As a software-publishing company, Microsoft of course had the option to just Shift Delete Clippy, the more mocked than useful help tool featured in older versions of the Office System, but the company chose to bury it instead. A move nothing short of brilliant, since it managed to fit perfectly into the plot of the latest video advertisement for Office 2010.

When it comes down to the next iteration of Office, Microsoft has invested into a very smart and funny marketing campaign that deals with the software as if it were an upcoming movie, and a blockbuster judging by the sneak peeks that the company has allowed the public to have. But seriously, the guys that made the Internet Explorer 8 puke commercial need to pay attention, and maybe learn something!

I embedded the video at the bottom of this article for your viewing pleasure, but, of course, you are also able to watch it on the Office 2010: The Movie website. The online destination is also the key to submitting a request for participation in the Technical Preview program for Office 2010.

Microsoft continues to accept registrations for the upcoming Office 2010 Community Technology Preview. The Redmond company plans to send out invitations for participation by mid-July 2010. Testing will involve Word 2010, Excel 2010, Outlook 2010, PowerPoint 2010, OneNote 2010, Access 2010, InfoPath 2010 and Publisher 2010.

By the end of this year, the company will offer a Beta version of Office 2010, a release that is said to be geared towards a much broader audience. Microsoft indicated earlier this year that it planned to release Office 2010 to manufacturing in the first half of 2010, but failed to indicate specific RTM or General Availability deadlines. Which could mean nothing but good news, and good laughs, in the eventuality that the company will continue to produce Office 2010: The Movie content.