Microsoft’s office suite is now available as a one-time, definitive purchase, a first since 2021. What’s new in Office 2024?
Microsoft has just launched a new version of its famous office suite: Office 2024. This edition, available since October 1, marks a turning point in the company’s strategy by offering an alternative to the Microsoft 365 subscription. It is now possible to acquire a perpetual license for Office 2024. This allows you to go through a one-time purchase rather than a subscription model.
Microsoft offers two distinct versions of Office 2024. The first, called “Office Family 2024”, is sold at a price of 149 euros. It includes essential applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, and can be installed on a PC or Mac. The second option, “Office Family and Small Business 2024”, is offered at 299 euros. This more complete version also includes Outlook and grants commercial use rights.
Remember that Microsoft 365 is offered at 69 euros per year for an individual plan or 99 euros per year for a family plan (up to six people). The plan provides continuous access to the latest features and updates.
One-time purchase versions, but locked
Please note, these versions of Office 2024 are called “locked”. Indeed, unlike subscription versions of Microsoft 365, they will not benefit from regular updates bringing new features. However, they will receive the necessary security updates.
What’s new in Office 2024?
Microsoft has integrated numerous improvements into Office 2024 and more particularly into each of the applications in the suite.
Excel 2024 wants to offer improved performance, especially when it comes to using multiple workbooks simultaneously. In addition, we can also count on new functions that facilitate the manipulation of text and tables in spreadsheets. Thus, the IMAGE function makes it easy to integrate images from the web, while the use of dynamic tables in graphics offers automatic data updating.
PowerPoint 2024 introduces two major features: Cameo and Recording Studio. Cameo allows you to embed a live video feed directly into slides making presentations more interactive. Recording Studio, meanwhile, makes it easy to record narrations, animations and transitions for smoother, more professional presentations. Additionally, subtitles can be added to audio and video elements.
Outlook 2024 includes an automatic email accessibility check tool. According to Microsoft, search capabilities have been improved to provide more relevant results for messages, attachments, contacts and events. Mac users now benefit from the ability to customize swipe gestures in Outlook.
Word 2024 includes a particularly useful session recovery feature. If the application closes unexpectedly, Word automatically restores all open documents, preventing the loss of unsaved work. It is now possible to react to comments with “likes” in documents for better collaboration.
Finally, note that Office 2024 offers a graphic overhaul, inspired by the aesthetics of Windows 11.
Office 2024 is compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11, as well as the latest three versions of macOS. Using the suite requires a Microsoft account and an Internet connection, although the latter is only required for installation, activation, and security updates.
