Cloud connectivity is offered through your Web browser with no software purchase and no monthly fees. Microsoft already offers a free series of Google Docs-like Web apps via SkyDrive. Is there any free online component like Google Docs? The addition of stylus support in tablet mode ('inking') opens up opportunities for casual pen-based markups of documents, or freehand note-taking. OneNote and Lync add collaborative note-taking and video-connected communications to the Office suite. Newer social features and Skype integration add some new collaborative wrinkles, but replicate what's already available on PCs via other services and software. Jason Parker's review and video of Office 2013 has a full rundown in this regard, but essentially Office has been streamlined in its visual style in its quest to be more touch- and stylus-friendly for Windows 8 tablets. You'll need to sign up for a free Microsoft account to use cloud-based document sharing via SkyDrive. You can deactivate versions and install them on other devices after that. The Office 365 subscription versions can be installed on up to five computers. With a purchase of any of the Office 2013 standalone versions you will only be able to install it on one PC. Office Home and Student 2013 RT includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. There's also the Microsoft RT version of Office for ARM-based tablets, included for free on RT devices such as the Surface RT tablet. Buying the standalone versions of Office 2013 will get you maintenance updates only, but staying subscribed to Office 365 will give you big updates coming down the pike in the future as well.

Office 365's subscription-based cloud service comes in tiers: Home Premium (20GB of SkyDrive storage and 60 minutes of Skype world minutes a month included), Small Business Premium (shared calendars, business-class mail, HD conferencing), and ProPlus (enterprise). Office 2013 will come in a variety of versions for home and business users, and you can get the current pricing and version breakdown here.

Redesigning bloat: How Microsoft Office got a makeover.

How and where to buy Office 365 and Office 2013.

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