Is the purchase of Office 2019 worth it?
As a rule, Microsoft comes out with a new version of the most frequently used office software every three years. In the past, there were also some serious changes and enhancements that have brought real added value after some training period.
Thus, the networking of the individual components between Word, Excel, Outlook & Co. as well as the mobile use has become more and more in focus.
In general, however, it comes at some point in time that you have pretty much anything that makes sense, and later only marginal changes to the successor versions are made.
We tested Office 2019 Professional Plus in its final version, explaining some of the new features and, of course, whether and who it is worth buying, and who can rather do without it. The most common programs used by average users were tested: Word, Excel and Outlook
The most important innovation right away:
Office 2019 will no longer run on the older versions of Windows (such as Win 7, Win 8.1), but requires Windows 10. This will probably also persuade the remaining users of older versions of Windows to update to Windows 10.
At the time of this article, the proportion of Windows 10 is about 50%. Just behind it still ranks Windows 7 with just over 40% market share. The highly praised at the time Windows 8.1 with its then novel tile surface, which should be enforced mainly on tablets and devices with touch input is only about 8% market share.
But there is also good news, because Office 2019 should also be able to do without the subscription model of Office 365 like the predecessor, which, of course, offers advantages through regular feature updates and makes a purchase of Office 2019 obsolete.
Is the purchase of Office 2019 worth it?
As a rule, Microsoft comes out with a new version of the most frequently used office software every three years. In the past, there were also some serious changes and enhancements that have brought real added value after some training period.
Thus, the networking of the individual components between Word, Excel, Outlook & Co. as well as the mobile use has become more and more in focus.
In general, however, it comes at some point in time that you have pretty much anything that makes sense, and later only marginal changes to the successor versions are made.
We tested Office 2019 Professional Plus in its final version, explaining some of the new features and, of course, whether and who it is worth buying, and who can rather do without it. The most common programs used by average users were tested: Word, Excel and Outlook
The most important innovation right away:
Office 2019 will no longer run on the older versions of Windows (such as Win 7, Win 8.1), but requires Windows 10. This will probably also persuade the remaining users of older versions of Windows to update to Windows 10.
At the time of this article, the proportion of Windows 10 is about 50%. Just behind it still ranks Windows 7 with just over 40% market share. The highly praised at the time Windows 8.1 with its then novel tile surface, which should be enforced mainly on tablets and devices with touch input is only about 8% market share.
But there is also good news, because Office 2019 should also be able to do without the subscription model of Office 365 like the predecessor, which, of course, offers advantages through regular feature updates and makes a purchase of Office 2019 obsolete.
1. The new Features in Word 2019
1. The new Features in Word 2019
As soon as you install the new Office 2019 version (you will need to uninstall the old version before) and then start Word 2019 for the first time, you probably will not notice the difference.
At least that’s what happened to us.
As far as the layout is concerned, basically nothing changed at all. So all the settings that you had in the previous version remain, and only a look at the options confirmed that we are really dealing with the latest version.
see picture: (click to enlarge)
However, that does not have to be a bad thing, because if you think about the transition from Office 2007 to Office 2010, for example, you had to search for many functions that were usually at your usual place, and deal with them.
The changes in Word 2019 to Word 2016 are thus to be looked for in the first place in detail. And in any case, it is clear that more and more elements from the other Office programs of the Microsoft Office product family, such as Excel and Outlook, have been implemented or supplemented sensibly.
Thus, now also extended release functions for the common processing of documents, as well as document protection functions can be made. Furthermore, Word is more and more as a playground for graphics use, making it even more fun to create your own flyers and business cards with Word. And even the loud reading of documents (which works surprisingly well) was involved.
The setting of cross-references (text links) in documents has also been facilitated, which is particularly suitable for longer texts or scientific papers.
Of course we can not present all the new features here, as this would go beyond the scope, but all in all, Word 2019 is a successful evolution.
By the way:
A function how to move pages in Word has not made its entry despite high demand.
As soon as you install the new Office 2019 version (you will need to uninstall the old version before) and then start Word 2019 for the first time, you probably will not notice the difference.
At least that’s what happened to us.
As far as the layout is concerned, basically nothing changed at all. So all the settings that you had in the previous version remain, and only a look at the options confirmed that we are really dealing with the latest version.
see picture:
However, that does not have to be a bad thing, because if you think about the transition from Office 2007 to Office 2010, for example, you had to search for many functions that were usually at your usual place, and deal with them.
The changes in Word 2019 to Word 2016 are thus to be looked for in the first place in detail. And in any case, it is clear that more and more elements from the other Office programs of the Microsoft Office product family, such as Excel and Outlook, have been implemented or supplemented sensibly.
Thus, now also extended release functions for the common processing of documents, as well as document protection functions can be made. Furthermore, Word is more and more as a playground for graphics use, making it even more fun to create your own flyers and business cards with Word. And even the loud reading of documents (which works surprisingly well) was involved.
The setting of cross-references (text links) in documents has also been facilitated, which is particularly suitable for longer texts or scientific papers.
Of course we can not present all the new features here, as this would go beyond the scope, but all in all, Word 2019 is a successful evolution.
By the way:
A function how to move pages in Word has not made its entry despite high demand.
2. The new Features in Excel 2019
2. The new Features in Excel 2019
Even with the new Excel 2019, the added value of the latest version is usually in the detail, and the extensions and additions are not immediately apparent.
So here too (as in Word 2019) you can experiment with all sorts of graphics, especially the 3-D graphics (which allow really great effects). However, a lot has happened here, in particular for the field of data queries, so that data can now be retrieved from almost any source.
The previously abundant selection of diagrams has also been expanded again, and now also allows so-called funnel diagrams. And also the transition of elements from Word, such as a signature line, Word Art as well as advanced header and footer editing has been implemented.
All in all, excel was already so extensive, that there are hardly anybody who completely masters it completely with all functions 100%, but the additional functions that are now in the 2019 version have made it, if you get used to it really fun , and give loads of options to make dry tables even more appealing (even for presentations).
Even with the new Excel 2019, the added value of the latest version is usually in the detail, and the extensions and additions are not immediately apparent.
So here too (as in Word 2019) you can experiment with all sorts of graphics, especially the 3-D graphics (which allow really great effects). However, a lot has happened here, in particular for the field of data queries, so that data can now be retrieved from almost any source.
The previously abundant selection of diagrams has also been expanded again, and now also allows so-called funnel diagrams. And also the transition of elements from Word, such as a signature line, Word Art as well as advanced header and footer editing has been implemented.
All in all, excel was already so extensive, that there are hardly anybody who completely masters it completely with all functions 100%, but the additional functions that are now in the 2019 version have made it, if you get used to it really fun , and give loads of options to make dry tables even more appealing (even for presentations).
3. The new Features in Outlook 2019
3. The new Features in Outlook 2019
In Outlook 2019, only minor changes have been made, which are very similar to those of Excel and Word, and therefore not mentioned again.
One feature that we actually find meaningful in times of multitasking is that loud reading aloud of e-mails is also possible here. And not necessarily from the beginning, but from any point.
You can choose from 3 male and one female voice, which can also be adjusted in the reading speed.
For the most part, however, functions were simplified or summarized in Outlook 2019.
In Outlook 2019, only minor changes have been made, which are very similar to those of Excel and Word, and therefore not mentioned again.
One feature that we actually find meaningful in times of multitasking is that loud reading aloud of e-mails is also possible here. And not necessarily from the beginning, but from any point.
You can choose from 3 male and one female voice, which can also be adjusted in the reading speed.
For the most part, however, functions were simplified or summarized in Outlook 2019.
4. Who is Office 2019 worth?
4. Who is Office 2019 worth?
After we could look at the new Office 2019 in the final version, it can finally be said that Microsoft did not reinvent the wheel with the already very good office software, but added quite useful functions.
In order to come to the final question for whom the purchase is worthwhile, so from our point of view, all those who have previously worked with Office 2016 confidently waive, since the changes are too small for the average user, and the predecessor for a long time Time will be supplied with regular security updates.
All those who have worked with Office 2013 or even older versions, can clearly be given a buy recommendation. Especially when changing from older versions you will quickly appreciate the new features.
Those who work with Office 365 do not need a Office 2019, since you benefit from the subscription model anyway always immediately from additional features.
After we could look at the new Office 2019 in the final version, it can finally be said that Microsoft did not reinvent the wheel with the already very good office software, but added quite useful functions.
In order to come to the final question for whom the purchase is worthwhile, so from our point of view, all those who have previously worked with Office 2016 confidently waive, since the changes are too small for the average user, and the predecessor for a long time Time will be supplied with regular security updates.
All those who have worked with Office 2013 or even older versions, can clearly be given a buy recommendation. Especially when changing from older versions you will quickly appreciate the new features.
Those who work with Office 365 do not need a Office 2019, since you benefit from the subscription model anyway always immediately from additional features.
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