Microsoft is now seeing the light and promoting collaboration and offering their own web 2.0 tools free of charge. You can go to their microsoft.com/education website and view a webcast on the their new down loadable add-ons and the free online Live@EDU email accounts and Live Office 2007 accounts. The online Office 2007 programs are for Office 2007 licensed users and are being marketed to educators and students. The webcast, Teacher Tech Tuesdays - Free Tools and Resources from Microsoft tells you about these tools and others offered. One can learn more about their new initiative in pursuing the higher education arena by watching the webcast, Live@edu Overview.
I've mention the free down loadable screen recorder, the Community Clips Recorder in a previous post. I've also mentioned the Live Office. I've tried both and think they are impressive. Yet, I hesitate to put full confidence in using them like I do Google tools because they are both still considered Betas and one wonders how long they will last. Of course, one could also wonder if Google can last at the speed that they are offering free web 2.0 services. Will Microsoft stay with their goal of chasing down open source competitors with their own free web 2.0 tools? Can they really adjust to giving away free access to components of their software without charging for it?
I have to admit their webcasts at the Microsoft eduction website are very enticing. I also like the websites student and education product tutorials that is linked the the education web page.
http://www.microsoft.com/education/tutorials.mspx
