Hands-on with the new Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps for Windows 10 tablets

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  • Get the apps from the Windows Store

    Get the apps from the Windows Store

    All three apps are available for free in the Windows Store on devices running the Windows 10 Technical Preview. As with their iOS and Android counterparts, the apps are free, but access to the full set of editing features requires signing in with an Office 365 subscription.

    See also: Using the new Office apps on a Windows 10 tablet

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Recent files and templates in Backstage view

    Recent files and templates in Backstage view

    Tapping the File menu opens Backstage view, which looks nearly identical to its counterpart in the corresponding desktop program. Recently edited documents appear in a column on the left; templates for creating new documents appear on the right.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Formatting commands

    Not surprisingly, you'll find fewer commands in these apps than in their desktop counterparts. Formatting and other options are arranged in the familiar ribbon, with additional options typically available in drop-down lists like this one.

    Photo by: The ribbon is optimized for touch

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Track changes and add comments

    Track changes and add comments

    In the Windows 10 tablet app, multiple authors can work on the same document simultaneously. With the Track Changes option enabled, everyone can see changes and add comments.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Connecting to a new account

    Connecting to a new account

    Signing in to an Office 365 account accomplishes two goals: it unlocks the full range of editing features, and it makes OneDrive and OneDrive for Business available as locations for creating new files.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Excel formulas

    Excel formulas

    The stripped-down Excel app has the full range of formulas available for adding and editing in spreadsheets. Note the oversized OK and Cancel buttons as wells as the categorized list of functions from which you can select a formula with placeholders for arguments and options.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Excel charts

    Excel charts

    As in the desktop version of Excel, you can drag (in this case with a finger or stylus rather than a mouse) to select a range of data. Then insert a chart and choose a type, layout, and style.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Cell styles in spreadsheets

    Cell styles in spreadsheets

    Formatting cells manually is tedious work on the desktop. It's even less fun on a tablet, which is why cell styles, shown here, are such a useful option.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Connecting to the cloud

    Connecting to the cloud

    All three apps fit neatly into Microsoft's"mobile first, cloud first" vision. You can sign in with multiple OneDrive and OneDrive for Business accounts and then create new documents, spreadsheets, or presentations in any of the connected locations. The app listings say that Dropbox is supported as well, but at least in this release I couldn't find a way to connect the apps to a Dropbox account.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • PowerPoint notes

    PowerPoint notes

    You can add notes to any PowerPoint slide by switching to Notes view, as shown here. At least in this release, the touch-friendly tablet app doesn't offer a presentation view that allows the notes to be seen by the presenter.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Add a new slide and choose a layout

    Add a new slide and choose a layout

    It's relatively easy to add a new slide in the Windows 10 version of PowerPoint. Layout options include the same selections as in the desktop program.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Presentation tools

    Presentation tools

    When delivering a presentation, you can press and hold on the screen to make this virtual laser pointer available, dragging to simulate the effect of pointing at the screen to highlight options for an audience. Swipe from the top to make inking tools available for drawing and writing on a slide.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Picture editing tools

    Picture editing tools

    As with their desktop counterparts, all three of the tablet-friendly Office apps allow you to insert a picture into a document and then crop it. The selection of ready-made styles allows you to add borders.

    Caption by: Ed Bott

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Connecting to the cloud

All three apps fit neatly into Microsoft's"mobile first, cloud first" vision. You can sign in with multiple OneDrive and OneDrive for Business accounts and then create new documents, spreadsheets, or presentations in any of the connected locations. The app listings say that Dropbox is supported as well, but at least in this release I couldn't find a way to connect the apps to a Dropbox account.

Caption by: Ed Bott

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