What exactly is Microsoft? from jennie kim's blog

Microsoft is the biggest vendor of computer software worldwide. Microsoft is also a major provider of cloud computing services and video games, as well as computer and gaming hardware, and search and other online services. Microsoft has more than 60 offices around the world, with its corporate headquarters in Redmond, Wash.

Origins of a company

Paul Allen and Bill Gates, both Harvard University students, founded Microsoft in 1975 to create a compiler for the Altair 8800 computer. This was a primitive early computer. Gates reached out to microsoft365.com/setupInstrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), offering to write a program. Gates and Allen developed an interpreter to BASIC, a mainframe programming language, for use with the Altair.

In 1975, MITS hired Allen and Gates. They left MITS in 1976 to spend more time with their fledgling company Microsoft, which was founded in 1981.

IBM contracted the company to create an operating system for its personal computer that year. Microsoft's PC-DOS operating system was also called MS–DOS by IBM. This version was also known as the Microsoft Disk Operating System (Microsoft Disk Operating System). Both Microsoft and IBM saw their fortunes rise in the early 1980s.

Microsoft created a graphical interface on top of DOS, called Interface Manager. It was later renamed Windows upon its release in 1985. This interface was inspired by the same Xerox PARC project that Apple used for moving an arrow across a graphical desk.

How to install Microsoft Office

After purchasing Microsoft Office, activate the product and download it. If you purchase the software in a physical store, or order a keycard online from Amazon, the packaging contains detailed instructions. The link will be sent to you by email if you order directly through Microsoft. The receipt contains an "Install Office” link.

1.   Setup.office.com allows you to sign in to your Microsoft account, or create a brand new account.

2.   Enter your activation code (or product key). Microsoft can verify that the product key is legal. If you order digitally, the key is sent along with all physical packaging. You can also select your country, region, and language.

3.   Select Install Office. Depending on the web browser you are using, what happens next after the installation file has been downloaded. After you click Install, you will see a dialogue window asking you whether to run the file, save it or cancel. You can then proceed with the installation.

4.   When asked by the User Account Control if you wish to allow the app make changes to your device's settings, choose Yes.

5.   The installation process starts automatically when you open the downloaded file. When Windows asks you if it wants to allow the installation, choose Yes. If Windows prompts you for closing any open programs to allow the installation, click Yes again.

1.   When you see the phrase "You are all set!", it means that the installation is complete. Office is now installed. An animation plays to show where you can find Office applications on your computer. Click Close

2.   Microsoft Office is now installed.

What's included?

These are the main Microsoft desktop apps:

·      Microsoft Office Professional Suite is included with ITS Tagged computers

·      Microsoft Word offers tools to create and share professional word processing documents.

·      Microsoft Excel offers tools to create spreadsheets, charts, or graphs.

·      Microsoft PowerPoint offers tools to create presentations.

·      Microsoft Access allows you to create and maintain records in database format using Microsoft Access.

·      Microsoft Outlook offers tools for email communication and calendaring as well as contacts and task management.

·      Microsoft Publisher allows you to create desktop publications, such as marketing materials, at an entry level.

·      Microsoft OneNote offers tools to take free-form notes and gather information.

·      Microsoft Project Professional offers tools for project managers. It allows you to create and maintain project tasks, schedules, and resources. The software must be purchased separately from the department at OnTheHub, or any other agency. They are not available from ITS.

·      Microsoft Visio Professional allows you to create professional diagrams, such as technical diagrams and business process maps. The software must be purchased separately from the department at OnTheHub, or any other agency. They are not available from ITS.

What are the Microsoft benefits?

1. Streamlined Knowledge -- Sharing through Cloud Document Management

Microsoft SharePoint and OneDrive are used by many organizations for document management. This allows for the removal of business data from file sharing, increases searchability, and provides tools to manage version history and user access. These capabilities are great for knowledge sharing and productivity, but Microsoft 365 goes one step further. The cloud-based SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365 offers a better user interface and interconnectivity that makes it easier to manage documents in cloud libraries and facilitates document sharing.

2. Enhanced Mobile Access for Anywhere, Anytime Productivity

Microsoft 365 combines cloud computing power with a complete suite of mobile apps. This makes it easy for employees to be productive whether they are on the road, at work, or remotely. Microsoft 365 apps are focused on specific applications (Words, Excel, Teams etc.). These apps are available for free on small-sized mobile devices. You may need to consider other apps depending on your company's needs to build a mobile-friendly digital workplace. You can, for example, create an app with PowerApps that is mobile-friendly. You can also use OneDrive, SharePoint, and Planner to interact with one another. These apps are powerful and allow you to concentrate on your organization's mission, rather than worrying about whether your team is connected and productive while on the move.