This version of Works 2006 is the retail version, just as you see in the picture. BE SURE YOU ASK THE VENDOR if what he's selling is just like this picture; for sadly, many vendors here sell the OEM version instead, which will NOT work on your machine. Instead, get this RETAIL version, which is just like the picture.
The OEM version, instead comes in a small CD-sized box, or is in a jewel case, and does NOT look like this Amazon picture. It was packaged with PCs sold, was installed on a PC already, and it WILL NOT INSTALL on another PC. So you need the retail version, which again looks JUST LIKE the picture (i.e., red on the right-hand, lower side in the picture, for Encarta).
I just bought this retail version from a vendor in Amazon, and just installed it to my Vista machine. Just now tested it with Windows 8 Upgrade Advisor, and the Advisor said it will work in Win8 (32-bit). It will also be compatible with Works Converter 6-9, which is a file converter program you can download for free from Microsoft. This matters, as it means you can keep using Works 2006 and still read later versions of Word files.
But Win 8 Advisor also says that Word 2002 will not work in Win8. I get contrary feedback in PC World forum, users claiming that Word 2002 runs just fine on their Win8 machines. If you go to MS Answers forum, you are universally told that Word 2002 will not work in Win8. I'd believe the PC World folks, because they were disputing with me about this topic, claiming they were actually USING Word 2002 (and even Word97) on their Win8 machines. So maybe you should take the claim by Win8 advisor against Word 2002, with a grain of salt.
Now to what Works 2006 has. The main reasons to get it -- especially at this price -- are three: 1) the Calendar is decent (though Vista but NOT Win7, has a built-in calendar), 2) Word 2002 here is the full version, not pared down, and is better than later iterations of MS Word. It's really important to have MS Office 2002 and prior, and Word 2002 is part of that. The importance is two-fold: a) most law firms and other businesses still export documents in older Word97-2003 format, which later versions of MS Office, no longer support; Word 2002 can read even older files, which is vital to anyone who keeps records from years ago (tax, legal, financial, etc.), even back to DOS. Later versions of MS Office do not support these older files. So via Word 2002, you can convert them. Some old spreadsheets cannot be read by Works either, but then you can get Excel 2002 and perform the necessary backwards-compatible conversion, so later MS Office can read the old files.
3) the Digital Image Standard photo editor is the successor to Picture It 9 and 10, and is the easiest photo editor I've ever used. (I make a bunch of videos as brainouty in Youtube, so being able to edit a photo or graphic is important.) MS Works is the only way to launch it.
Works itself has a limited database and spreadsheet function, which is okay for home use; you can usually send spreadsheets to business users (i.e., to your accountant for preparing your tax returns); but often you will not be able to read a spreadsheet sent to you from a business (because Excel uses three spreadsheets in a book, but Works can only read the first one, and even that, not too well).
Works even has presets of projects you'd computerize for your house. For work, it's not too useful, but there are die-hard Works fans who use it in a small office. I'm not one of them, but you can read reviews on Works here in Amazon, explaining how useful they find it at work.
The other things in the Works suite are all outdated now: Encarta (useful, but old), Streets and Tips and Money.
In short, especially for this price, it's good to buy Works 2004-2006 et seq. But be sure ONLY to get the retail version, which is in a plastic clamshell case, 7" tall by 5.25" wide.
The OEM version is NOT what you want to buy (cardboard case, same size as a jewel case for a CD). It will not install, except on the original PC with which it was sold preinstalled.
I posted the permalink to this review in PC World, to ask others who disputed with me, to come here and comment on how they can use old MS Office, in Win8. That might be important to you. Some of the people there are trolls, so will make useless comments. I can't help that. You will be able to distinguish between the useful posts and the trolls, I'm sure. Hope this helps: for sometimes, old is still better, than new.
Microsoft Works Suite 2006 Old Version
3.3 | 50 ratings
Price:
Last update: 01-07-2025
About this item
Microsoft Works Suite 2006 General Features: Includes six programs! Photo editing and organizing
Word processing Travel planning Personal finance Home organization Encyclopedia
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) sticker Included Programs: Microsoft Digital Image 2006
Microsoft Word Version 2002 Microsoft Streets Trips 2006 Essentials Microsoft Money 2006 Standard
Word processing Travel planning Personal finance Home organization Encyclopedia
Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) sticker Included Programs: Microsoft Digital Image 2006
Microsoft Word Version 2002 Microsoft Streets Trips 2006 Essentials Microsoft Money 2006 Standard
Top reviews from the United States
brainoutRETAIL version here, Compatible with Windows 8, except maybe for Word 2002
D. WhitmanDepends on how interested you are in the Word program
Tommy A. BirdWhat can I say?
Andi DragerWorks Suite 2006 okay
Robert D. PaulusProduct Key doesn't work.
RenterWord 2002
Paul Pharmer