Microsoft as a Subscription?

We will have to wait and see what all this really means....

On the cloud subscription model: "We're well on our way to making that transition in terms of moving from pure licenses to long-term contracts and as well as subscription business model," Nadella told analysts. But he didn't share anything new about when, whether and how Microsoft will move to a subscription model for Windows, as some are expecting.

Source

Also,,,,

WZor also claims that Microsoft is tinkering with the business model for Windows and may make some kind of base-level version of Windows available for free for everyone, but require a subscription to "turn on" the full set of capabilities and features, similar to the way Microsoft requires Office on iPad users to have an Office 365 subscription to do more than just the simplest of tasks with the free version. I haven't heard anything specifically about this from my contacts (yet).

Source

For the record, I voted maybe.

 

[Coke Robot]

But let's look at how Microsoft reap's the benefits here.

In a perfect world, without piracy, people would be spending

1. $139 per copy for Office 2013 Home and Student: Amazon.com: Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 (1PC/1User) [Download]: Software
2. $219 per copy for Office 2013 Home and Business if they needed Outlook: Amazon.com: Microsoft Office Home and Business 2013 (1PC/1User) [Download]: Software
3. $399 per copy for Office 2013 Professional if they need Outlook, Access and Publisher. Amazon.com: Microsoft Office Professional 2013 (1PC/1User) [Download]: Software

So, instead, Microsoft says, OK with an Office 365 subscription, you get 5 installs of Office 2013 Pro ($399 per copy retail), and you can share these with your friends and family if you like. This will only cost you $99 per year for the 5 installs. So, $20 per copy/year. Now, had MS sold 5 copies at retails they stood to make $399 x 5 = $1,995. Instead, at $99 a year, it would take them 20.15 years to get that revenue.

But what they do get, is subscriptions from those who might have been set on pirating 2 copies of Office 2013 Professional (as they weren't going to pay $399 x 2). Instead, these people might buy the subscription for $99, then keep 2 copies for themselves and sell off the remaining installs to friends and family for $20 a pop. So, instead of paying $800 for 2 copies of Office Pro, they spend out of pocket about $40 a year. Takes em 20 years to make up that difference.

The subscription gets you 5 installs, it gets you web versions, it's gets you more OneDrive space, it gets you Skype minutes, it gets you a portal where you can share and control your shared installs. It keeps you on the latest versions of the software, etc. All for $99 a year. Seems like an absolute bargain to me, espeically with as much as you guys seem to bag on Open Office/LibreOffice for not being anywhere near as good as Microsoft office.

And don't forgot, if you want 1 copy to have and hold for the next 10 years and you "only need word and excel", you can still buy the $139 straight up software license and do it that way. In that case, the subscription makes no sense, as you need very limited products, and at $99 per year, you would exceed the cost in just over a year. Of course, you could buy Office 365 for $99 a year, and then install 1 copy with more features than you would have had before, and you could sell your other 4 copies to friends/family for $80 a year and then your out of pocket would be $20 a year. At that rate, you would still be ahead for 7 years compared to buying a copy for $139.

Exactly. Office 365 is such a steal, it's literally no wonder why many enterprises and government agencies in the past couple of years have been switching to it and have no regrets. Five PCs, 20 dollars per seat of Office, every year.

It's not only a good thing for the end user, it's a good thing for Microsoft as well. It means a steady flow of subscriptions, steady flow of revenue, and a steady flow of updates as well for the end user. Office 2013 users didn't get a new feature in Excel recently with the SP1 update. Office 365 users did.

Also, if you just need Word and Excel, Office Online is the best and free alternative to use. Just need a Microsoft Account, you're all set.

 

[pparks1]

Does the EULA allow "sub-letting" your subscription?

It sure does, they even have a page on how to do it: Share Office 365 Home with up to four people in your household - support

Now, it talks about sharing it with your household, but they recently changed the process such that you send out an email to whomever. Hence, they don't care.

I don't think I know a single person irl who has ever bought a copy of Office.

And here in lies the reason why so many don't want subscription based software. They might have to actually cough up some money. It always cracks me up when somebody lambastes OpenOffice/LibreOffice as not being nearly good enough, but then they don't have the scruples to actually pay for Microsoft Office which they clearly think is better. If it's sooo much better, would it not be worth paying for? I guess not for those adament that they are switching to another OS and office suite if/when subscription software comes around.

Hi there.

That's what Torrents are for !!!!!!!

No, No, No. Don't steal commercial software people. Use the great freebie apps which are available out there. if those aren't good enough for your needs, then PAY for the product that is. My goodness, they are making Office 365 so cheap, I don't even think it needs to garner more than 5 seconds of thought.

Seriously you USED to be able to get Office 2007 Enterprise as a Use at Home feature from a lot of workplaces / colleges for just the price of the DVD media (around 5 USD I think)- although you were meant to stop using it if you changed jobs -- few did though.

The Home Use Program (HUP) still exists. You just have to work for a compoany who maintains "Software Assurance" on their Enterprise agreement. The only prices I have seen are $9.99 and $19.99. Yes, if you are no longer employed with the company, you are required by the EULA to remove the software.

 

[phillipduran]

I have Office 2003 on many computers here. It works fine and meets our needs.

It's 2014. We bought that version of office over a decade ago. . .That is why software companies are pushing the subscription model.

And NO, the PC is not dead, but software companies would probably like them to be. Get everyone on controlled subscription devices.

 

[BlueMasterFX]

Glad I don't pay Microsoft a single dime. The things that they come up with lol. Windows and Office are part of the DreamSpark program from my university so I get legit copies for free. Subscriptions are a huge no in my book. I will take my computing needs to where M$ doesn't shine if they change Windows into subscription only.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Office 2013 users didn't get a new feature in Excel recently with the SP1 update. Office 365 users did.

I think stand-alones did indeed get SP1. I have stand-alone Office Pro 2013 and checked to make sure. My version is 15.0.4605.1003, therefore higher than what's listed below.

In order to determine whether SP1 is already installed, you can look for the program version in the list of installed programs in the Programs and Features Control Panel item. If SP1 is installed, the version will be 15.0.4569.1506 or higher. Additionally, if you have installed the SP1 update for a Windows Installer (MSI) product, SP1 will be listed in Installed Updates in that same Control Panel item.

Description of Microsoft Office 2013 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

 

[Mustang]

I have the stand alone version of Office 2013 and the version listed in Programs and Features is 15.0.4605.1003, which came through the normal Win updates. So I presume I have SP1?

I also have Office 2003, 2007 and 2010 stand alone versions, and frankly the number of features in each succeeding version seems to have consistently diminished.

Even from 2010 to 2013 one such feature missing is the ability to edit pictures with Office Picture Manager. In MS Office Tools in 2010 there are 6 available. But in 2013 only 2.

 

[Mustang]

Might as well go subscription. They're turning over these OSs faster than you could build highrise lately.

Teed me off that I bought 8 Pro disk then turn around a year later only to release 8.1 via the Store. There my disk sits collecting dust. Hopefully one of my grandchildren might appreciate it some day.

100% And rather than download over 3GB to install the store version of 8.1 every time I want to do a fresh install ... and then another 800+ MB for 8.1 update via Win updates ... I just went out and bought the 8.1 Pro OEM disc from a retail store. At least now all I need to download is the 800+ MB for 8.1.1 update.

And likewise my W8 Pro disc sits on the shelf gathering dust, as useless as tits on a bull.

I even offered my son my old PC free with the original W8 Pro loaded onto it with the 8.1 and 8.1.1 updates already installed ... and he didn't want it, even for free!!! He just went out and bought an Apple iPad. And still uses W7 Ultimate on his desktop tower for serious work.

As for subscriptions ... what planet you come from? I mean ... SERIOUSLY! Even on my iPhone i5s the so called free games ... HA HA! ... from the Apple App Store, can't be successfully completed without spending hundreds of $$$$. Just one example is "Deer Hunter", where you need to spend at least $200+ to get all the guns needed to finish the hunts.

 

[Tepid]

Yeah, I hate the Nickle and Dime Games on Phones. I won't install them
Or If I get suckered in, will play them to the point that I can't go any further and then delete them. But I generally don't install them period.

But the MS thing is not the same thing.

The Clipart stuff has been moved internally and is actually located on the MS Servers now.
The Photo Manager I think has been integrated with Windows 8 in general under Photos.

 

[SIW2]

Nope.

They just don't have Office. No need or use for it.

I own the aparment I am sitting in now. That is because it makes more sense to buy it for $800,000 than pay rent for it every month forever. That would be lunacy, money down the drain.

It is an apartment, technically there is a lease with certain conditions, that does not mean I am renting it. Pay it for it once, that is all.

There are a few situations where renting works - typically when you are only going to use something for a short period. Renting a holiday apartnment might make sense , because you may only want it for for a week.

I don't know if you really can't understand what is going on here, or if you are being deliberately misleading.

Which people?

I don't think I know a single person irl who has ever bought a copy of Office.

Edit - correction - I do know one person who has.

You must hang around some unscrupulous people....

 

[Superfly]

Does the EULA allow "sub-letting" your subscription?

It sure does, they even have a page on how to do it: Share Office 365 Home with up to four people in your household - support

Now, it talks about sharing it with your household, but they recently changed the process such that you send out an email to whomever. Hence, they don't care.

Yup noted there is no specific restriction on resale of whole or part of the product...leaves it open to abuse though.... theoretically then given - your scenario - one could charge, say those requiring a single installation only, 50 bucks and make a handsome 100 bucks profit - seems M$ should re-look at this or offer personal subscriptions at 20 bucks a pop...?

BTW Seems Home is $79,99(5 PC's + 5 tablets) and Personal $59.99 (1 PC + 1 tablet)

Source:


Edit: Above pricing may be forex dependant ... I converted page from ZA to US...to get $ amounts..(Sorry for any confusion... Web developers do this kind of thing..LOL)

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Seriously the "Torrent" comment was meant to be taken as a totally NON serious comic comment. !!! However the HUP (Home use Program) is a very worthwhile alternative to subscription services if you qualify, otherwise Home and Student editions (2007/2010)are still a LOT cheaper than the PRO Office 365 subscription version -- especially if say you only want Powerpoint, Excel and Word. Ms Access IMO isn't worth paying extra for the "PRO" version and there are literally 100's of excellent FREE email clients if you don't HAVE to have Outlook.

Office 2003 STILL works fine (12 years after introduction -- that's 12 * 100 = 1200 saved in Fees) - Office 2003 std edition was about 50 USD if I remember.

Office 2007 / 2010 will still work well into the indefinite future -- how many people actually USE the new features (such as they are) in typical office environments. For HOME users these "features" are probably even more irrelevant .

For businesses the subscription idea makes Sense as it handles easily the hassles of Licences - especially those wretched "By Seat" things which always seem to run out when you get a few temporary workers on site and guarantees up to date and consistent software across an enterprise.

For Home users it's a slippery slope -- you know - like those Banks that advertise what are in the industry known as "Sucker Deals" - new customers are offered almost Loss Leader type of deals and once they are "suckered in" the prices rise astronomically and the poor customers have to stay as quitting the deal costs them a lot too.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I have the stand alone version of Office 2013 and the version listed in Programs and Features is 15.0.4605.1003, which came through the normal Win updates. So I presume I have SP1?

Not sure if you’re being facetious here or not, but I’ll take it this and your next post is just a general complaint. Yes, according to the site page I linked you do indeed have SP1. On the other hand, some did not receive the February SP1 via update for it was included with the post-February install via download such as mine or included on current install media.

I also have Office 2003, 2007 and 2010 stand alone versions, and frankly the number of features in each succeeding version seems to have consistently diminished.

Even from 2010 to 2013 one such feature missing is the ability to edit pictures with Office Picture Manager. In MS Office Tools in 2010 there are 6 available. But in 2013 only 2.

I see Tepid answered some in his post. The “Insert” tab alone has a multitude of new features. Not sure what I missed in the intermediate releases for I jumped from Office 2000 Pro to 2013 Pro, so there’s a lot added that I see. Some of the items are what I’m assuming are Office 365 features such as the Store and apps. I installed the Bing dictionary and translator which I find helpful. I see they are cloud-centric.

Might as well go subscription. They're turning over these OSs faster than you could build a high-rise lately.

Teed me off that I bought 8 Pro disk then turn around a year later only to release 8.1 via the Store. There my disk sits collecting dust. Hopefully one of my grandchildren might appreciate it some day.

100% And rather than download over 3GB to install the store version of 8.1 every time I want to do a fresh install ... and then another 800+ MB for 8.1 update via Win updates ... I just went out and bought the 8.1 Pro OEM disc from a retail store. At least now all I need to download is the 800+ MB for 8.1.1 update.

And likewise my W8 Pro disc sits on the shelf gathering dust, as useless as tits on a bull.

Not sure why MS is going the Store-install route other than attempting to control piracy. Not a very good means to do so, for I think it promotes it all the more. Hopefully this will change soon. At least give us an ISO download via an MS account.

I even offered my son my old PC free with the original W8 Pro loaded onto it with the 8.1 and 8.1.1 updates already installed ... and he didn't want it, even for free!!! He just went out and bought an Apple iPad. And still uses W7 Ultimate on his desktop tower for serious work.

To each their own I guess. Some may never want to adopt to the “new way”. We all need to find our own way.

As for subscriptions ... what planet you come from? I mean ... SERIOUSLY! Even on my iPhone i5s the so called free games ... HA HA! ... from the Apple App Store, can't be successfully completed without spending hundreds of $$$$. Just one example is "Deer Hunter", where you need to spend at least $200+ to get all the guns needed to finish the hunts.

Well, it looks like planet Earth, but looking more like Mars. I voted maybe to wait and see more info. The gist of my post was that if they’re releasing OSs at a faster pace, then a subscription may be cheaper for me. For one that plans to not upgrade or a collector of OSs it may be different. We must keep in mind that everything is situational. What may work for some, might not work for others. Buying any kind of unit to live in at an older age tying up assets may not be as wise as someone younger investing for future gains. Age is a tremendous factor in life decisions.

 

[pparks1]

Home and Student editions (2007/2010)are still a LOT cheaper than the PRO Office 365 subscription version -- especially if say you only want Powerpoint, Excel and Word.

I've said it a few times, if you only need 1 copy of the software and just need Excel, PowerPoint and Word than the standalone might be the better way to go. It's when you need a few installs or want something like Outlook, Publisher or Access that the Office365 system becomes more of a nobrainer.

A quick look at Amazon today shows a 3 pack of Office 2010 Home and Student is $273. You might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere, but I'm always leary of these cheap computer house software resellers
Amazon.com: Microsoft Office Home & Student 2010 Family Pack, 3PC (Disc Version): Software.

If you opt for the 2013 version, a single user/1pc install of Home and Office is $139. http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Off...&sr=8-1&keywords=Office+2013+home+and+student


And don't forget we have multiple subscriptions too

• A 4 year student subscription for up to 2 devices is $79.95 (total)
• Office 365 personal allows 1 install on PC/Mac and 1 install on Tablet, and is $6.99 month or $69.99 for a year
• Office 365 home allows 5 installs on PC/Mac, and 5 installs on Tablets, and is $9.99 month or $99.99 for a year

Office 2003 STILL works fine (12 years after introduction -- that's 12 * 100 = 1200 saved in Fees) - Office 2003 std edition was about 50 USD if I remember.

I don't ever recall Office being that cheap. I'd put that price at least at $200.

For Home users it's a slippery slope -- you know - like those Banks that advertise what are in the industry known as "Sucker Deals" - new customers are offered almost Loss Leader type of deals and once they are "suckered in" the prices rise astronomically and the poor customers have to stay as quitting the deal costs them a lot too.

As a home user, you do have to evaluation your situation. I think a lot of people "pirate" Office because they think they need it, and everybody else they know has it. Many of these people could probably get by just fine with OpenOffice/LibreOffice or tools like Google Docs. Also, with office.com available many can use the free web based versions of Word and Excel for their most basic needs.
If you have a need for the product, only need 1 copy and are happy staying on the older releases, buying it is the way to go. If on the other hand, you have a need for multiple copies, have kids in school, multiple device types and need to keep up, the subscription should certainly be evaluated.

 

[McRuff]

When Office 2013 first came out I worked out this spreadsheet, comparing the upgrade costs to 2013. I currently have Office 2010 Pro X 1 and H&S x 3.

I only use Excel and Word and need at least one commercial license because I am self employed and use it for business. I have 3 computers. My mobile needs are taken care of with Polaris Office on my S4.

The attached costs are in NZ dollars and give the cost up until 2010 when Office 2010 no longer receives security updates. I decided to stick to Office 2010.

	Stand Alone			Subscription
		Seats			Seats
Small Business	1	360.7		1	229.08
Home premium x 2	2	362.14		5	165
1 Year			722.84			394.08
Cost till 2020		722.84			2758.56

 

[Rickkins]

When Office 2013 first came out I worked out this spreadsheet, comparing the upgrade costs to 2013. I currently have Office 2010 Pro X 1 and H&S x 3.

I only use Excel and Word and need at least one commercial license because I am self employed and use it for business. I have 3 computers. My mobile needs are taken care of with Polaris Office on my S4.

The attached costs are in NZ dollars and give the cost up until 2010 when Office 2010 no longer receives security updates. I decided to stick to Office 2010.

	Stand Alone			Subscription
		Seats			Seats
Small Business	1	360.7		1	229.08
Home premium x 2	2	362.14		5	165
1 Year			722.84			394.08
Cost till 2020		722.84			2758.56

Well of course it's more. Nobody could really possibly believe that this would be a way to save money.... could they....???

It boggles the mind.

 

[Coke Robot]

One must think of the possible security flaws in using out of date software. If you don't run a 10 year old OS, you shouldn't be running 10 year old software.

Office 2003 is a good example. You can use it to your heart's content all you want, but not only are you missing a TON of features from a newer version, you can easily expose yourself to security flaws in Outlook 2003, Excel 2003, SharePoint 2003, so on and so forth. And yes, you may think not using a newer version may not expose you to those security flaws, but tell that to everyone who used Windows xp when newer versions were available to use but were chosen not to be.

 

[Coke Robot]

When Office 2013 first came out I worked out this spreadsheet, comparing the upgrade costs to 2013. I currently have Office 2010 Pro X 1 and H&S x 3.

I only use Excel and Word and need at least one commercial license because I am self employed and use it for business. I have 3 computers. My mobile needs are taken care of with Polaris Office on my S4.

The attached costs are in NZ dollars and give the cost up until 2010 when Office 2010 no longer receives security updates. I decided to stick to Office 2010.

	Stand Alone			Subscription
		Seats			Seats
Small Business	1	360.7		1	229.08
Home premium x 2	2	362.14		5	165
1 Year			722.84			394.08
Cost till 2020		722.84			2758.56

Well of course it's more. Nobody could really possibly believe that this would be a way to save money.... could they....???

It boggles the mind.

You may need to change that some because Office 365's standalone equivalent is Office 2013 Pro Plus, a $500 suite per PC; let alone the fact there is Office 365 Enterprise pricing plans.

Compare Office 365 for business plans

For an office of about 25 or fewer workings, to run Office 365 annually would cost $60 USD before national theft. Of course, this includes the OneDrive storage, Outlook, all the fun stuff like public website hosting.

So in your specific case, you could EASILY run Office 365 Small Business until 2020 for a NZD sum of 417.60 before any national theft.

Or if you felt that if since you're self-employed, having 25 seats of Office is by far too rich (even though you could rent out those seats for like five dollars per year); there is Office 365 Personal. Annual NZD cost: 487.13

Buy Microsoft Office 2013 suites and Office 365 subscriptions

More Microsoft, fewer dollars, more global domination, less resistance.

 

[Rxd]

Honestly, this is a joke. Does anyone really think corporations are going subscription to save end users money?

Really? Seriously? Are you on drugs?

I'm not bashing MS here. Any company. They are doing this for you?

Get real....

 

[McRuff]

You are right Coke. I hasn't checked the price for the business plan in a while. In NZ dollars now per year for 1 seat with TAX is $88.32. The total until 2020 would now only be $1773.24. Still a thousand dollars more than the stand alone price.

Still planning to stick to 2010. But only because I don't particularly like the new look, and there is no new features that are of any use to me.

If I did upgrade it would be to the stand alone products as it would still be cheaper for me to upgrade to 2013, and if prices stay the same the next version of office as well.

 

[Coke Robot]

Honestly, this is a joke. Does anyone really think corporations are going subscription to save end users money?

Really? Seriously? Are you on drugs?

I'm not bashing MS here. Any company. They are doing this for you?

Get real....

That's a mixed bag there. It could be yes, it could be no.

In Microsoft's case, it's both as it makes once pricy software more available. Office is such a huge investment and I've seen people hold onto old versions because "it still works." Right, until they stop updating it for performance problems or security issues or even OS compatibility. It's definitely good for them as if you have for example Office 365, one main compilation of code is maintained. Overall, instead of having to support a few different versions of code at the same time, they can stay focused on developing for one. I'd imagine they'd be more interested in that considering a similar situation arose with Windows vista's early days of development right at the same time xp's lack of security sidetracked a lot of the process....

Further, it's a good thing for Microsoft as it means more Office, meaning probably the same revenue maybe more, and at such a low annual cost it can definitely continue to stomp out competition like google docs.

It might not be good for the end user as if they don't renew their subscription on time, no Office for you. But right now, you have like 30 days to renew before it's expired and can't be used for creation or editing. If the consumer doesn't get the correct version for their needs, they may over spend versus standalone.

If this were Adobe, I'd say no, this isn't good for anyone. Their CC pricing plans make no sense, there's month-to-month, prepaid, existing customers, and then full suite packages. Microsoft so far has really done a fine job with Office 365 and making it simple as mud to figure out while still being a great proposition for sure.

Standalone has its benefits, subscription has its benefits. It all comes down to what best suits your needs. Some will stick with standalone as that's what makes sense for them, some will do subscription as it makes the best sense for them. Some might even stick with the cloud version, Office Online, as that's even better for them. Free, basic, and works.