Office XP for Students and Teachers

Microsoft have announced today, Office XP Standard for Students and Teachers, which will retail at $149, nearly 70 percent less than the company's full list price for other consumers. But despite the steep discount, product manager Scott Bishop said Microsoft still would not lose money on sales.

This marks Microsoft's first attempt to get to a wider scope of young users by offering the product to K-12 users and selling it through mainstream computer retailers.

Those who buy the product will not have to show identification or other proof that they are students, Bishop said. The product's end-user agreement does, however, stipulate that the version is only for student use.

Due out Oct. 25, it includes all the software of the full-price edition, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

It's geared toward students already familiar with the programs through their schools - a market Microsoft has worked to capture in the last few years.

"Students have access to Office when they're at school," Bishop said. "We also think it's important to have access if they need to work on homework outside the classroom."

Microsoft also is hoping to familiarize new users, in hopes they will use the product as adults in the working world as well, Bishop said.

News source: CBS MarketWatch