Are You Ready to Subscribe to Microsoft Office?

Trolas 07-03-2008

Redmond (WA) – ‘Careful’ is probably the most appropriate term to use when describing Microsoft’s introduction of a software subscription model to consumers. Transitioning users from a purchase-to-own to a rental model of its software has been discussed for many years and now such a product is officially available. To sweeten the deal, Microsoft throws in a subscription to its Windows Live One Care service.

It is one of these products and service you may not look forward to, but knew it was coming: A subscription model to Microsoft Office. Microsoft envisions that more and more users will not own a copy of Microsoft Office in the future anymore, but rent it and provide the company with recurring revenue stream every year, instead the onetime fee you pay for the software today.

The consumer subscription offering is called “Equipt” and includes Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 - with the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote for their personal and school projects, as well as Windows Live OneCare. Software updates are included in the deal, so you always get the latest version of Office and OneCare. The price? $69.99 per year.

Microsoft’s move appears to make sense in a time where our everyday life is increasingly based on subscription models. You are used to subscribing to your phone and cellphone service, your Internet service, cable service, Tivo and soon you may be subscribing to a music download and cloud services – so why not subscribe to your basic software as well?

To us, this one seems a tough one to swallow. In the end, PC users are used to owning their software and paying for software only once – usually at the time you purchase a new PC. It isn’t particularly difficult to see Microsoft’s motivation to get you hooked on a software subscription model: On average, you may be paying much more for your software than you do today and you get used to a subscription model and may be much more likely to subscribe to other services as well.

To make the transition more convincing, the price tag for Equipt in fact is low, if you consider that Windows Live OneCare is included- in fact it almost appears as if Microsoft is sacrificing OneCare to make the case for its new subscription model. Windows Live OneCare alone is priced at $49.95 per year – and you are used to paying for your anti-virus software on an annual basis already. From that view, the Office package will cost you only $20 per year. If you are a pessimist, you may say that Microsoft just bundles the package to get $20 more from you every year.

Nina

This is total bullshit. This is just a way to make more money off the same product. Right now there's tons of people still using Office '97 becuase it woks and does exactly what they need and they on't need to upgrade for more fancy crap they aren't going to use. Fuck this!

Hsoolien

That sad thing is I see this actually working

Open Office for the win

GIR

I think im the onyl one that is going to say, sweet on this one.

If done right i think this is the best way to do it, IF DONE RIGHT.

depending on what Office yo uget it costs from $130 to $800 so if $70 a year its like up to 10 years for it. you get crap loads of office upgrades and up dates and there OneCare service. its a good idea i would do it easyly.

now for what Nina was talking about ,i think when thay do it just do it for Office XX and up. so if you have a lower one you'll still get updates and you keep your old ways that you like with out paying more.


Now if done right i think its the best thing for everyone. i cant shell out up to $800 for a copy of Office.

so for me yaaa, i cant wait for it. if done right.

Hsoolien

I think gir has it mostly right, but still Open Office, seriously, it's a valid LEGALLY FREE alternative. I would think free and full featured would fly pretty well this day and age...

Dream

If I actually needed stuff in office I would say nice. But here's the thing I thought about what about all the computers you actually have office on it when you buy the computer . Why would you want to pay for it continuesly. Now for $70 a year and you wasn't force to upgrade then yes i'm cool with that but like Hsooly said Open Office is free and legal.

GIR

If you like Open Office, then use Open Office, if you like Ms Office use MS Office, if you dont like the subscribe thing. well how many use MS Office are compalining about it.?

you get something from each, its up to you on what you want. Dont want it? dont get it. i know many system that you buy dont come with Office Word. but its not a extra cost.

Raven

I've notice that alot of HP's comes with Word automatically.

I actually use Office but mainly only becuase I have, plus the compatability issues. I really think its just one way of looking at it that it will cost people more money for those that don't need to upgrade. Like Nina said people still using older software mainly becuase it still works. Instead of Office change it to another software for example what if it was Internet explorer or Windows it self. Personally I like the one time fee, I pay for it, it works, I have it I keep it.

Passion

I think it mainly comes down to the software i is like Raven is saying at the end. In the original post it has the Onecare system which for me I feel its like a anti-virus program (Hsooly I know you don't use or like them) but that something that will definitely need to be constantly update. If the software gets updated often and needs to be updated often then subsription is fine and great.

Nina

I see where Gir is coming from. The cost will be able the same Especially since a new Office comes out every 3-4 years so $70 a year is great. So if you running Office 2007 right now then you paying just what you should. Now or anyone who still using Office XP or 2003 or even ealier we you would get seriously robbed since you will be still paying for the software each year when you not using or needing any of the new features.

Joi

I'm still using an old one, not really sure if I'm all worried about having the latest, I really don't even use it much. The last time was something I can't even remember now lol. If I used it more I would go with this deal.

hugo281

right!! well at work I'm using both the 03 and 07 versions and honestly there's not much difference except how the menu buttons are and other cool features on Excel, but as for signing up to Office 07 hmmm I would say get used to using it first before you sign up