Archive for the ‘Office’ Category

The Ads In Microsoft Office Starter 2010 [Microsoft]

Maybe I jumped the gun too fast yesterday, slamming Microsoft for including advertising in the free Microsoft Office Starter 2010, to be included with many new PCs next year. This is how they look, on the bottom right corner.

We missed these yesterday in the snoozing promotional videos in the Office page. They are not that bad, actually. Definitely usable. And if that column on the right serves any purpose, I guess they are fine, and I stand corrected. Would you be able to live with these? [Thanks León]

Surprise Mugs, For Subtle Office Pranks

By Chris Scott Barr

Being the awesome internet sensation that I am, I don’t work in an office like many of you likely do. I’m rather thankful for this, as it means I don’t have to deal with annoying people all day. Of course, it does limit the amount of inter-office pranks that I can pull. Here is a wonderfully subtle one that I would love to use on someone.

I have worked in offices before, and some people tend to assume that all coffee mugs are community cups. In fact, they usually belong to someone that gets frustrated when theirs turns up missing. Well if you’re one of these people, just purchase a Surprise Mug and leave it near the coffee pot. The Surprise Mug looks like a nondescript white mug. However, on the bottom is a cute little message that either says “I’m a twat” or “office bitch”. Even if it doesn’t stop the person from using your stuff, it’ll be $8 well spent.

[ ThumbsUpUK ] VIA [ FoolishGadgets ]

Bloatfest! Microsoft Office Starter 2010 Edition to Have F*cking Ads [Microsoft]

Coming 2010, your next PC will probably be pre-loaded with Microsoft Office Starter 2010. A free version of Office 2010 that will only include Word and Excel, capable of exchanging documents with the full Office 2010. But there’s a catch:

As part of Office 2010 software that will be pre-loaded by the PC manufacturers on their PCs, we’re introducing Microsoft Office Starter 2010. Office Starter 2010 is a reduced-functionality, advertising-supported version of Office 2010, available exclusively on new PCs. Office Starter 2010 will provide new PC owners with immediate exposure to the Office 2010 experience on new PCs right out of the box.

We don’t know yet how the ads will work. Maybe they won’t be obtrusive. But even in theory, this pisses me off. Office has historically been a model of software bloat, and just when we thought they couldn’t—because of competition with Google docs—get any heavier, here they are pushing ads.

I really wonder how many people will settle for that version living in their desktop. Would you? [Technet]

Mayfair’s Office Trunk: For the Geek Who Telecommutes On Steamships [Luggage]

If Tom Hanks’ character had had this steamer trunk in Joe Versus the Volcano, he could have probably Googled “brain cloud,” discovered it was bullshit, and saved himself—and us—from having to sit through that movie.

That’s because this steamer trunk has a secret—it doubles as a portable office worthy of the Titanic. That said, don’t let it sink because it costs almost four grand. [Mayfair via Boing Boing]

Sleek Privacy: Ruckstuhl Acoustic Panel [Office]

According to Jason, the Ruckstuhl Acoustic Panel “is just the thing you need in the library so you won’t have to stare at the homeless guy beating off across from you.” Well, I got news for you, Mr. Chen.

First, the place you go to with the homeless guy is not a library, and second, the Ruckstuhl Acoustic Panel looks like a better fit for a couple of desks in open office or a home office. This, in fact, looks exactly like my home office, with two iMac 24s facing each other (except the Macs don’t run Windows here):

The Ruckstuhl Acoustic Panel is made of 100% wool felt, and comes in various colors. It even comes with a magnet holder accessory, so you can put things on it. [Ruckstuhl via Unplggd]

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