Should You Buy a Microsoft Office Subscription?

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  BJMason07/03/08 Report as spam
  1

  who needs MS Office??

  I've been using Open Office for 2 or 3 years now. I have not felt the need to give MS any money, as I have never felt that I am missing anything. I can't see giving MS $200, $300 or even $600 to get software that is no more functional for me that what Open Office, Mozilla, Google and others can provide for free. If I ever do feel I need more, the next stop will be the pay version of Open Office from Sun, "Star Office", would be my next stop -- not MS. I can't see how MS gets away with charging so much for MS Office.

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  kjsteigely07/06/08 Report as spam
  2

  RE: Should You Buy a Microsoft Office Subscription?

  I totally agree, who needs MS Office. I use OpenOffice and have been very happy with it. The subscription idea doesn't surprise me since Microsoft is making tons of money with their XBOX Live subscriptions. I saw this coming. Rumor has it that Windows 7 will be subscription based. Can you believe it paying a month fee for your OS? If that happens I will be going to Linux. Maybe if if that doesn't happen. Vista has really disappointed and Microsoft's attitude on caring for the customer has really soured me.

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  Sharronm07/07/08 Report as spam
  3

  RE: Should You Buy a Microsoft Office Subscription?

  There are so many more compatible products which don't require any subscription nonsense. Microsoft needs to wake up and realize that although they have created an "outstanding" product "MS Suite", there are just so many more available at a more reasonable cost to the consumer, or little cost at all. In any event, none of them require another money grab to boost sales in a very obvious strained economy. Business' and people alike are looking for tools to make their job/life easier, not continuously paying for a cash cow like MS.

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  kfp755007/07/08 Report as spam
  4

  Businesses & Government might.

  A major shortcoming of most other commentors so far has been personal feelings. Sure, most power users and home users would rather use a free or considerably cheaper product like Open Office or Star Office that Microsoft Office. However, Microsoft will undoubtedly always have business with.. well, business. Especially larger corporations and government. They have the money and resources to buy Microsoft and the money spent is a drop in the bucket for them. Plus, they feel better about spending money to buy from a big name (and who is bigger than Microsoft?) and feel they have the support behind the product for updates and fixes (regardless of the fact that the software shouldn't be buggy in the first place). In fact, some companies have policies that prevent the use of any Shareware, Freeware, or Open Source software in their organizations because they see it as "unreliable". Some even think it increases their chances of getting a virus or spyware. So sure, for your average home user with limited funds, we moan and groan over high prices for Microsoft and try to find alternatives, but for big business, it's a no brainer. Literally.

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  winterraven07/08/08 Report as spam
  5

  Micro Soft can now survive on people's stupidity

  MS is the story of Detriot and Kodak and all the great American companies
  that were blinded (incapable to see clearly ahead of what is in front) by their
  arrogance.
  How can such a large company employing 100s oof thousands can't make
  the a better browser than Avan, Safari, Firefox, Opera from much smaller
  companie.
  How can any company sell you a hammeror wrench and expect a fee every
  time that you use that wrench or tool fro a different toolbbelt or toolbox what
  about if your neighbor wants to borrow your shop vac? Thank God Microsoft
  was not around in the building of America.
  MS is good at buying companies using their technology and then torching
  them.
  Where i the innovation or vision in that?