools
Home Designer Pro makes it easy to design and visualize your ideas on your next home or remodeling project with over 8,000 powerful integrated tools. Use the automated building tools to assist you in your design process. The tools have commonly accepted defaults for most building practices to help you in your home design projects.

Get Started Quickly and Easily

  • The Quick Startup Options Guide will help you begin with "How-To" tutorials based on your type of project
  • Use the House Wizard for quick and easy layout of your rooms
  • Select from the pre-designed Home Design and Landscaping Style Templates complete with colors, cabinets, decks and more
  • The online help system provides detail information on all types of building projects
  • Includes over 80 easy "step-by-step" tutorial training videos that will quickly get you started on your next home design project

3D Design Tools

  • Design in 2D and 3D. 3D Views are automatic with a point-and-click of the camera tool.
  • Glass House View provides a full translucent view of your design. Choose other Artistic rendering techniques for Watercolor and Technical Illustration views.
  • Doll House View, a 3D overview without the roof, is an effective tool for space planning of furniture placement and traffic flow
  • Create a Virtual Tour--draw your record line to Automatically Generate; or record your camera movements
  • Visualize your home with day and night views
  • Assemble a scale model of your design with Model Maker
  • Generate shadows from the sun for realistic 3D views
  • Point-and-click to remove wall surfaces, or use 3D Cross-Section Elevation Slider to quickly create a 3D slice of your desired view

Automated and Manual Building Tools

  • Design roofs and walls in 3D
  • Generate various styles of Automatic roofs or manually design any custom roof including curved roofs
  • Use the Automatic Dormer tool to quickly place dormers--shed, gable, eyebrow and barrel
  • Automatic Structural Dormers
  • Unblock and manually edit Automatic Dormers
  • Create any custom roof or ceiling plan with the Roof Design Tools. Edit and create roof planes to create a roof of any pitch and shape. Start with an automatic roof and then add custom details, or create the entire roof manually.
  • Automatic framing tools
  • Manual framing tools for fully editable framing, including joists, rafters, trusses, beams, posts and more
  • Choose from several built-in wall styles with individual wall layers or define your own wall style
  • Ability to read and edit files by Chief Architect Full Professional Software
  • ICC Residential Design Checklist will allow you to check your plan against national building codes

Kitchen and Bath Design

  • Design the kitchen of your dreams--move walls, create new cabinets, add appliances--Design your perfect workspace!
  • Design your new kitchen or bath using the Cabinet Designer tools
  • Plan the new layout of your bathroom with custom cabinets, sinks, showers and garden tubs. It's easy to visualize your ideas in 3D.
  • Create custom cabinets in minutes by choosing your own colors, countertops, door styles and more
  • Use the Cabinet Designer tools to create unlimited cabinet styles. Choose your own colors, countertops and door styles.
  • Design and edit custom countertop shapes and styles

Chief Architect Product Comparison
Which Chief Architect product best suits your needs? Review this product comparison matrix (PDF file).

Interior Design

  • Smart Design Objects, Drag-and-drop from thousands of design objects in the built-in Library organized by category
  • Material Painter lets you apply colors and materials quickly and easily
  • Choose from thousands of colors and textures or create your own materials using a digital photograph
  • Design for your lifestyle and personality--change colors, add lighting and choose furniture to accent your new room
  • Choose from a variety of interior items--including chairs, tables, sofas, fabrics, accessories and more. Resize, change colors and materials to meet your exact needs.
  • Import your own symbols from 3D file types including .SKP, .OBJ and .3DS

Decks and Landscaping

  • Powerful deck and patio tools allow you to design and visualize your new deck with 3D models and can help you estimate the costs
  • Design single or multi-level decks complete with automatic deck framing and an advanced deck framing option for more complicated deck designs
  • Quickly lay out your deck with stairs and arrange furniture
  • Deck foundations automatically generate to match sloped lots
  • Plant Encyclopedia to learn more about the plants in your designs
  • Choose from over 3,600 plants with the Plant Chooser
  • Plant Hardiness Zone reference maps
  • See what your plants will look like in 0--20 years
  • Pathways--Use the Pathway tool to design curb-appealing landscaping using stone, pavers, or sidewalks--line with trees, shrubs, flowers and more

Site Planning & Estimating

  • Use Automatic Build Terrain and Terrain Perimeter tools to create flat, irregular shaped, or sloped lots--use a GPS to import or enter elevation data
  • Create plot and perimeter plans; automatically generate a 3D model of your actual terrain
  • Export Material List to spreadsheet programs including Microsoft Excel
  • Save snapshot Material Lists for different stages of the project
  • Add detail to each individual component in the material list for a comprehensive cost estimate breakdown
  • Master Materials List allows you to store and manage commonly used material prices
  • Sprinkler Designer tools to easily layout sprinkler zones
  • Fences and Driveways--With the Fencing tools you can choose a variety of fencing styles and custom gates. You will also find driveway, sidewalk and curbing tools
  • Hill and Valley tools make it easy to add gardens, beds and slopes that automatically appear in 3D views. Choose from landscaping style templates or create your own.
  • Define Terrain Elevation lines, Elevation Regions and Terrain Breaks

CAD Tools

  • Powerful CAD tools to detail cross-section views with insulation, cross-boxes and more
  • Advanced CAD editing tools such as replicate, line weights, point-to-point move, custom patterns and more (Compatible with AutoCAD patterns)
  • CAD-to-Walls allows you to convert CAD lines from DXF file format to walls
  • Layers can be used to separate key building components such as electrical or framing. Display or hide features of your design, set colors, lock layers and use reference layers for precise editing.
  • Create Back-Clipped Cross Section/Elevation Views to limit your view to relevant details for precise plan editing

Building Tools

  • Customize construction methods for walls, floors, ceilings and foundations. Identify the exact placement of framing components, specify wall layers, floor structure platform height, mudsills and more.
  • Advanced stair tools allow control of shape, starter treads, flaring, tread width and more
  • Create pony walls and edit wall shape or create a stepped foundation in cross-section view
  • Multiple-select editing. For example, select all your cabinets and change them all with one command.
  • Use callouts to reference between details, plans and cross-sections in a blueprint layout
  • Create blueprint layouts (up to Architectural C drawings 18" x 24") with 3D, CAD, Cross-Section/Elevation and Plan Views
  • Rotate and Flip Plan
  • Advanced dimensioning tools include angular, end-to-end and interior dimensions
  • Fully editable dimension lines and configurable dimension editing allow you to change where dimensions locate walls, windows, doors and other objects

[/ReviewAZON] Read more »

Chief Architect Home Designer 9.0

[ReviewAZON asin="B002D3AGF6"]Home Designer 9.0 is the latest release from Chief Architect, the professional software design company and the software of choice by more builders, architects and designers. Home Designer leverages the same professional quality from Chief Architect making it the most powerful and easy to use home design, remodeling and landscaping software. Design your dream home today!

Helps you with the basics to design, remodel or add landscaping to your home. Click to enlarge.

Advanced 3D camera tools: Glass House, Doll House and Final View for truly photo-realistic 3D images. Click to enlarge.

Home Designer makes it easy to see and visualize your design ideas on your next remodeling project. Click to enlarge.

Design in 2D and 3D. Click to enlarge.

Use the Deck Designer tools to quickly design the layout of your deck. Click to enlarge.

Use House Wizard to choose your rooms and then drag them to your design layout configuration to generate a floor plan. Click to enlarge.

Fun & Easy Home Design Software
Chief Architect Home Designer is Chief Architect's entry level title that can help you with the basics to design, remodel or add landscaping to your home. With over 4,000 items you can create your perfect design. There are 500 sample plans all of which allow you to create a virtual walk-through of your home. The program enables you to easily visualize your project in 3D.

Home Design Software

  • Floor and space planning--use to size and visualize rooms for remodeling or redecorating
  • Quickly place and arrange walls, windows, doors, furniture, create decks and landscaping
  • Easy to use automated building tools for roofs, stairs, framing, cabinets and more
  • Generate various styles of Automatic roofs for your home
  • Automatically generate a complete spreadsheet for your project costs, broken down by category. Calculate the amount of lumber for your deck or concrete required for your new patio.
  • Use House Wizard to choose your rooms and then drag them to your design layout configuration to generate a floor plan
  • Choose from over 500 sample floor plans to help generate ideas

Remodeling Software

  • Move a wall, change a color, add a room, redesign a kitchen and estimate the costs--all before you build. Home Designer makes it easy to see and visualize your design ideas on your next remodeling project.
  • Material Painter--point-and-click colors for walls, floors, countertops and more
  • Use the Color Chooser to create the perfect color for your walls, floors and more
  • Insert doors, windows and skylights with One-Click
  • Create the Virtual Look and Feel Before You Remodel!
  • Automatically generate a cost estimation and material list for your project
  • Assign costs for materials: descriptions, quantities, unit costs and more
  • Materials automatically update as you design

Interior Design Software

  • Material Eyedropper--choose your own or manufacturer colors and textures
  • Material Painter lets you apply colors and materials quickly and easily
  • Choose from thousands of colors and textures or create your own materials using a digital photograph
  • Generate new floors automatically based on your current floor plan design
  • Drag and drop thousands of items from the Library Browser. Choose great looking furnishings including tables, chairs, sofas and more. Easily change the size, color or material.
  • Visualize your new Kitchen or Bath
  • Create and take a Virtual Tour of your design
  • Cabinet Designer Tools--choose from over 1,000 cabinets--customize using unlimited styles and colors

Chief Architect Product Comparison
Which Chief Architect product best suits your needs? Review this product comparison matrix (PDF file).

Deck and Landscaping Software

  • Create custom landscaping plans in 2D and 3D
  • Over 500 realistic landscaping plants in the library to choose from
  • Use the Deck Designer tools to quickly design the layout of your deck
  • Design single or multi-level decks including free-standing, tiered and post-and-beam
  • Create driveways, sidewalks and pathways
  • Use the automatic tools for adding stairs, deck railings and roofs
  • Define decking materials, place and arrange outdoor furniture to correctly size your deck or patio

Get Started Quickly and Easily

  • The Quick Startup Options Guide will help you begin with "How-To" tutorials based on the type of your project
  • Select from the pre-designed Home Design and Interior templates complete with colors, cabinets, decks and more
  • The online help system provides detail information on all types of building projects
  • Includes over 25 easy "step-by-step" tutorial training videos that will quickly get you started on your next home design project

Design Tools

  • Advanced 3D camera tools: Glass House, Doll House and Final View for truly photo-realistic 3D images
  • Choose from several home style templates--Colonial, Arts & Crafts, Traditional and more to start your next home project
  • Design in 2D and 3D. 3D Views are automatic--just point-and-click with the camera tool--you can even use Glass House view to see through surfaces.
  • Create a Virtual Tour--by recording your camera movements
  • Visualize designs with day and night views
  • Generate shadows from the sun for realistic 3D views

[/ReviewAZON] Read more »

Chief Architect Architectural Home Designer 9.0

[ReviewAZON asin="B002CNARIS"]Architectural Home Designer 9.0 is the latest release from Chief Architect, the professional software design company and the software of choice by more builders, architects and designers. Architectural Home Designer leverages the same professional quality from Chief Architect making it the most powerful and easy to use home design, remodeling and landscaping software.

Create your dream home with powerful and easy to use home design, remodeling and landscaping software. Click to enlarge.

Design the Kitchen of your dreams--move walls, create new cabinets, and add appliances to design your perfect workspace! Click to enlarge.

Powerful deck and patio tools allow you to design and visualize your new deck. Click to enlarge.

Design in 2D and 3D. 3D Views are automatic with a point-and-click of the camera tool. Click to enlarge.

Glass House View provides a full translucent view of your design. Click to enlarge.

Choose from over 3,600 plants with the Plant Chooser. Click to enlarge.

Exclusive All-in-One Home Design Solution

  • Choose from over 2,500 Sample Plans
  • Choose from built-in home style templates, create your own custom home design or use the House Wizard
  • Powerful building tools like automatic roof generation, dormers, stairs, framing and foundations
  • Artistic rendering techniques for Watercolor, Glass House and Technical Illustration

Get Started Quickly and Easily

  • The Quick Startup Options Guide will help you begin with "How-To" tutorials based on the type of your project
  • Use the House Wizard for quick and easy layout of your rooms
  • Select from the pre-designed Home Design and Landscaping Style Templates complete with colors, cabinets, decks and more
  • The online help system provides detail information on all types of building projects
  • Includes over 40 easy "step-by-step" tutorial training videos that will quickly get you started on your next home design project

Kitchen and Bath Design

  • Design the Kitchen of your dreams--move walls, create new cabinets, add appliances--Design your perfect workspace!
  • Plan the new layout of your bathroom with custom cabinets, sinks, showers and garden tubs. It's easy to visualize your ideas in 3D.
  • Create custom cabinets in minutes by choosing your own colors, countertops, door styles and more
  • Design your new kitchen or bath using the Cabinet Designer Tools
  • Use the Cabinet Designer tools to create unlimited cabinet styles. Choose your own colors, countertops and door styles.

Interior Design

  • Material Painter lets you apply colors and materials quickly and easily
  • Choose from thousands of colors and textures or create your own materials using a digital photograph
  • Design for your lifestyle and personality--change colors, add lighting and choose furniture to accent your new room
  • Choose from a variety of interior items--including chairs, tables, sofas, fabrics, accessories and more. Resize, change colors and materials to meet your exact needs.
  • Import your own symbols from 3D files types including .SKP, .OBJ and .3DS
  • Smart Design Objects, Drag-and-drop from thousands of design objects in the built-in Library organized by category

Decks and Landscaping

  • Powerful deck and patio tools allow you to design and visualize your new deck with 3D models and can help you estimate the costs
  • Design single or multi-level decks complete with automatic deck framing
  • Quickly lay out your deck with stairs and arrange furniture
  • Deck foundations automatically generate to match sloped lots
  • Plant Encyclopedia to learn more about the plants in your designs
  • Choose from over 3,600 plants with the Plant Chooser
  • Plant Hardiness Zone reference maps
  • See what your plants will look like in 0 - 20 years
  • Pathways--Use the Pathway tool to design curb-appealing landscaping using stone, pavers, or sidewalks--line with trees, shrubs, flowers and more

Chief Architect Product Comparison
Which Chief Architect product best suits your needs? Review this product comparison matrix (PDF file).

3D Models and Virtual Tours

  • Design in 2D and 3D. 3D Views are automatic with a point-and-click of the camera tool.
  • Glass House View provides a full translucent view of your design. Choose other Artistic rendering techniques for Watercolor and Technical Illustration views.
  • Planning of furniture placement and traffic flow
  • Create a Virtual Tour--draw your record line to Automatically Generate; or record your camera movements
  • Visualize your home with day and night views
  • Assemble a scale model of your design with Model Maker
  • Generate shadows from the sun for realistic 3D views
  • Point-and-click to remove wall surfaces, or use 3D Cross-Section Elevation Slider to quickly create a 3D slice of your desired view

Site Planning & Estimating

  • Use Automatic Build Terrain and Terrain Perimeter tools to create flat, irregular shaped, or sloped lots--use a GPS to import or enter elevation data
  • Create plot and perimeter plans; automatically generate a 3D model of your actual terrain
  • Make your backyard design come alive using several easy-to-use terrain and landscaping tools. Add a pool or pond and visualize in 3D.
  • Sprinkler Designer tools to easily layout sprinkler zones
  • Fences and Driveways--With the Fencing tools you can choose a variety of fencing styles and custom gates. You will also find driveway, sidewalk and curbing tools
  • Hill and Valley tools make it easy to add gardens, beds and slopes that automatically appear in 3D views. Choose from landscaping style templates or create your own.
  • Cost Estimating--Don't be surprised by the cost of your project. Automatically generate a complete spreadsheet for your project costs, broken down by category. Calculate the amount of lumber for your deck or concrete required for that new patio.

[/ReviewAZON] Read more »

Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 3000 v12

[ReviewAZON asin="B0015GDTYM"]Punch! Home Design Architectural Series 3000 v12 combines the power of Punch! Landscape, Deck & Patio Designer v12 and the strength of Punch! Interior Design Suite to bring you our most versatile home and landscape design software, ever! Version 12 gives you more speed - more tools!You'll be amazed at the realism of this extraordinary home design software. Precision lighting controls deliver multiple shadows with new beam direction and glow options. One click day to night lighting. Custom fireplace designs are only limited by your imagination. New Ceiling & Mantel Designers included.Create multi-level deck designs in stunning 3D, and much, much more. Show off your creation with a recordable Hollywood-style fly-through video.[/ReviewAZON] Read more »

Home Cookin: Easy to Use Software with a Recipe Database, Grocery Manager, and Meal Planning Calendar (Windows)

[ReviewAZON asin="B000E2Z5JU"]Easy to use recipe software with a friendly user interface, easy recipe entry, photo support, spell checking, and support for informational text. Imports Meal-Master, Mastercook, Big Oven, Cookbook Wizard, From Scratch, From My Kitchen, Living Cookbook, Now You're Cooking, Recipe Processor, and Computer Chef. Also has manual import for web pages, newsgroups, and other sources. Exports to Meal-Master and Mastercook. Fast and easy search functions, duplicate recipe finder, and a variety of flexible printing options. Includes an integrated meal planning calendar and grocery manager for preparing shopping lists. The platform is: Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2K, or XP (No Macintosh version)[/ReviewAZON] Read more »

Kid Pix Deluxe 4 Home Edition

[ReviewAZON asin="B001UXTIGS"]Kid Pix Deluxe 4 Home Edition has all the creative functionality one would expect, from selecting from an array of art mediums (paint, watercolor, airbrush, pencil, crayon, marker, chalk, etc.) to using various finishing techniques (stickers, stamps, typeface, etc.). In addition, the software can add special effects (animate, smudge, smear, warp twist, etc.) for a wacky look, suggest ideas and backgrounds to help get creative juices flowing, and import digital photos to personalize. For more than 10 years, Kid Pix has been the graphics software of choice for educators, parents, and, most importantly, kids![/ReviewAZON] Read more »