Word Processing Features:  

EI Office’s word processor is nothing new, and frankly, we think that’s a good thing. Word processors should be as easy, or easier, to use than a typewriter. Happily, EI Office provides a reliable and straightforward word processor. You might not get a series of advanced features, but EI Office has all the key tools you know and love from Microsoft Office—spell check, autocorrect, thesaurus, bulleted lists, formatting options, track changes, comments, a drawing tool, etc.

Additional Software:  

In addition to a competent word processor, EI Office includes spreadsheet and presentation software. Because documents, spreadsheets and presentations all feature the same user interface, it takes a small amount of trial and error to get comfortable navigating the program. The learning curve isn’t too steep though, and after a few uses we were comfortable finding the functions we needed in EI Office’s dropdown menus and toolbars.

Unlike many more traditional programs, EI Office features a unique means of organizing and cataloging data. Rather than saving files to folders on your desktop or “my documents” folder, you can create a “binder” that houses documents, spreadsheets and presentations for a given project. If you’re working on a project with other EI Office users, you can then email an entire set of spreadsheets, documents and presentations as one file.

Compatibility:  

While EI Office doesn’t have the user base in North America that it does in China, it’s obvious that the software has been designed, tested and updated to accommodate popular third party file formats. Most importantly, EI Office accommodates Microsoft Office 2007 files. In addition to support for standard 2003-era DOC, XLS and PPS formats, EI Office comfortably manages DOCX, XLSX and PPSX files. EI Office does not support OpenDocument or other OpenOffice file types.

EI Office supports common image file formats, rich text, PDF and HTML as well.

User Support:  

EI Office makes an effort to provide good documentation, user forums and basic tech support. EI Office still hasn’t established itself very strongly in the Anglophone world as of yet, so don’t expect strong or personalized tech support from Evermore.

EI Office runs quickly and effectively. The productivity suite provides requisite functions along with some innovative approaches to everyday productivity. While we’re institutionalized by years of working with Microsoft Office, many users are going to respond positively to EI Office’s unique “binder” system of saving and organizing data. Solid functionality for fewer than twenty dollars is almost unheard of. EI Office easily makes a strong case for itself.

For an in-depth look at our top home office software picks, be sure read our reviews of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Corel Home Office and StarOffice.

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