Microsoft Threads
Join the How-To Geek community chatting about all things Microsoft.
Is Microsoft Recall Cool or Creepy?
Recall logs snapshots of your screen every few seconds to help create a searchable archive on your computer, but critics say it’s an invasion of privacy. Will you be using this feature, or will you opt out?
Which Microsoft 365 Alternative Do You Recommend?
With increased prices and the addition of Microsoft Copilot, more and more people are looking for alternatives to Microsoft staples like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. There are quite a few options out there, from LibreOffice to WPS Office. Which do recommend to someone who wants to leave their Microsoft 365 apps behind?
Have You Tried Microsoft's New Text Editor?
This past week, Microsoft released a new vim-like text editor that works in your Windows terminal, and there's a Linux version too. It's available to download and try for free, and it's expected to eventually be built into Windows 11. Have you given it a try? What did you think?
Excel or Google Sheets: Which Do You Prefer?
I've worked in both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, and I've felt Google Sheets was at least a little less cluttered and more streamlined. At the time, some years ago, Sheets though was missing some functions that Excel had. If you're able to choose, which spreadsheet application do you prefer?
M365 Sub or Single-Purchase Office: Which Do You Buy?
It seems everything is a subscription these days, but believe it or not, you can still buy individual Microsoft Office product keys, paying for them one time only. If you use Office apps, do you pay for Microsoft 365 subscription or did you buy a single-purchase copy of Office? Or is the free version good enough?
Do You Prefer Google Docs or Microsoft Word?
If you're doing anything productive on a computer, chances at least part of the time you're typing a document. The question is what software you use. Do you have a preference for either Google Docs or Microsoft Word? Or maybe one of their more obscure competitors like LibreOffice Writer?
What's the Best Outlook Alternative?
For email, I stick to using the website mostly. I know there are benefits to using a desktop client, though. I don't want to use Outlook, and in fact can't when I'm using my Linux computer. Which alternative to Outlook do you recommend?
Would You Use a Free, Ad-Supported Microsoft Office?
People are reporting this week that they're being given surprise access to a free version of Microsoft 365 desktop apps that have built-in advertising. It also has more limited functionality than the paid version, and it doesn't allow you to save files locally. In my opinion, at that point you might as well just use LibreOffice. Do you think using Word or Excel with ads would be worth it for free access?
What Was the First Microsoft Office App You Used?
Microsoft has offered a suite of Office apps in some form since 1988. The Office and 365 collections have gone on to become staples at the workplace, in schools, and often at home, too. I could be getting it mixed up with WordPerfect, but I seem to recall using Microsoft Word early on to write short stories. Which Microsoft Office app do you remember using first?
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What's the Most Complex Excel Sheet You've Ever Made?
If you work with spreadsheets, you know how massive and complicated one XLSX file can get. Probably the most complex one I've ever built was actually one I made for fun: a cryptographic tool that coded and decoded text using an algorithm made out of Excel functions. At a certain point, my very old computer at the time got too slow to edit it. What's the most complicated spreadsheet you've ever made with Microsoft Excel?
Do You Use Excel for Home Budgeting?
Microsoft Excel has tons of uses. One of the most common is creating a budget, with its ability to automate complex calculations and easily generate nice-looking charts. Do you use Excel to make your home budget? Or do you use a different app altogether?
Which Is the Worst Excel Function to Work With?
If you use Excel functions, you know they can range from easy to headache in terms of complexity. Some are a lot more difficult than others to work with. So which one makes you cringe when you realize you have to use it?
Which Excel Function Do You Use the Most?
Microsoft Excel has a ton of functions, but even if you're a pro, there are probably a small number that you make the most use of. When you're building spreadsheets with formulas, which function do you find yourself employing the most?
Do You Think OneDrive Is Fairly Priced?
OneDrive is free, providing you don't need any more than 5GB of storage space. If you do, you need to pay. The cheapest plan is $19.99/year for 100GB of storage, going up to $99.99/year for a Microsoft 365 Family plan that comes with 1TB for six people. Personally, I think it's good value if you also want access to the Office apps, and if you're integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem. What do you think?
What Is Your Biggest PowerPoint Pet Peeve?
You've probably sat through your fair share of PowerPoints, and you've also likely established what you dislike most about them. Is it the distracting animations? Too much text on a slide? Whatever the case, I want to know what your biggest PowerPoint pet peeve is.
Do You Think Excel Is Still the Best for Spreadsheets?
If you say the word "spreadsheet", most people automatically associate it with Microsoft Excel. It's likely what you use at work. But it's not the only choice. LibreOffice Calc and Google Sheets are both decent and free alternatives. When it comes to your spreadsheets, is Excel still number one, or do you prefer a different program?
How Much of Your Data Do You Entrust to OneDrive?
OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage solution that offers 5GB of space for free, though you can boost this with a subscription to Microsoft 365. It can store many file types, including photos, videos, and documents, and is available across devices, but perhaps you only use it to store specific data. If you use OneDrive, do you back everything up to it, or only certain files?
What Tedious Task Do You Wish Copilot Could Automate?
Microsoft's AI service Copilot is still in relative infancy, but it continues to grow and be integrated into more Microsoft services. Thinking about all the tedious tasks you have to deal with, whether it's at work or on your home devices, which do you wish Copilot could help you with?
Where Do You See Microsoft in 10 Years' Time?
Ten years is a long time, especially in the world of technology. If you look back a decade and think about how much has changed, it's surprising. So, if we focus on a company like Microsoft that has been around since the 1970s, where do you predict it will be in ten years' time?
Should Microsoft Focus More on Hardware or Software?
Microsoft produces hardware (like Surface laptops and Xbox game consoles) and software (like Windows, Excel, and Copilot). It's not going to stop either of these any time soon, but if the company could only focus on hardware or software, which would you prefer? Do you think it's better at one than the other?
How Helpful Do You Find Outlook's Focused Inbox?
Outlook has a feature called Focused Inbox, which filters out email noise to supposedly only show you the most important messages. Personally, I prefer seeing all my emails in a single view, and I keep on top of them daily. Do you use Focused Inbox?
Have You Benefited From Microsoft's Rewards Program?
Microsoft Rewards is a scheme that gives you points for doing things like using Bing, playing games, or buying through the Microsoft Store. You can turn these points into gift cards, charity donations, sweepstakes entries, and more. Do you participate in Microsoft Rewards? If so, how much have you earned from it?
How Has Microsoft Translator Helped You?
While being able to speak every language fluently would be ideal, it's simply not feasible. That's where something like Microsoft Translator can help. It's an Android and iOS app that translates conversations in real-time. It can also translate text in pictures and offline. If you've used it in a real-world setting, I'd like to hear from you about how it went.
Do You Think Microsoft 365 Is Worth the Money?
A subscription to Microsoft 365 costs $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year for the Personal tier. It gives you 1TB of cloud storage and regularly updated apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. I think it's good value if you use the apps regularly and prefer OneDrive to other storage providers. What do you think?
Do You Ever Use the Dictation Feature in Microsoft 365?
Dictate is a handy Microsoft 365 feature that lets you talk instead of type. All you need is a microphone and an internet connection, and the speech-to-text technology lays down your words. You can use it to craft documents in Word or for slide notes in PowerPoint, for example. What do you think about the feature and does it help you?
What Do You Use Your Surface Device For?
If you own a Microsoft Surface device, whether it's the laptop or 2-in-1 Pro, I want to hear from you about how it helps in your everyday life. Are you an artist who uses it for sketching? Do you use it to watch movies or play games? Or maybe it's a productivity machine, allowing you to get work done wherever you are.
Do You Use Excel for Personal Budgeting?
The versatility of Excel means it's great for many things, whether it's storing data, performing calculations, or creating graphs. While Excel is used in businesses for finance tasks, it's also handy for personal budgeting, like calculating your monthly costs. Do you use Excel in this context? What tips can you share?
What Rules Do You Use In Outlook to Manage Your Emails?
Microsoft Outlook's rules feature is a great way to keep your inbox under control. You can create rules to automatically move emails into folders, flag messages for your attention, or even delete emails from specific senders. What are some rules you use and how do they aid your workflow?
Which Microsoft 365 Apps Have You Never Used?
A subscription to Microsoft 365 grants you access to all sorts of apps, some of which you might not be aware of. There are the classics like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, but also lesser-used apps like Planner, Clipchamp, and Whiteboard. Take a look at what comes with Microsoft 365 and let me know which you've never used—then give them a try!
