The other responses are on point, but I'd add that Access made it super-easy to share database apps, since they were just a file (or files). No servers, etc. Ju

The other responses are on point, but I'd add that Access made it super-easy to share database apps, since they were just a file (or files). No servers, etc. Just email it over, or drop it on the share. For the typical Office user, using such a file didn't involve installing any software or setting up any servers. Distribution was super-easy with Access.