Why Do We Have To Keep Buying Microsoft Office When We Buy New Computers?

[Efkay]

When I bought my Sony laptop I paid extra for Microsoft Office 2010 which came with Excel, Word, Powerpoint (the ones I wanted), plus OneNote and Office Tools.

I now need to replace the laptop but am being forced to purchase a new Microsoft Office or take out a subscription to it - whatever that is! This sounds like another Microsoft rip-off - unless any of you know otherwise. If I've already purchased the licence to use it, why can't Microsoft honour that in my new purchase?

[hc4361]

If you've got the right sort of licence you can transfer it from one PC to another.
You need a Full Product Pack - the original installation disks.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/wiki/officeversion_other-office_install/copy-move-or-transfer-an-office-installation-to/956244a0-385d-4e21-a21e-87b4179111d1

[tommy39]

why use mirosoft?. try open office, it's free. just google

[Peter Pedant]

because our frenz in the land of the free are trying to move towards yearly charging ....

[hc4361]

Nothing to do with it, PP, it's always been that way. Unless you own the original disks you cannot transfer the licence; if you do, you can.

[AB Editor]

I've transferred my office 2013 from PC to PC just fine, you just need the key that comes with it.


PP is right though, the new versions (which are very good) are on a subscription model. It's a little more sustainable I suppose.

[hc4361]

Ab Editor, did you have the original disks?

[CrapAtCryptics]

There are programs which allow you to extract the licence number from your machine. You then locate a trial version and authorise it on your new machine if you dont have the original disks

[hc4361]

If the licence key is for a version of Office that can't be transferred, such as an OEM version, that won't work.

[VHG]

Microsoft are moving to a subscription system for both Windows AND Office.

This means you will have to buy a yearly subscription each year to carry on using them.

If you don't pay the subscription Windows and Office stop working (I doubt it will all stop working, just certain parts of it. So maybe you can still read Word documents but not create new ones for example).

However in your case you can probably move Office from your old computer to the new one.

[hc4361]

Windows is NOT going to be a subscription service.

[VHG]

>>>Windows is NOT going to be a subscription service.

We shall see.

[Jackdaw33]

Must agree with tommy39 @ 15:56.

[Old_Geezer]

It is a well known rip-off. If you want MS Office you are forced to by a licence under the terms they impose, and the software is effectively free. IMO this ought not be allowed. One buys the thing that works, which is the software: this licence nonsense should have been knocked on the head from the off but some legal loophole obviously allowed it through.

But as others suggest you don't need to encourage this. Let your money do the talking and purchase a rival product, or go for the IMO inferior offerings that are free. They aren't bad, just not as convenient/well thought out as MS Office.

[Efkay]

I thank each and everyone of you for your input. In truth I am losing faith with Microsoft, despite Gates' philanthropic mantra. Having paid over £200 for a 'licence' for Microsoft Office 2010 when I purchased my Sony laptop 4 years ago I'm certainly not going to fork out that sort of money again.

I have used Open Office in its early form - I daresay it's much improved - so I think I'll go down that route from now on.

I need to replace my current Sony and was looking at a Dell replacement, but I doubt if I'll get the 'right' transferable licence from them - let alone the disks.

Ah well, off in search of a laptop with an optical drive, ethernet connection and a decent HDD. Utopia?

Thanks again everyone!

[twix123]

Otherwise, if you've gone off Microsoft products, purchase an Apple Macbook instead.

[hc4361]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by OpenOffice and in any case it won't cost you a bean to find out.

If you absolutely MUST have Microsoft Office and need it for only one machine, the yearly subscription of £35 isn't extortionate, you'll always have the latest version and it can be transferred.

Just to reply to OG, Microsoft and all other premium software developers have to licence their products otherwise nobody would pay for it. One copy would be downloaded millions of times from millions of sites and a valid licence key is the only way to stop it.

[hc4361]

Efkay, if you paid over £200 for your copy of Office the licence should be transferable.

[Peter Pedant]

thankyou Ab Editor

[Old_Geezer]

Millions of businesses would buy it to avoid the publicity of being foubd out. Plus needing a code to run it need not mean a licence system preventing transfer. It's still a con job.

[Old_Geezer]

FOUND
LIKE I TYPED !