WILSON - Fundamentals of Office 365

Kevin Wilson, a practicing computer engineer and tutor, has had a passion for gadgets, cameras, computers and technology for many years.

After graduating with masters in computer science, software engineering & multimedia systems, he has worked in the computer industry supporting and working with many different types of computer systems, worked in education running specialist lessons on film making and visual effects for young people. He has also worked as an IT Tutor, has taught in colleges in South Africa and as a tutor for adult education in England.

His books were written in the hope that it will help people to use their computer with greater understanding, productivity and efficiency. To help students and people in countries like South Africa who have never used a computer before. It is his hope that they will get the same benefits from computer technology as we do.

The cloud was originally a metaphor for the internet and many network diagrams represented the internet with a symbol of a cloud. As internet services became more advanced, the cloud became a set of hardware devices such as data servers, application servers all connected to networks with large storage space providing services such as applications including microsoft word, email and disk storage for documents. These cloud services include the delivery of software and storage space over the Internet based on user demand having as little as possible stored on the users machines.

If you have an account with a Web-based e-mail service like Hotmail or Gmail, then youve had some experience with the cloud. Instead of running an e-mail program on your computer, you log in to a Web e-mail account remotely. The software and storage for your account doesnt exist on your computer its on the cloud. The idea is to be able to access your applications, services and files from anywhere, whether at the office or out and about.

This has become a huge advantage as data can be stored centrally making back ups easier. Applications and servers can be built and maintained centrally by dedicated support staff making downtime a minimum. Plus all your data and services can be accessed from anywhere thanks to wireless devices such as tablets, smartphones, laptops and PCs.

Office 365 is Microsofts cloud based service and is a subscription-based version of Office 2013. Unlike any of the traditional Office suites such as Office 2010, Office 365 allows you to install Office applications on up to five different computers. It includes some additional features, such as Office on Demand, 20 GB of additional online storage space through SkyDrive, and the option to install Office 2011 on Mac computers.

Office 365 subscription guarantees that youll be able to upgrade to the latest version of Office whenever its available at no additional cost, which can save you a lot of money over time.

Because Office 365 is paid by either an annual or monthly subscription fee, youll need to be able to manage your account settings, including payment information.

Office 365 is a subscription-based version of Office 2013. Unlike any of the traditional Office suites such as Office 2010, Office 365 allows you to install Office applications on up to five different computers. It includes some additional features, such as Office on Demand, 20 GB of additional online storage space through SkyDrive, and the option to install Office 2011 on Mac computers.

Office 365 subscription guarantees that youll be able to upgrade to the latest version of Office whenever its available at no additional cost, which can save you a lot of money over time.

Because Office 365 is paid by either an annual or monthly subscription fee, youll need to be able to manage your account settings, including payment information.

There are a number of different options and packages available depending on what your needs are.

Office Home & Student - can be installed on one PC and includes, word, excel, powerpoint and onenote.

Office University - A 4-year subscription at a great value of 1.25 a month and can be installed on 2 PCs or Macs. Has word, excel, powerpoint, outlook, one note, access and publisher.

Office Professional - can be installed on one PC and is aimed more at business users, the package includes, word, excel, powerpoint, one note, outlook, publisher and access.

Office 365 Home Premium - can be installed on 5 PCs or Macs plus upto 5 mobile devices. This package is aimed at home users with more than one computer. The package includes word, excel, powerpoint, outlook, one note, access and publisher.

Here is a comparison summary according to Microsofts website.