A Brief History of Microsoft Office

This article will explore the history of Microsoft Office, as well as its evolution over the past 30-plus years.

The History of Microsoft Office

The Early Days

In 1990, it was no easy task to install Office. Version 1 for Windows relied on a graphical installer for the first phases of setup. All apps worked with a DOS-based interface. From there, each application had to be separately installed. In addition, those who installed Office had to have a knowledge of the commands and paths necessary to load the application files onto the disk. Unlike today, where installing Office is a quick and streamlined process, in 1990 it was much more involved: Word would install files in C:\ and Excel would need the user to create both a path and a folder.

The first Office suite contained only three applications: Word for Windows 1, PowerPoint for Windows 2, and Excel for Windows 2. However, these separate applications didn’t have a way to communicate with one another and didn’t share facilities like a spellchecker.

At the time of its release in 1990, Microsoft Office for Windows had two main competitors, WordPerfect, which was used for word processing, and Lotus 1-2-3, which was designed to manage spreadsheets. Both WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3 had dominant positions in the market. However, it didn’t take long for Office to begin to gain in popularity. This workstation application was enticing because it came from one software company, which meant greater possibilities for integration between the apps that were being used the most. Because a substantial number of businesses used PCs that were powered by Microsoft Windows, this hinted at even more possibilities for integration. Working with only one software vendor was appealing to many companies as well since it meant that support contracts and software licensing were simpler.

In the years after the release of Microsoft Office for Windows, Microsoft revenue skyrocketed into the billions, and competitors like Lotus 1-2-3 and WordPerfect faded almost completely.

Office 95

With the release of Office 95, the different Microsoft applications finally began to converge. All application versions at this time were labeled 7 to match Word. Additionally, each app was upgraded to 32-bit and could support OLE-2, which helped them communicate with one another. At this time two Office packages were also introduced: Standard and Professional. The professional Office package came with Microsoft Access.

Office 97

The release of Office 97 brought many new features for the apps, as well as a customizable “Commands” bar. This version of Office also debuted the Office Assistant, an animated help system with which users could type in natural language queries. Two new Office editions were released at this time: Small Business and Developer, which came with applications like Direct Mail Manager and Small Business Financial Manager.

Office 2000

Office 2000 introduced additional features to the Office suite such as a clipboard capable of storing up to 12 pieces of copied data, as well as an installer that was able to be customized with various service packs. A Premium edition also debuted at this time, which included PhotoDraw 2000 and FrontPage 2000.

Office 2003

The release of Office 2003 provided all applications in the Office suite with direct access to SharePoint services, which made it much easier for users to collaborate. This version also introduced the notetaking app OneNote. Because internet connectivity in 2003 was more reliable than it had been in the past, Office users could search for online content to use in place of the clipart gallery.

Office 2007

Office 2007 is considered to be the first modern Office version. At the time of its release, the Ribbon was introduced in place of menus and toolbars. This provided Office users with a more intuitive way to work with commands. The Ribbon also offered building blocks and Galleries in each Office application. This Office version came with an open-file XML format.

Office 2010

In place of the Office button in the 2007 Ribbon, Office 2010 offered users a Files tab, with which they had access to a full screen where they could make, save, print, and share documents. BackStage view was also incorporated in this version, which included a list of folders and documents that had recently been opened, and allowed users to pin favorite documents.

Office 2013

internet access was a huge component of the release of Office 2013. This new version made it possible for users to quickly access SharePoint or OneDrive files. Additionally, it was now possible to attend online meetings or share files directly from this app. The interface also transformed in Office 2013; more of a focus was placed on content instead of commands in this cleaner interface layout.

Microsoft Office 365

Although Microsoft 365 isn’t a different version, its release did provide a new way of licensing and paying for the product. It was still possible for users to purchase Office online, but this involved buying a subscription to use it. Microsoft 365 is an integrated platform of servers, services, and applications. Not only can it operate on Windows, but it also works on other platforms such as Mac OS X, Android, and iOS. In addition, intelligence tools and services like OneDrive, Power BI and Skype are being used by more people, and represent a substantial component of the future of Office. This connected platform uses servers like Exchange and SharePoint, and incorporates new services like Office Delve, which is able to help people quickly connect with the information they need.

Currently, more than a million companies around the world use Microsoft 365.

Start Learning Microsoft Office with Hands-on Classes

Proficiency in Microsoft Office can open professional doors across industries, as well as lead to upward career mobility. A great way to begin learning about Microsoft Office is to sign up for one of Noble Desktop’s Microsoft Office courses. These small group classes are offered in-person in Manhattan, as well as in the live online format. For students and professionals on the go, there are also in-person and live online Microsoft Office courses available through Noble Desktop or one of its affiliate schools. A variety of course options are offered, ranging in duration from three hours to three days and costing between $229 and $1,785.

You can also browse in-person Microsoft Office classes in a city near you using Noble’s helpful tool to find learning options close to home.