Office for Mac 2008 released to manufacturing

The official word from Microsoft is that Office for Mac 2008 has been released to manufacturing. This means that the code is final and has been sent out to the factories for duplication and packaging ahead of its formal release at Macworld San Francisco on January 15, 2008. If you want a full preview, the Mac Office 2008 website is fully up and running.

After so many delays (and two full years since the first Intel Mac), it's good to know that the MacBU has finally met their goal of a Universal Binary, modernized version of Office -- equally importantly, a version compatible with the new Office 2007 file formats. Personally, I've been able to move almost all of my own stuff to iWork '08, even my professional academic writing. Nonetheless, I'm sure I'll end up picking up Office just for compatibility's sake. How many of you will be purchasing in January (and which one)?

If you're looking for the best deal on upgrades to Office 2008, reader Ty sent a reminder last night that you can buy Office 2004 now ($130 for the Student/Teacher edition is the lowest-cost tier) and then upgrade for the cost of S&H, $7. Not bad.
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