New License Restrictions on Office 2013 Retail

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networkn

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Topic # 114275 14-Feb-2013 13:34

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/02/13/2149228/retail-copies-of-office-2013-are-tied-to-a-single-computer-forever

How does this license then differ from a PKC?

Good on you Microsoft, just keep charging more and more, and giving less and less!

We love it when you do this (IT People) because it's US that gets a hard time, which we really need more of in our lives!

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BDFL - Memuneh
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Reply # 762265 14-Feb-2013 13:41

My Office 2010 on Windows 7 makes me perfectly happy...

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networkn

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Reply # 762273 14-Feb-2013 13:43

freitasm: My Office 2010 on Windows 7 makes me perfectly happy...

Same.

MackinNZ

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Reply # 762285 14-Feb-2013 13:53

Also agree.

In fact, I'm using Office 2013 and there are a few things I like more than 2010, but many things I like less.

xpd

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Reply # 762287 14-Feb-2013 13:56

Just installed 2013 this week on my work PC.... prefer 2010 as well.... but I better learn 2013 as thats what the staff will be teaching soon... and guess who supports them...

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Zeon

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Reply # 762300 14-Feb-2013 14:05

Lol MS. Do they not know things are becoming more competitive?

networkn

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Reply # 762304 14-Feb-2013 14:08

Zeon: Lol MS. Do they not know things are becoming more competitive?

Honestly I don't know what is up with them right now. I have said it quite a lot, but as a reseller I feel let down by this new direction they are heading. Previously they had been really engaged, and listened to our feedback and worked with us. Now I feel they resent any feedback that doesn't support the new direction, I don't see ANY signs of them listening to our feedback, and they offer less and less each new release.

myopinion

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Reply # 762312 14-Feb-2013 14:13

Wish I could still buy Office 2007

DravidDavid

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Reply # 762331 14-Feb-2013 14:24

Why are these big companies not catching on? In today's world, a computer that belongs to a company does not last 6 months before it is replaced. If MS Office is tied to that computer for life, how is that economic?

As others have said before, their previous products will be a more attractive option rather than their updated software. They are encouraging people to engage in piracy with this kind of restriction on their newer software releases. Furthermore, I haven't found anything I do at work in MS Office any harder at home with Open Office. Its free and is more stable!

I won't be purchasing their product, that is for sure.

Sometimes what you don't get is a blessing in disguise!

networkn

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Reply # 762333 14-Feb-2013 14:29

DravidDavid: Why are these big companies not catching on? In today's world, a computer that belongs to a company does not last 6 months before it is replaced. If MS Office is tied to that computer for life, how is that economic?

As others have said before, their previous products will be a more attractive option rather than their updated software. They are encouraging people to engage in piracy with this kind of restriction on their newer software releases. Furthermore, I haven't found anything I do at work in MS Office any harder at home with Open Office. Its free and is more stable!

I won't be purchasing their product, that is for sure.

6 Months?

Also they aren't encouraging piracy, that is just silly.

freitasm

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Reply # 762334 14-Feb-2013 14:29

DravidDavid: Why are these big companies not catching on? In today's world, a computer that belongs to a company does not last 6 months before it is replaced. If MS Office is tied to that computer for life, how is that economic?

What? I see a lot of companies still running old PCs, still on Windows XP. Not every company in the world changes computers at the same pace as technology companies.

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reven

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Reply # 762348 14-Feb-2013 14:36

I would love a new work PC every six months. around 3-4 years since my last new one.

jim.cox

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Reply # 762350 14-Feb-2013 14:39

I'm no fan of the ribbon interface

I much prefer the 2003 version of office

(yeah I AM a luddite)

networkn

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Reply # 762351 14-Feb-2013 14:40

reven: I would love a new work PC every six months. around 3-4 years since my last new one.

I am about 18 months between PC's normally, occasionally sooner if one of my staff need a new PC. Since I am the heaviest user we normally rotate.

nzkiwiman

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Reply # 762356 14-Feb-2013 14:42

I am dual using Office 2010/2013 at home (aside from Outlook, that's 2010 all the way) and so far I am not finding any features in 2013 that have won me over. I'm just not sure if I uninstall that I can then reinstall (using one of the $10 work versions as I do have a current Technet Sub.

spacedog

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Reply # 762374 14-Feb-2013 15:11

So is this a change in the language of the licensing agreement or has it actually integrated into the activation/registration modules within Office 2013? One thing is the language of the license and MS having the ability to enforce it as they so choose. It's another thing to institute software measures that truly block the user from uninstalling it and moving it to a new computer (without having to resort to illegal cracks/hacks).

If they truly tie it to each machine via the activation/registration modules and bar users from moving Office from their old laptop to their new laptop, I can see this going straight into a class-action lawsuit in the USA.

I can think of a whole bunch of scenarios where this is a problem for everyday users, such as:

-Joe Bloggs buys a new laptop, buys Office 2013 and three weeks later the motherboard fails and he sends it back to the supplier. Their solution is to give Joe a new computer (or the hardware repairs are significant enough that MS Office thinks Joe's repaired laptop is a 'new computer). Joe has to buy a new copy of Office?

-Joe's laptop is on it's last legs, but he needs Office now. He buys Office 2013 and 3 months later he's able to afford a new laptop. He has to buy Office again?

I don't know exactly how the laws work here in NZ, but I can guarantee you that won't fly in the USA. That'll get class-actioned in a heartbeat.

Anyone know enough about the Consumer Guarantees laws or other relevant consumer protection laws here in NZ that this might violate?

This is a real issue for me because I was considering upgrading 1-2 computers in our business to the latest version of Office, but those computers are also getting pretty tired and I was going to upgrade them in the next year. There's no way in hell I'm going to buy MS Office 2x in one year because I just upgraded/retired an older computer in my business.

[Mod Edit :BH: Company corrected x 3. It's "MS". As per the FUG - When talking about a company use their real name. We follow the principle that respect must go both ways. Cheers]

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