Review Blog

I’m happy: Microsoft will release three versions of Office 2008 for Mac suite in January, with the most expensive of the bunch aimed at creative professionals overwhelmed by the task of organizing their digital media files.

Office 2008 for Mac Student and Home Edition, which includes three licenses for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage, an e- mail, calendar, contacts program, will cost $150.

A $400 version aimed at professionals who use Apple Inc. computers, simply called Office 2008 for Mac, includes the same programs as Home and Student.

A third version, the $500 Special Media Edition, adds features to the $400 configuration, including Expression Media, a program that helps computer users organize and manipulate digital photos, video and other files.

All three versions work on Intel-based Macs and older PowerPC machines.Apple announced in August that it added a spreadsheet program to iWork, the company’s own productivity software suite. Apple sells individual licenses for $80 and family packs, which allow users to install the programs on five different computers, for $100.

Excellent news, wait! 😉

Microsoft will issue prerelease version of Windows Server 2008. The system, known under the code name Longhorn, will be available for download in a few days.

The final version of Windows Server 2008 will not appear until early 2008. Remember that Server 2008 will replace the existing system of Server 2003. Developers promise of a new operating system all the advantages of Windows Vista with enhanced security and advanced server functions.

Microsoft also introduced a new system virtualization. Develop, code-named Viridian will be accessible to users within six months after Longhorn.

The head of the North American Toyota Jim Press became president Chrysler LLC. He will be responsible for sales, marketing, brand development and service. Another Chrysler-president Tom Lasorda, will be responsible for the production and work with suppliers. Press and Lasorda are also vice chairmen of the Board of Directors of Chrysler.

Press became the second top manager of Toyota, left the company to work at Chrysler LLC. First done Uol Debra Meyer, which was responsible for marketing brand Lexus.

After DaimlerChrysler sold its American unit to private investment firms Cerberus Capital Management, has been replaced and the head of Chrysler. Chairman of the Board of Directors was Robert Nardelli, who has led the company Home Depot, one of the largest retail networks in the United States.