Thomas Cormier

Bentley Class of 2014’

Information Technology 101
Usage
 Microsoft is the most popular and widely
used form of productivity software.
What is it?
Productivity Software:
Word processors,
spreadsheets,
database
management
systems, schedulers
and other software
that are designed for
individual use.
Productivity Suites
Productivity Suites:
A group of programs that are
sold as a package to solve
common problems. Most
popular are “productivity
suites”, they are a set of
basic business programs
designed with a uniform
user interface and common
functions such as spell
checking.
Software Suit
 Examples:
 Microsoft Office (Most Popular)
○ Sold in several versions depending on use.
 Home
 Professional
 Mobile
 Apps
*All include some or all of Microsoft’s productivity
software.

(Mac editions available as well)

Microsoft
 Most known productivity software producer.

 Founded 1975
 Microsoft Word

•Word Processor

•First released in 1983 Originally named “Multi-tool Word” for Xenix

•1989 Renamed

•1997 Microsoft formed the Macintosh Business Unit

•Since the release of Microsoft Word there have been 13 Versions of the
productivity software.
 Excel

•Spreadsheet Application produced by Microsoft

•Features Calculations, graphing tools, and more.

•Vital financial part of nearly any business operation involving

finances.

•Version 1.0 released in1985

•There have been 12 version released since version 1.0.

 PowerPoint

•Original version of the program was created by Forethought Inc.

•Originally Designed for the Macintosh computer, initial release was called
the “Presenter”. Renamed PowerPoint in 1987

•Within a year of its development Microsoft bought Forethought for 14

million.

•It became Microsoft's Graphics Business Unit which continued to develop

the software.
 OneNote

•Gathers users notes , drawings and audio commentaries and shares them
with other users of Microsoft OneNote.

•Allows unbound clicking within the document virtually anywhere.

•Automatically saves everything.

•Easy organization of binders within the program.

 Outlook

• Personal information manager

•Often used mainly for email though calendar, task manager, contact
manager, note taking and journals are other features commonly
overlooked.

•First stand alone version was released in January 1997.

•11 Versions released.

•Most commonly used email capable application among the business

world.
 Productivity software has also become
known as “Business Software” due to its
frequent usage in nearly every aspect of
today's business related tasks.
Other Companies
 Competitors to Microsoft include:

 Corel WordPerfect Office

 IBM Lotus SmartSuite
 Apple iWork
 Sun Microsystems Star Office
 *OpenOffice.org (A free online productivity
suite)
Corel
 Corel office productivity software offers many of
the same benefits as Microsoft although they are a
smaller company.

 Much of the software is orientated around graphics

and design as opposed to Microsoft’s more
business like approach.
IBM Lotus SmartSuite
 Lotus Word Pro – Word Processor

 Lotus 1-2-3 – Spreadsheet

 Lotus Freelance Graphics – Graphic

Design

 Lotus Approach – Rational Database

Continued
 Lotus Organizer – Personal Manager

 Lotus SmartCenter - Toolbar

 Lotus FastSite –Web Design

 Lotus ScreenCam – Recording of

Screen Activity
Apple iWork
 First Version of iWork was released in
2005

 Since it release there have

been 6 Versions
Sun Microsystems Star
Office
 Founded on February 24, 1982.
 Products include computer servers and
workstations along with productivity
software.
 Bought by Oracle on Jan. 27th 2010.
OpenOffice.org
 Commonly known as Ooo.
 Open source suite whose main
component is word
processing, spreadsheets, presentations
, graphics, and databases.
 Since its release OpenOffice has had
nearly 30 Versions.
 Limited capabilities due to need for
online activity.
Conclusion
 In conclusion, productivity software
enables a much more diverse range of
user capabilities.
 Microsoft leads among this category of
software though with the release of
iWork and the sudden increase in
Macintosh users there may be
competition down the road.