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Comments on: Microsoft beta tests Office subscription software

Live Mail 

Posted Monday 21st April 2008 11:26 GMT

Does Live Mail still have adverts plastered all over it?

Software Subscriptions 

Posted Monday 21st April 2008 11:28 GMT

Does this mean that one day Windows will become a subscription where you pay monthly to use it?

If so, will Microsoft supply the hardware to run it on?

Can we charge Microsoft (and other companies) for allowing their software on our equipment?

Upgrade? 

Posted Monday 21st April 2008 11:46 GMT

Paris Hilton

So users would then be subjected to upgrades only when MS decides that it has squeezed enough cash out of you. There is enough free stuff out there so that home users need never be beholden to MS. They just need to realise that Bill Gates didn't invent the computer.

Paris because she would make a fine subscription service.

Copy of Salesforce and Google 

Posted Monday 21st April 2008 13:16 GMT

What a copy of what salesforce and google already do. Just like microsoft to come late to the party but will no doubt dominate this venue too.

Microsoft Beta software 

Posted Monday 21st April 2008 14:40 GMT

Gates Horns

Will beta testers also get access to Vista? After all, Mr Balmer said ...

Evil Bill icon because there isn't an Evil Steve one. Well, there is, but ...

A title is required 

Posted Monday 21st April 2008 14:59 GMT

Thumb Down

I'm sure when this goes live it will get bundled on PC's with a 3 month free trail and people will just pay up when it asks like thay do with anti-virus software

I'm all for subscriptions 

Posted Monday 21st April 2008 15:14 GMT

Gates Halo

Provided they makes a decent price for all machines it the household. I'm still considering going the technet route as a few others have.

money is the key 

Posted Monday 21st April 2008 20:23 GMT

Thumb Down

you know the price is going to be too much as is all software directly from microsoft

From Microsoft an upgrade of Office 2007 Home Office/student edition from the trial that comes bundled with most PCs is about £145

You can get a no disc version version of the same software for about £78

so what 

Posted Tuesday 22nd April 2008 08:52 GMT

Given the freely obtainable alternatives why would anyone touch this with a barge pole.

Do they just like throwing money at MS for No reason?

@Brian Whittle 

Posted Tuesday 22nd April 2008 09:10 GMT

Gates Halo

Office 2007 Home&Student is £85 inc for a 3-user licence with the disk. http://www.ebuyer.com/product/120771

That's decent value if you need the three licences.

You can do all this for free, NOW ... 

Posted Tuesday 22nd April 2008 17:29 GMT

Stop

... go to http://www.thinkfree.com/main.jsp - I was very sceptical but it's actually not bad.

[El Reg, what about getting one of your learned scribes to do a review of this site's offering?]

It would be nice to think that at least one of Microsoft's two profit-making divisions (all the rest run at a loss) is going to have a hard time making money from now on... :-)