Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

Robin_Holstein · #1 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008

I hope I have this question posted in the correct thread.

The requirement for Microsoft Office Live Business is showing up in more and more places. I registered, but see nothing there that I don't already have in place.

I have the full Office suite, I have a custom domain, web page, and email.

What is the advantage of using Live Business?

Virtual Business Concepts · #2 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008

Hi Robin,

I use Microsoft Office Live for everything. The best thing about MS Office Live is that you can create your web site and register your domain for free. In addition, you can sign up for MS Office Workplace, which is online collaboration similar to SharePoint. I absolutely love MS Office Live!

Hope this helps!

Bobbi

Monique · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

I also use MS Office Live Business and I love it. It has pretty much everything you need to operate a business.

Best of all it's all web-based.

Donna · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

I have a bunch of questions, I could not find the answers to on the MS website:

1. Are there any hidden costs?
2. Does it work well with XP or do you need to have Vista?
3. Any issues with interfacing with Quickbooks?
4. Are they still in Beta?
5. What is the difference between regular and premium email?
6. How does the Outlook connector work?
7. How does the contact manager work?
8. Is the newsletter feature comparable to Constant Contact or IContact?

Thanks in advance!

Donna

Virtual Business Concepts · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

Hi Donna,

I can only answer a few of your questions. I hope these answers help.

1. Are there any hidden costs?
No. You do need a valid credit card to complete the sign up process but it's never
charged unless you purchase additional storage, additional domain names, etc. When
you sign up for MS Office Live you get to choose one domain name and it's registered
for free. Additional domain names are $8 each and I'm not sure how much additional
storage is. You get quite a bit of storage for free.

2. Does it work well with XP or do you need to have Vista?
I have XP and Vista and have used MS Office Live with both. I like working on XP
simply because I'm not a huge fan of Vista anymore.

3. How does the Outlook Connector work?
All you have to do is download the Outlook Connector and you will receive your email
in Outlook. Once you've downloaded it, you have to add the accounts you wish to
open in Outlook. I've found that with more than 2 accounts, you have to enter your
password each time you open Outlook. Currently, I have two accounts going to
Outlook and I don't have to re-enter passwords.

4. How does the contact manager work?
The contact manager stores all your contact information. When a visitor signs up to
receive your newsletter or requests additional information via the email form, the
contact manager saves all of the information provided. You can also sync the contact
manager with your contacts in Outlook 2003 or 2007.

5. Are they still in Beta?
MS Office Workspace is still in Beta but MS Office Small Business isn't. The Workspace
is very similar to working in SharePoint.

6. Is the newsletter feature comparable to Constact Contact or IContact?
I would have to say no. It's pretty basic but there are ways to spruce it up a bit.
You can log on to Tips Tutorials and
Solutions for Office Live and find some really great HTML codes. I use a
different newsletter feature on my site.

As far as MS Office interfacing with QB, I don't know. I've never tried to do that. In addition, I'm not sure what the difference is between regular and premium email. I know that I have the free account and I can have up to 25 email addresses. You can do just about everything with MS Office Live. I've even added a client log in feature that allows my clients to log in and view their account information.

Robin_Holstein · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

I can tell you this much, just from checking today:

a. There are additional costs for upgraded services, I'm just not sure what they all are right now.
b. I have XP, you use it through Internet Explorer.
c. Outlook connector is ONLY for Outlook 2007!! I really messed up my desktop machine downloading it and uninstalling it when I realized it wasn't compatible with my version. I'm totally using my notebook until I can get it fixed!

So, what I'm doing it posting just some basic info on the 'free' Web page, redirecting folks to my primary Web page while I learn more about the service. That way I have the requirements for some of the postings I've been seeing, but don't have to go into too much right now.

There are also fees associated with the number of users.

I have a breakfast meeting with a potential client on Friday. He wants me to keep his calendar, to start, and we want to keep away from a 'go to my pc' type of program. I pointed this option out to him and he is going to look into it. The cost will be on his end.

Donna · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

WOW. Thanks Bobbi this is a great help. I have a new client that will need all of these features set-up and they are on a very limited budget - the more I can save them on technology, the more they can pay me!

Donna

Donna · #8 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

Thanks Robin, I will do some more poking and also post anything I learn.

Donna

Virtual Business Concepts · #9 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

Originally Posted by Robin_Ann

I can tell you this much, just from checking today:

a. There are additional costs for upgraded services, I'm just not sure what they all are right now.
b. I have XP, you use it through Internet Explorer.
c. Outlook connector is ONLY for Outlook 2007!! I really messed up my desktop machine downloading it and uninstalling it when I realized it wasn't compatible with my version. I'm totally using my notebook until I can get it fixed!

So, what I'm doing it posting just some basic info on the 'free' Web page, redirecting folks to my primary Web page while I learn more about the service. That way I have the requirements for some of the postings I've been seeing, but don't have to go into too much right now.

There are also fees associated with the number of users.

I have a breakfast meeting with a potential client on Friday. He wants me to keep his calendar, to start, and we want to keep away from a 'go to my pc' type of program. I pointed this option out to him and he is going to look into it. The cost will be on his end.

I have MS Office Suite Professional 2003 and Outlook Connector works with my Outlook.

Virtual Business Concepts · #10 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

You're welcome Donna. Check out that web site I provided and you'll be able to a whole lot more with MS Office Live. I've been using this service since December 2007 and I've never had any complaints or charges on my card. I also have Office Suite 2003 and all the applications work with MS Office Live.

For future reference, if you have any questions regarding HMTL, email the people at Tips Tutorials and Solutions and not MS Office Live. All they're going to tell you is that they can't help you. However, the people at Tips Tutorials and Solutions will keep working on it until they get it right...no matter how long it takes.