REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 20, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. has made it easier for individuals and families to accomplish more with their home PCs with the release today of Microsoft® Home Essentials
™
98 software. Home Essentials 98 is a suite with best-selling Microsoft consumer applications that provides the essential software needed for people to be more productive and creative, learn more and communicate easily with their world.
Home Essentials 98, available now, contains the complete and latest versions of Word 97; the Encarta® 98 Encyclopedia; Money 98; Works 4.5; Greetings Workshop; Entertainment Pack – The Puzzle Collection; and Microsoft Internet Explorer, all for an estimated retail price of $109. Home Essentials 98 is designed to be the ideal suite of products for home computer users.
“We’ve combined many of Microsoft’s most popular consumer titles in one suite, for a tremendous value,”
said Jon Reingold, vice president of marketing, desktop applications division at Microsoft.
The suite maps directly to the top 10 home PC uses identified by the 1997 IDC/Link Home Consumer Media Survey.
1997 U.S. Home Media Consumer Survey: Personal Computers
Analyst: Bill Ablondi, IDC/Link
With Home Essentials, people can write a letter or compose a school report with Microsoft Word 97, research a topic (to put into the school report, for example) with Encarta 98, manage their finances with Microsoft Money 98, develop address books with Microsoft Works, create personalized greetings and send them over the Internet* with Greetings Workshop, play great games and browse the Internet for current information, and more.
Pricing and Availability
Microsoft Home Essentials 98 is available now from resellers nationwide for an estimated retail price of $109.
System Requirements
To use Microsoft Home Essentials 98, users need the following components:
-
Multimedia computer with a Pentium 90 or higher processor
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Windows® 95 operating system or Windows NT® operating system version 4.0 or later or later
-
12 MB of RAM to run an individual application; 16 MB or more to run multiple applications simultaneously
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136-202 MB of available hard-disk space for installation of all applications; 150 MB for typical installation of all applications (hard-disk space requirements differ for individual applications)
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Double-speed CD-ROM drive
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SuperVGA, 256-color or higher-resolution monitor
-
Microsoft Mouse, IntelliMouse
™
, or compatible pointing device
The following additional items or services are required to use certain features:
-
14.4Kbps or faster modem recommended
-
Windows-compatible color printer required for full-color output
-
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or later-compatible browser with ActiveX
™
Controls and Java support for access to the Web sites referenced on the Essential Site -
Internet access, which may require payment of a separate fee to an Internet service provider
Home Essentials 98 is an upgrade. To be eligible for Microsoft Home Essentials, consumers must be licensed users of at least one of the following types of programs from any software publisher: word processor, desktop publishing application, spreadsheet, multimedia encyclopedia, integrated productivity application or game.
To use certain features of the Home Essentials package, the following additional items or services are required: a multimedia computer to access sound and other multimedia effects, a 9600bps or faster modem (14.4Kbps recommended), and a Windows-compatible color printer for full-color output.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
*Use of the Internet requires Internet access.
Microsoft, Home Essentials, Encarta, Windows, Windows NT, IntelliMouse and ActiveX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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