In what appears to be a move toward combating Google Docs, Microsoft is expected to deliver a free but ad-funded version of Works known as SE 9 in coming months. As part of a small pilot program, MS will make the suite available in small numbers as an OEM preinstall and not as a download. Ads will reportedly appear whether a user is offline or online. An upgrade option to an ad-free Works version will run $39.95. Melissa Stern, senior Microsoft product manager, was quoted, the evaluating this business model to determine if it is viable for our customers and partners. As for the ads, Stern said they will be geared toward what users are doing with a given Works app (think budgeting or vacation planning) and not at the content they are generating.

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If you are applying to the University of Chicago, you better bone up on your PowerPoint skills due to a new requirement that would-be students must present a four-page slide presentation. The good news is that school officials will apparently let you select any topic or approach you want to take. To me this is just four pieces of blank paper. You do what you want. It can be a presentation. It can be poetry. It can be anything, Rose Martinelli, associate dean for student recruitment and admissions was quoted. The bad news is that it is still PowerPoint.

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Software developer Thinkfree has launched a free online office package. The ThinkFree Online software includes a word processor,spreadsheet and a presentation program. Each is compatible with its Microsoft Office equivalent, but with no cost to access. Because it uses Java,it is compatible with Internet Explorer and Firefox web browsers.

Registration and basic use is free,but accessing some features work on a points system.All new users receive 100 points on registration, and extra points can either be bought or earned by getting other users to sign up. Points can be spent on clip art or templates,to remove banner ads or to increase the 1Gb of storage space included at registration.An offline version is available for £35.

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Corel is taking aim at small businesses specifically those using Microsoft Office with its WordPerfect Office 12 Small Business Edition. Priced $100 lower than Office Small Business Edition 2003, the eight-piece Corel suite includes the WordPerfect 12 word processor, Quattro Pro 12 spreadsheet, Paint Shop Pro 9 image-editing package, WordPerfect Mail, Presentations 12, and Norton Internet Security 2005.

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