PowerPoint 2013: Buying Office 2013

Microsoft Office 2013 brings many new features and improvements to the popular Office suite of productivity applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. As with previous versions, Office 2013 is available in several different editions to suit the needs of different users. This article provides an overview of the different Office 2013 purchase options, pricing, and considerations for buying.

Office 2013 Editions and Pricing

Office 2013 is available in the following main editions for personal purchase:

  • Home & Student – $139.99
    • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote
    • For home and student use on 1 PC/Mac
  • Home & Business – $219.99
    • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook
    • For home-based businesses on 1 PC/Mac
  • Professional – $399.99
    • Includes all Home & Business apps plus Access and Publisher
    • For businesses on 1 PC

There are also subscription options with monthly or annual payments through Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). These provide access to the latest online versions of the Office applications, cloud storage on OneDrive, and other benefits.

For businesses, volume licensing programs are available with discounted pricing for multiple users. Non-profit organizations can also get discounted Office through Microsoft’s donation programs.

New Features in Office 2013

Some of the key new features in PowerPoint 2013 include:

  • Enhanced design capabilities with new themes, variants, and widescreen (16:9) default slides
  • Improved presenter view to easily manage and navigate slides
  • Ability to zoom in/out on slides and jump between slides
  • Online video support for inserting YouTube clips
  • Real-time co-authoring capabilities through cloud integration with OneDrive and SharePoint
  • Touch mode for use on Windows tablets and touch devices

There are also security improvements, interface updates, and tight integration with online services like Skype, Facebook, Flickr and others across the Office suite.

Buying Considerations

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to purchase Office 2013:

  • Current version – If you have Office 2010 or older, Office 2013 may be a worthwhile upgrade for the new features. But upgrading from Office 2016/2019 is less valuable.
  • Usage needs – Home users may only need the basic Home & Student apps, while business users will likely want the Professional edition. Review what’s included in each version.
  • Cloud services – The subscription options include online access and storage, so they may be preferable if you need access to your Office files and tools across multiple devices.
  • Price – Office 2013 has a one-time cost, while Microsoft 365 plans require an ongoing subscription. Consider the long-term costs for the features you need.
  • Hardware requirements – Office 2013 requires Windows 7 or newer, or Mac OS X 10.6+. Verify your computer meets the minimum 1GB RAM and graphics needs.
  • Future proofing – Office 2013 will reach its end of support in 2023, so Microsoft 365 or Office 2019 may be better options for long-term use.

Conclusion

Office 2013 brings improvements in cloud integration, design capabilities, presenter tools, and more to PowerPoint and the overall Office suite. When deciding whether to purchase, weigh factors like your current version, usage needs, desire for cloud access, pricing, hardware compatibility, and length of planned use. This will help determine the best Office 2013 purchase option for your personal or business needs.