🤷‍♂️ What is Microsoft 365 - Explained

Summary

In this video, Kevin explores the benefits of Microsoft 365, a subscription service that includes traditional Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as additional features like OneDrive, Editor, and Family Safety. He discusses the evolution from one-time Office purchases to a subscription model, highlighting the continuous updates, cloud storage, and integration with services like Editor and Money in Excel. Kevin also mentions the cost-effectiveness of the subscription, especially for families, and contrasts it with one-time purchases like Office Home and Student. The video concludes with a call for viewer comments on whether they prefer a subscription or a one-time software purchase.

Takeaways

• 😀 Microsoft 365 is a subscription service offering access to Office apps and additional benefits.
• 💻 Historically, people bought Office once with a new computer and kept using it for years without updates.
• 💡 Microsoft 365 provides constant updates and new features for apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• 🔄 The name changed from Office 365 to Microsoft 365 in 2020 to reflect the expanded range of services.
• 📅 The '365' in Microsoft 365 represents service availability every day of the year, ensuring continuous updates.
• 📱 Microsoft 365 apps can be installed on PCs, tablets, and smartphones, with automatic updates.
• 📊 Beyond Office apps, users get access to services like OneDrive, Family Safety, and stock templates and images.
• 🔒 Microsoft 365 includes Personal Vault for secure storage and OneDrive with 1TB of cloud storage.
• ☎️ Subscribers get additional perks like 60 minutes of free Skype calling and live tech support.
• 💰 Microsoft 365 offers personal and family plans, with a personal plan at $70/year and a family plan at $100/year for up to six people.

Q & A

What is Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is a subscription service offered by Microsoft that includes access to a suite of applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more, as well as additional services and features.

Why did Microsoft transition from a one-time purchase model to a subscription model?

Microsoft transitioned to a subscription model to align with the industry shift towards more frequent updates and to provide continuous value to customers through regular updates, new features, and services.

What are some benefits of having a Microsoft 365 subscription?

Benefits include access to the latest versions of Office applications, regular updates and new features, cloud storage with OneDrive, integration with services like Editor in Word and Money in Excel, and access to a wide range of templates and royalty-free media.

How does Microsoft 365 differ from the traditional Microsoft Office suite?

Microsoft 365 includes not only the traditional Office applications but also additional services like OneDrive, Editor, Money in Excel, Family Safety, and more, which are updated and expanded on a regular basis.

What is the significance of the '365' in Microsoft 365?

The '365' signifies that the service is meant to be a constant, year-round offering, with updates and support provided every day of the year.

What is the cost of a personal Microsoft 365 subscription?

The cost for a personal Microsoft 365 subscription is $70 per year.

What does the family plan of Microsoft 365 include and how much does it cost?

The family plan of Microsoft 365 includes access for up to six people and costs $100 per year.

Are there any one-time purchase options available for Microsoft Office applications?

Yes, Microsoft still offers one-time purchase options for Office applications, such as the Home and Student edition for $150, which provides perpetual access to the 2019 version of the apps.

What additional services are included with a Microsoft 365 subscription?

Additional services include OneDrive cloud storage, Personal Vault for sensitive data, ad-free Outlook web access, Skype for communication with 60 minutes of free worldwide calling, and Family Safety for managing screen and gaming time.

How does Microsoft 365 integrate with other Microsoft services and applications?

Microsoft 365 integrates with services like OneDrive for cloud storage, Editor for writing assistance in Word, Money in Excel for financial management, and Family Safety for family device management.

What is the Personal Vault feature in Microsoft 365 and how does it work?

The Personal Vault is a secure area within OneDrive that requires two-factor authentication to access. It's designed to store sensitive information and locks after a set period of inactivity for added security.

Outlines

00:00

💼 Introduction to Microsoft 365

Kevin introduces the topic of Microsoft 365, a subscription service by Microsoft, and shares his initial skepticism due to the traditional one-time purchase model of software like Office. He recalls a conversation with his father who preferred buying software outright rather than subscribing. The video aims to explore the benefits of Microsoft 365, including the transition from Office to a subscription model, the addition of new features and services, and the reasoning behind the '365' in the name, symbolizing year-round service.

05:04

🖥️ The Evolution of Office Software

The paragraph delves into the history of how Office software was traditionally sold, with consumers purchasing it with new computers and not needing to think about it for several years. It contrasts this with the rapid pace of technology updates and how Microsoft adapted by introducing Office 365, which provided regular updates and new features. The paragraph also discusses the expansion of the Office 365 suite to include not just the core Office apps but also additional services like Forms, To Do, Family Safety, and OneDrive, leading to the rebranding to Microsoft 365.

10:05

💡 Benefits and Features of Microsoft 365

This section highlights the benefits of a Microsoft 365 subscription, such as the ability to install Office apps on multiple devices, receive automatic updates and new features, and integrate with services like Editor in Word, Money in Excel, and design ideas in PowerPoint. It also touches on the value of OneDrive cloud storage, the Personal Vault for sensitive data, ad-free Outlook, and Skype's free worldwide calling minutes. The paragraph concludes with a mention of partner deals and live tech support as part of the subscription.

💬 Cost Analysis and Subscription Options

The final paragraph discusses the cost of Microsoft 365, offering a comparison between the subscription model and one-time purchase options. It outlines the two subscription plans: a personal plan for $70 per year and a family plan for $100 per year, which can be very cost-effective for multiple users. The paragraph also acknowledges the preference of some users for a one-time purchase and mentions the availability of standalone Office apps and the Office Home and Student edition. Kevin concludes by sharing his personal endorsement of the subscription due to the perceived value and invites viewers to share their thoughts on the matter.

Keywords

💡Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service offered by Microsoft that includes a suite of applications and services. It is a comprehensive package that goes beyond the traditional Microsoft Office applications, encompassing additional services like OneDrive, Teams, and more. In the video, the presenter discusses the evolution from a one-time purchase model to a subscription model, highlighting the continuous updates and added services that justify the ongoing cost.

💡Subscription Model

The subscription model refers to a business strategy where customers pay a recurring fee to access a product or service for a certain period. In the context of the video, the presenter explains how Microsoft has shifted from selling Office as a one-time purchase to offering Microsoft 365 as a subscription, which includes ongoing access to updates and new features, reflecting a change in the software industry's approach to delivering value to consumers.

💡Office 365

Office 365 was the precursor to Microsoft 365, focusing primarily on the traditional Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The video explains how Microsoft expanded the suite to include additional services, leading to the rebranding as Microsoft 365. The name change signifies the broader range of services now included in the subscription.

💡OneDrive

OneDrive is a cloud storage service that allows users to store files and access them from any device. In the video, the presenter mentions OneDrive as a key component of Microsoft 365, offering a terabyte of storage space per account, which is particularly valuable for backing up files and accessing them from anywhere.

💡Software Updates

Software updates are releases that improve or fix issues in software applications. The video emphasizes the benefit of Microsoft 365's subscription model, which includes frequent and constant updates to the Office applications, ensuring users always have access to the latest features and improvements.

💡Personal Vault

The Personal Vault is a feature within Microsoft 365 that provides a secure area for storing sensitive information, requiring two-factor authentication for access. The video describes it as a valuable part of the subscription, offering an added layer of security for important documents.

💡Office Applications

Office applications refer to the suite of productivity software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The video discusses how these applications are included in the Microsoft 365 subscription, with the added benefit of regular updates and new features, such as dark mode in Word and the ability to create animated GIFs in PowerPoint.

💡Family Safety

Family Safety is a service within Microsoft 365 that allows users to set screen time and gaming limits for family members. The video mentions this as an example of the additional value provided by the subscription, showing how Microsoft 365 extends beyond traditional Office applications to include family-focused tools.

💡Partner Deals

Partner deals are additional benefits that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription, such as discounts or free trials for third-party services. The video gives examples of partner deals, like a three-month membership with Adobe, as a way Microsoft adds value to its subscription service.

💡Live Tech Support

Live tech support is a service provided within Microsoft 365 that allows subscribers to get help from Microsoft support staff via chat. The video highlights this as a benefit of the subscription, ensuring users have access to assistance when they encounter issues with the software or services.

Highlights

Introduction to Microsoft 365 and its subscription-based model.

Comparison of traditional Office software purchases with Microsoft 365.

Historical context of software sales and the shift to subscription services.

Explanation of the evolution from Office to Office 365 and then to Microsoft 365.

The significance of the '365' in Microsoft 365 representing constant service.

Benefits of Microsoft 365 including access to traditional Office apps.

New features in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint available to Microsoft 365 subscribers.

Integration of services like Editor in Word and Design Ideas in PowerPoint.

Access to OneDrive cloud storage as part of the Microsoft 365 subscription.

Advantages of Personal Vault for secure storage of sensitive information.

No advertisements in Outlook when using Microsoft 365.

Inclusion of Skype with 60 minutes of free worldwide calling.

Family Safety app for managing screen and gaming time limits.

Partner deals and additional offers included with Microsoft 365 subscription.

Availability of live tech support for Microsoft 365 subscribers.

Pricing plans for Microsoft 365: Personal and Family options.

Comparison of Microsoft 365 subscription with one-time purchase options.

Personal endorsement and recommendation of Microsoft 365 by the presenter.

Transcripts

Hi everyone, Kevin here. Today we are going to  look at what is Microsoft 365. You might have  

heard of it before. It's this subscription thing  that Microsoft offers, but anytime I bought a  

computer in the past, I've already had Office.  So why would I want to pay for something like  

that on an ongoing basis? And this reminds me of  a conversation I had with my dad a long time ago.  

I was working at Microsoft at the time and I  remember I flew home to visit him in New Jersey  

and my dad said, hey, Kevin, come over here. I  have something I want to ask you. And I said,  

yeah, what's up? What do you want to ask me?  He said, you know, this whole Microsoft and  

this subscription thing for software, I just,  I really, really don't like it. I just want to  

buy my software and just have it. Now, first  off, that was kind of like a stab in the heart  

because this is the stuff I was working on and  my dad was questioning whether it was worthwhile  

paying for. But at the same time, I really kind of  understood his perspective. This is how software  

was sold for the longest time. You'd go to the  store, you'd buy a new computer and you'd get  

Microsoft Office and then you wouldn't worry  about it until you bought your next PC. Today,  

we're going to look at what is Microsoft 365? What  do you get with it? What are all the benefits?  

At the end of this video, I'd love to hear your  comments down below. Do you think you'll become  

a subscriber or do you think it just makes sense  to buy Microsoft Office one time, or maybe you'll  

even use some of the free alternatives? I'd love  to hear what you think. Before we jump in, I think  

it makes sense to take a moment to look at how we  even got here. In the past to buy Office, well,  

typically what would happen is you would go to  Dell or you go to HP and you'd buy a new computer.  

And as part of that process of buying a new  computer, they would push Microsoft Office. And  

you could buy Office for maybe two, three, $400,  depending on the version of Office you wanted.  

And then that would come with your computer and  you now had Office and you wouldn't have to think  

about it again for a very long time. And most  consumers with PCs, the refresh cycle tends to  

be about three to four years before you buy your  next PC. So, people wouldn't think about Office  

for probably about four years, and then they'd  go through that same process again. Now what's  

really interesting is Microsoft too also matched  this same exact buying cycle. So Microsoft would  

have three year releases and every three years  you'd have a new big release of Microsoft Office.  

So you'd spend the first year planning out what  you wanted to build as part of that next release.  

Then you'd spend the next two years going through  and actually building it and then testing it  

and getting it ready to ship. As an interesting  aside at Microsoft, usually what would happen is  

you'd join a team and you'd be part of that  team for three years. And then once the big  

shipment happened, you'd go, and you'd switch  to a new team and try working on something else.  

And that process continued many, many cycles. But  when you think about that, waiting three years to  

get a new release out, that's a really long time,  especially in terms of technology. These days you  

have new features, new functionality coming out  on a monthly basis. Some cases even a weekly basis  

and at the extreme, even on a daily basis. Now the  industry was shifting, and Microsoft had to match  

this. So that's when they introduced a service  called Office 365. The reason it was called Office  

365 is it pulled together all of the traditional  Office apps. And when you think of traditional  

Office apps, those are things like Word, Excel,  and PowerPoint. So you could get a subscription,  

you got access to that software and you would get  frequent and constant updates and fixes over your  

service term. Now over time, they've had this  thing Office 365 and Microsoft has continued  

to add more things into that subscription.  So instead of just Word, Excel, PowerPoint,  

now you get a lot more than just that. You get  Forms, you get To Do, you get Family Safety,  

you get OneDrive, you get all of these other  things, which aren't really considered part  

of the traditional Office or the Office suite.  And so Microsoft said, well, we should probably  

update the name to reflect the broader scope.  That's when the name Office 365 shifted over to  

Microsoft 365. And that happened back in April of  2020, just to reflect that larger scope. Now you  

might be wondering why is it called Microsoft 365?  OK, I get it. There are a lot of products included  

as part of this subscription, but where did the  name come from? Why does it have a 365 at the end?  

Well, Microsoft views it and many consumers view  it as a service. You're getting constant updates,  

you're getting storage space, you're getting all  of these benefits on an ongoing basis. So the 365,  

well, that represents how many days are in the  year, and you get your service every single day  

of the year. So that's what brought together  Microsoft and 365. And now you could argue on a  

technicality that it should be 365.25 because of  leap year, but you get the point. Anyway, let's  

jump in and actually see what are the benefits  of Microsoft 365 and what do you get with it?  

First off, you can install all of the different  traditional Office apps on your computer.  

Here, for example, you can install Word, Excel,  PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. And  

not only can you install them on your PC,  but you can also install them on your tablet  

or on your phone. And best of all, anytime any  software updates come out or maybe new features  

get released, you get access to all of those. Now,  what are some examples of that? In Microsoft Word,  

there's now a new dark mode that changes the  canvas to dark, helping your eyes relax a  

little bit more. In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can  now create and save your very own animated GIF.  

In Microsoft Excel, you can now very easily  convert data from a PDF into an Excel spreadsheet.  

Also, there are a whole bunch of new data types  where you can easily import data related to any  

one of these categories. Now, those are  just some of the most recent examples of  

new features in these different products, but  keep in mind, anytime something new comes out,  

you get access to that with a Microsoft 365  subscription. Now you might be thinking,  

well, hey, that's great, but really, I just need a  basic word processor and my old version of Office  

or even some of the free alternatives out  there, well, they do all that. Basically,  

a word processor is a commodity these days. Why  would I want to pay for a subscription? OK, I got  

it. Why don't we jump in now and let's take a look  at Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and look at how  

they're starting to connect to different services,  so you get value on an ongoing basis. I'm now back  

within Microsoft Word and here's an example of  a service that has been integrated into Word.  

Up here on the Home tab, over on the far side,  there is something called Editor, and this will  

help you improve your writing. So here I could  click on that, and I get spelling suggestions,  

I get grammar suggestions, and then here it  also helps me refine and improve my writing.  

So, if you've ever used Grammarly before, this  is Microsoft's equivalent of it, and you get this  

included with your Microsoft 365 subscription. In  Microsoft Excel, you get access to money in Excel,  

and this helps connect your Excel spreadsheet to  your banking information. So, this way you can  

stay on top of your finances directly in Excel.  And in Microsoft PowerPoint, up on the Home tab  

over on the far side here too, you get access  to design ideas. So here I created a slide  

called the Kevin Cookie Company and PowerPoint  looks at the content of my slide and here it's  

identified all of these different design ideas for  my slide. Here I have some animated backgrounds  

and I have different images that match the text  on the slide. So, this will help me create a much  

more beautiful looking presentation. Along with  design ideas, up here too, by being a subscriber,  

I get access to a massive quantity of different  fonts. Here as I scroll through all of my fonts,  

you'll see this cloud icon next to all of these  different fonts. I can download these fonts for  

free for use in my presentations. So now I can  really make my slide look how I want it to look.  

Also, by being a subscriber, I get access to an  ever-expanding collection of templates. Here on  

templates.office.com, you can see a preview of all  of the different templates that you get access to  

across all of the different traditional Office  applications. Back within Microsoft PowerPoint,  

but also available in Word and Excel, I get access  to thousands and thousands of royalty free images  

that I can use in all of my creations. Here I can  search for different images and here you can see  

just a sampling of the different images that I get  access to. Along with images, I also get access  

to thousands of different icons, cut out people,  stickers, and I even get stock videos as well that  

I can incorporate into my content. So far we've  been looking at the traditional Office apps and  

the value you get from them. However, there's a  lot more than just that. You also get access to a  

service called Microsoft OneDrive, and this allows  you to store files in the cloud. With my account,  

I get one terabyte of space. Now, in my opinion,  the storage alone is one of the most compelling  

parts of a subscription. With my OneDrive account,  I set up my PC so it automatically syncs with  

OneDrive and I can back up all of my files. Once I  put my files in the cloud, I can access these from  

anywhere. So let's say I go on a trip to Europe,  I can get to my files wherever I happen to be.  

Also, I can share these files with others  if I want to work together with people.  

So here I can share a folder or I could share  an individual file. So if I click on this,  

I can share and we could work together now.  Along with all of that, you also get something  

called the Personal Vault, and this is a place  where you can store very sensitive information,  

like maybe your passport photo or your social  security card. To be able to access this folder,  

you need two-factor authentication, and then it'll  lock after a set amount of time. Moving on, in  

Microsoft Outlook on the web, you can check your  email and there are no advertisements that appear  

alongside your messages. This way you can just  focus on your email. This now brings us to Skype,  

and this was one of the most popular messaging  apps back in the day, before FaceTime, Messenger,  

WhatsApp, and all these other communication  apps came along. And yes, this is also part  

of a subscription. To be fair, I really don't  use it all that much, but there is one really  

nice perk. You get 60 minutes of free worldwide  calling with a subscription. And anytime I travel,  

I've used this often if let's say I need to call  a local number. Now you're probably starting  

to get a sense for why it's called Microsoft 365  instead of Office 365. There's a lot of additional  

value beyond just the Office apps. And here's yet  another example of an app called Family Safety.  

This is a place where you can set screen time  limits. You could set gaming limits all for your  

family. And Microsoft is trying really hard. If  Microsoft products alone aren't compelling enough,  

they also offer partner deals as well that come  with a Microsoft 365 subscription. So here you  

can get a three month membership with Adobe, or  you can get some credit towards one-on-one private  

lessons. Now, personally, I don't think these are  that compelling. However, Microsoft promises that  

more value is constantly coming to all of these  different partner offers. And lastly, with a  

subscription, you also get live tech support. So,  if you have any questions or maybe you're running  

into some issues, you can talk with someone at  Microsoft via chat and you can get support. We've  

looked at all of the different value you get from  Microsoft 365, but of course the question arises,  

what is all of that going to cost me? And do I  think the cost is less than all the value that I'm  

going to get? Microsoft 365 offers two different  plans. One of them is a personal plan. So,  

if you're just an individual and you want to get  it for yourself, it's $70 per year. If you're part  

of a family, or if you have multiple people coming  in with you, it'll cost you a hundred dollars per  

year. This is a plan that I'm personally on and  I have a full family. So, we have six people  

using this plan. And when you have six people,  it's an incredible deal. It's a hundred dollars  

per year, but if you divide that by six, it  works out to $17 per year or $1.40 per month.  

And to get one terabyte of cloud storage space  per account for only $1.40 a month, and also  

get access to all of these different Office apps  with stock images and all the other functionality,  

it's pretty much a steal. Now, despite all of  this, you're still going to have some people  

who just don't like getting a subscription.  So, it's like my dad, you just want to pay one  

time. And luckily Microsoft does still offer some  options. Here, for example, if you want Outlook,  

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and you just want to pay  once, it costs $250. If you just want Word, Excel,  

and PowerPoint, and you don't care about Outlook,  there's also another option called Office Home  

and Student. And for $150, you just pay one  time and then you have access to all of these  

apps in perpetuity. At least for this version.  The next time the subsequent version comes out,  

you'll have to either dish out money again, or you  could just keep using the 2019 version. All right.  

Well, that in a nutshell is what Microsoft 365 is.  And if you're wondering, well, am I personally a  

subscriber? Yeah, of course I am. Why would I pull  together a video on this? At least for me, I see  

enough value that exceeds what I end up paying.  So, for me, it makes sense. Now I would love to  

hear from you. Do you think it makes sense to get  a subscription to Microsoft 365? If not, why not?  

I know there are a lot of other options out there,  but I'd love to hear your thinking down below  

in the comments. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed  this video. If you did, please give it a thumbs  

up. To see more videos like this, make sure to hit  that subscribe button. Also, if you want to see  

me cover any other topics in the future, leave  a note down below. All right, well, that's all  

I had for you today. I hope you enjoyed. And  as always, I hope to see you next time. Bye.