Microsoft produces two primary home and office productivity suites, one known as Works, the other as Office. The two overlap in many ways and have many similarities. However, Works is a simplified, budget version of Office, and by far less popular.
Purpose
Office has been the mainline Microsoft productivity suite for Windows PCs for the better part of two decades. This is a complete range of products, typically sold at premium prices. It is also the suite Microsoft promotes the most, being a flagship product that receives all the latest updates and innovations.
Works has been the company's budget version of Office since the late 1990s, often bundled with new computers along with Encarta and other basic programs. Works doesn't have nearly as many features, and few people purchase it separately. The practice of bundling it continues, mostly on desktops.
Versions
As of 2009, Office is on its 2007 version, optimized for use with XP and Vista. A Windows 7 version is expected. The most popular iterations of Office have been 1997, 2003 and 2007.
Conversely, Works gets more frequent overhauls because of its simplified nature--it's currently on version 9, also designed for use with Vista.
Grades
While the budget Works only has one product grade, the costly Office comes in many varieties. These include Office Basic, Standard, Home and Student, Mobile, Small Business, Professional, Professional Plus and Ultimate. The more features included, the more expensive the suite, but even the Basic version is more complete than Works.
Promotion
Because of cost factors, Microsoft offers different versions of Office at discount to students and teachers around the world. Also, every version of Office can be downloaded as a free 60-day trial. On the other hand, Microsoft does none of this for Works, which is available only as single-price product, with no demo versions.
Features
The complete Office suite is a massive software product. It includes the popular word processor Word in addition to staples Access, Excel, PowerPoint and email manager Outlook. Desktop publishing program Publisher is also included, as are InfoPath, Groove and OneNote. The Basic Office comes only with Outlook, Excel and Word.
Works' single product grade includes a word processor, spreadsheet, calendar and database, as well as a dictionary.
Relation
The two suites are intimately connected. They share the same code and functionality, with Works simply delivering downgraded, basic versions of the larger, more complete editions provided by Office. However, Office products also include complex Office Tools, which are literally dozens of small programs not available through Works.
Compatibility
Because of their shared code and architecture, the two are compatible. Word can read files compiled by any Works component, and Works can accept most Office file extensions. Combined with the "starter" pricing of Works, this indicates the suite is meant as a teaser for consumers on a budget. The intent is to make transitioning to Office easy when the need for more powerful tools arises.
Tags: version Office, budget version, budget version Office, more complete, Office comes, product grade, with Vista