Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac gets official

At this point, we all know that Office 2008 for the Mac has been delayed until next year. We also know that the software will boast a few new features designed to make life easier for enterprise admins. Just about the only thing we didn't know up until now is when the software is coming out and how much it's going to cost. So here comes the official announcement, right on schedule: Office 2008 for Mac will be released on January 15th. In classic Microsoft style, there will be three different versions of the software suite: a $399 Standard version, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Entourage; a $499 Special Media Edition, which also includes digital media cataloging program Expression Media; and a $149 Home and Student version, which includes everything in the Standard version, excluding the ability to connect to an Exchange server and Automator actions.

Additionally, the company has announced a "tech guarantee program" for folks who just can't resist buying a copy of Office 2004 between now and then. Anyone who picks up Office 2004 between now and March 15 will be able to upgrade to the comparable version of Office 2008 for free, save for the price of shipping and handling.

For more on the announcement:
- see this CNET article