One of the Microsoft Word download basics is that you can only order it on the Microsoft website as part of one of the many different Microsoft Office Suites. It is available as a standalone product at certain retail stores, but can often be a worse bargain than just purchasing it as part of a suite. At certain retail stores, you can pay over $200 for Office Word 2007 alone—a little over $100 if you're buying an upgrade version.

Since most offices don't use just the Word portion of Microsoft Office, you'll get a better deal by finding and purchasing the Office 2007 suite that best suits the needs of your business. No matter what your preference, these tips will help you make the right decision:

1. Decide whether you want to order or download Microsoft Word 2007 by trying before you buy.
2. Purchase Office Word 2007 as a standalone product.
3. Extend the life of your current version of Word with the right Microsoft Word downloads.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take Office 2007 for a test run before deciding on a Microsoft Word download

If your business has been using Office 2000 or 2003 for years, the thought of switching to Office 2007 can be intimidating. There are a number of different sites where you can purchase the latest version of Office, and even a few different Microsoft Word download sites, but only Microsoft.com allows you the opportunity to try out the software for free.

I recommend: Download a free 60 day trial of the Office suite of your choice at Microsoft. Choose between Office Professional 2007, Office Small Business 2007, Office Home and Student 2007 or Office Standard 2007. All suites include Word. Other included programs vary depending on the target customer. Take Microsoft Office 2007 for an online test drive at Runaware.

Buy Word by itself even though standalone Microsoft Word downloads are unavailable

If you've considered purchasing the entire Office Suite, but decided that you really only need to order Microsoft Word 2007, you can find some good deals online. There are no Microsoft Word downloads available on any site. Even on Microsoft.com, you can only download and purchase a full Office suite. Just because Microsoft.com won't sell you the standalone Word program online doesn't mean you can't get it.

I recommend: Amazon has a great bargain on both the full and upgrade versions of Microsoft Word 2007. At VioSoftware.com you can order Word 2007, 2003, and 2002.

Download Microsoft Word utilities and patches

No matter which version of Word you're running, there are important Microsoft Word downloads available. Always make sure that you have the latest patches and updates from Microsoft installed. If you have opted against upgrading to Word or Office 2007, but are receiving documents in the newer format from business partners, the Office Compatibility pack allows you to open the new format from within your current software.

I recommend: Andrew Ziem has posted a great review and guide for the Office Compatibility Pack. If you are running Windows Vista, updates for Office 2007 are downloaded automatically through Windows Update. For Windows XP users, visit the Office Online page at Microsoft and select "Office Update."

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're purchasing Office products in bulk, check out the volume licensing options on the Microsoft website. You can download Microsoft Word as part of whatever Office suite you choose, and get a discount on licensing for larger offices.

Microsoft Word download sites offer a variety of service packs, updates and product enhancements to simplify Microsoft Word usage. Some Microsoft Word downloads are designed to update your Microsoft Word software and keep it running with optimal functionality. Other Microsoft Word downloads provide program enhancements to improve word processing capabilities and applications.

There are a variety of Microsoft Word download sites online with a wealth of resources. However, before accessing Microsoft Word downloads, evaluate the following:

1. How does the Microsoft Word download keep your word processing program current and operating at peak efficiency?

2. How will Microsoft Word downloads improve word processing capabilities, simplify software use or strengthen business communications?

3. How much should your business pay for a Microsoft Word download?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Download Microsoft Word programs that keep your software program updated

Microsoft Word download sites offer updates designed to keep your software program running at optimal functionality. Some Microsoft Word download files simply update operating efficiency, while others utilize programs to make the software work smarter. Consider Microsoft Word downloads as an inexpensive resource for recovering corrupt files.

I recommend: Download Microsoft Word recent updates at Microsoft.com. Recover damaged or corrupted Microsoft Word files using Word Repair. Download Add-Ins for Microsoft Word to make the software work better with a letterhead system and gender toolbar.

Choose Microsoft Word downloads that enhance word processing functions

There is an impressive selection of Microsoft Word downloads available to improve word processing capabilities. Some downloads provide faster and easier ways to create professional documents, while others offer enhancements not available with current Microsoft Word software. To choose the most appropriate downloads, evaluate your word processing needs and business communication goals.

I recommend: Kutchka offers a free download for Microsoft Word called KKopy that easily copies text in your Word document. Download a full set of calendar templates for Microsoft Word at TheMicrosoftWord.com. Download the Office Optimizer Kit from FileMaker to easily create and print mailing labels, invoices and customized letters.

Select Microsoft Word downloads available at competitive prices

Microsoft Word downloads are widely available for reasonable prices and even free. Before buying a Microsoft Word download, find out if the providers offer a free trial. The free trial enables you to evaluate the download's effectiveness before making a purchase.

I recommend: Download a free 30-day trial of EndNote that helps users search online databases, organize references and create bibliographies. Get Microsoft Word mail merge tutorial downloads free at Microsoft-Lynchburg College Office Tutorials. Access free Microsoft Word downloads and tutorials at The Word MVP Site.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Not every Microsoft Word download is compatible with every version of Microsoft Word or each operating system. Check compatibility requirements before downloading new products or service packs.

Microsoft Word download education and training gives your employees all the knowledge they need to make the most of Microsoft Word. These training courses teach the ins and outs of creating, editing and saving dynamic Word documents for your business. These courses also save time by teaching your employees the most efficient way to use different features. Any company that uses Word can benefit from Microsoft Word download education and training.

When it comes to education for Microsoft Word there are three ways to train. Online courses are available for students who can read instructions and put them into action without a lot of extra help. Videos are available that show the trainee how to properly do something in Word. Interactive CDs and DVDs show a trainee how to do something and then ask the trainee to repeat the task to ensure the information was learned correctly.

1. Locate online courses for Microsoft Word downloads.

2. Download Microsoft Word video courses.

3. Purchase Microsoft Word downloads training CDs and DVDs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find online courses for Microsoft Word downloads

Online course are convenient and can be taken from anywhere you have computer and Internet access. These courses range in price depending on how in-depth the course is. The length of the course is also dependent on the comprehensiveness of the course.

I recommend: Visit Education Online for Computer Software to find Microsoft Word download training. Download Microsoft Word course lists for e-learning at SkillSoft. Learn basic Microsoft Word skills from Internet4Classrooms.

Download Microsoft Word video courses

Video courses are great for new users because the trainee can see the program in action. This is also the most inexpensive form of training. However, it is however not as inclusive as the other two forms of training.

I recommend: Find the best online Microsoft Word download sites and video courses directly from the Microsoft Corporation. Find an entire set of training videos for Microsoft Word on YouTube. LearningElectric.com provides a wide array of educational and tutorial videos for all Microsoft Office software programs.

Purchase Microsoft Word downloads training

These training CDs and DVDs are designed to be interactive and to show the trainee how something is done. After teaching the skill, the program asks the trainee to repeat the process. Many of these programs include tests or small quizzes at the end of each session. This allows you to see the trainee's progress.

I recommend: EDULEARN offers CDs and DVDs to train you in all facets of Microsoft Word. Train employees with interactive computer-based training at CBT Planet. Purchase computer-based training for the entire Microsoft Office Suite at Train Signal.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most versions of Microsoft Word are similar, but some features are located in different places in different versions. Be sure to select the training for the specific version of Word that your company uses.

Microsoft Word downloads come in two main forms, either a download of the Microsoft Word file viewer for people who need to open Word files, but do not have Word installed on their computers, or a download of the complete Office suite, which includes other programs like Excel and PowerPoint. While Word viewer downloads are free, Office suite downloads vary in price depending on the package.

If you are considering purchasing the Microsoft Office suite, you can obtain a free trial version for download from a number of sites. If you already have Office installed on your computer, you can also get updates for your system through Microsoft Word download that will keep your programs running smoothly. A number of support services exist for Microsoft Word download for beginners, to help you know what updates to install and how to access them.

When searching for a Microsoft Word download for beginners, consider the following options:

1. Get a Word viewer for free from Microsoft Word download sites;
2. Find Microsoft Word downloads as part of the Office suite;
3. Keep your computer running well by downloading the latest updates.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

View Word files without downloading the full program from Microsoft Word download sites

One of the easiest types of Microsoft Word downloads to use is the Word viewer, available for the latest version of Word. The Word viewer makes it possible for you to open Word files even if you do not have Word on your computer. New versions of the Word viewer also are able to open older Word files, so you can simply download the most recent Word viewer for any purpose.

I recommend: Get free access to the latest Word viewer from Microsoft Download Center or Grants.gov. You can also read more about the Word viewer and how it works from Microsoft Help and Support.

Purchase the Office suite for full access to Microsoft Word downloads

The full version of Microsoft Word download is only available after you have purchased Microsoft Office. The Office suite is available in several versions for home or office, and can be purchased and downloaded online or purchased on a disc for install without downloading. You can also download a free trial for the latest versions of Word before you buy.

I recommend: Get a free trial of Microsoft Word download from Softpedia, or purchase the full Office suite from the Microsoft Store. For additional help for beginners, Marrutt Software Training offers full tutorials for downloading, installing and using any version of Microsoft Word.

Download Microsoft Word updates to troubleshoot problems with Office

Computer technicians recommend that Office users regularly download Microsoft Word updates to keep their systems operating smoothly. Many of the problems users experience can be fixed simply by downloading the latest system update, which can save you the trouble of a technical support phone call and the cost of maintenance services. Updates are easy to find and download online from Microsoft.

I recommend: Quick Online Tips recommends consolidating your regular updates into a single download from Microsoft that is easy to install. You can browse and download Microsoft Word updates from Microsoft Office Online, or visit Microsoft Update to have your computer automatically assessed for system update needs.