About a year ago I went to Best Buy to purchase a laptop. The guy then told me I could purchase Microsoft Office for $50. So I agreed then the guy gave me a card with code to down load and install the software. This morning I tried to open up my Excel but it wouldn't open unless I pay another 50$ to renew the license. Apparently I have to pay 50$ annually to use the software. Back in the old day, I though when you purchase something means you own it.
A lot of software companies have switched to the subscription model (Microsoft and Adobe are the best known, I guess). The rationale behind this is that the market has become saturated, products are becoming commoditized and there's not that much space to innovate. Therefore, people will buy these products very rarely, if they already have the old version. Switching to the subscription model gives the companies a steady income and allows them to keep a profit and keep developing the software. It's a necessary evil I would say, unfortunately.
The guy at BestBuy should have explained about the subscription though. I assume yiu have Office 365, right?
You can expect the same things to happen to mobile phones some time from now.
PS: I have owned a software company, so I speak from experience. The economy is... rough.
The guy at BestBuy should have explained about the subscription though. I assume yiu have Office 365, right?
You can expect the same things to happen to mobile phones some time from now.
PS: I have owned a software company, so I speak from experience. The economy is... rough.
If it's asking you for 50$/year, it's almost a good deal... normally it's 69$/year for the personnal version on a subscription basis: Renew Office 365 Home or Personal
You can still get a version on a non-subscription basis but it's 149$ for one user. If you don't need to always have the latest version of office, it's a much better deal usually.
For personnal use and at the office, I'm still running office 2010... At the time, the family version would give you the right the software on 3 pcs for 120€.
You can still get a version on a non-subscription basis but it's 149$ for one user. If you don't need to always have the latest version of office, it's a much better deal usually.
For personnal use and at the office, I'm still running office 2010... At the time, the family version would give you the right the software on 3 pcs for 120€.
What you said bothers me a bit. I am a bit old fashion when it comes to product development. If you could do fine using a 10 year old Office version then what is the point of purchasing a new version? It is as if the developing company intentionally tries to force you to purchase a "new" version every year. Of course I understand you have other options but something about software that I will never understand.
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Maybe I am being cheap. As I said in my other post, I just don't get software. I am what you would call a stubborn fool or worse a stubborn alcoholic fool.
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