Office 365

So I start school April 7th and I have done some reading on office 365, from my understanding it is a rental of office right. Yeah you get features like sky drive storage and Skype call (wouldn't use) but if I am going to school for the next four years wouldn't make sense to buy office home and student. Maybe I am missing something you could tell me about or maybe you could tell me where office 365 would make sense. Thanks everybody.

Firstly, there is this: Microsoft Office University Suite | Online Subscription - Office.com. Otherwise, Office 365 Home Premium makes sense if you would like to have up to 5 computers - I have subcribed for Office 365 because I have 3 computers in my family. Otherwise, it would make sense for you to stay with 2010, as the non-subscribtion version of Office 2013 are bound to single PC. At least, that's how I understand it.

EDIT: To make it clear, it's 80 $ for 4 years in total.

You get more software with 365 versus home and student. Publisher, access, outlook, etc.

You get ability to run the apps over internet if need be with 365.

I'd suggest buying 365 for the 80, and that gives you 4 years to really try it out. It's cheaper than the home and student version.

pparks1 said:

You get more software with 365 versus home and student. Publisher, access, outlook, etc.

You get ability to run the apps over internet if need be with 365.

I'd suggest buying 365 for the 80, and that gives you 4 years to really try it out. It's cheaper than the home and student version.

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Hi there
I really hate to disagree with pparks1 as I always respect his views.

What I really would do if I were you is to chose one of THESE options.

1) Home and student edition of Office 2007 -- available incredibly cheaply and you don't really miss much either - there isn't a whole lot of new stuff in later versions of Office --especially in a Student environment where things like "Work collaboration". Ms Lync for office contacts etc) won't be necessary, You can install on 3 different computers too -- and you can probably source this version for around 35 USD. !!! ONE time payment.

2) Get your college to go for a "Use at Home" version of office 2010 -- this is the FULL ENTERPRISE version and will only cost you around 5 USD for the physical DVD,

3) Buy the Home and student edition of Office 2010 -- also installable on 3 computers but will cost a little bit more than option 1).

My preference if it's available would be option 2).

Avoid Office 2013 like the plague as it's expensive and CANNOT BE MOVED FROM THE ORIGINAL COMPUTER. It also has a horrible looking GUI too.

My problem with subscriptions is that you are locked into stuff which might suddenly stop working if for any reason you become "Temporarily Financially embarrassed" (As a Student years ago -- been there -- done that--- even though we had much better provisions than Students today) or subscription rates increase to levels you aren't comfortable with.

The 80 for 4 years can also be changed -- companies ALWAYS find something in the "small print" if they need to change something as subscribers to TechNet found out a couple of years ago when Ms suddenly changed the 10 Keys per product to 5 and then 3 even for EXISTING subscribers so some of these contracts are about as valuable as used toilet paper. !! Business wise Ms actually had a case here since a lot of the software was far too cheap and it was getting loaded up on to torrent sites all over the web - however a good business case should not cause an existing contract to be torn up without consent on BOTH SIDES (like a refund or next two years subscription free etc).

I have a colleague in the UK who signed a "Fixed price energy Tariff" who is going through a court case because the energy supplier (one which has just paid out a 6 figure sum in GBP as a BONUS to a departing CEO) wants to increase his tariff because the same supplier has pointed out something in - never mind the small print -- this is in the MICRO print -- that changes in "Govt regulations or "Exceptional circumstances" can allow us to revoke or suspend this offer at any time -- well the "Exceptional circumstances" was -- we need to pay for "Green Taxes", make more investment -- and of course pay our CEO's and shareholders a "Decent return on their investment").

I'm not sure if the lawyers at Ms are smart enough to do this -- but watch out just in case.

Cheers
jimbo