OEM version of Office

[UKSBD]

Now that new PC's come with a free version of Office starter is it still cheaper to get an OEM version of office business when buying a new PC or is it cheaper just shopping around after buying a new PC?

 

[fisicx]

It's cheaper to just install OpenOffice and save the documents as Office versions.

If you want to view documents in the original office format then you just need the appropriate viewers.

 

[mit74]

you can buy OEM versions of products at any time. You're far better off shopping around on Amazon as buying from the same company as you get your computer will be considerbly more expensive.

 

[UKSBD]

you can buy OEM versions of products at any time. You're far better off shopping around on Amazon as buying from the same company as you get your computer will be considerbly more expensive.

Yeah, that is what I found.

Didn't it used to be the case that if you brought it pre-loaded on a new machine it was about half the price?

Has this all changed now the Free version of Office starter is preloaded?

 

[mit74]

in same cases it may be cheaper but I think many companies try to make a killing on pre-installed software these days so I'd just check the figures.

 

[ferdi2000]

Office Starter is actually pretty good! Some of my customers just use it alone!... But yes, OpenOffice is the way to go... There is even a plugin you can install to make open office a little more like Microsoft Office too.

 

[SourChocolate]

Open Office is great but it can't write to docx/xlsx files, only read them which is a limitation if you wanted to exchange files with office2010 users.

 

[RAIDMEUK]

As said OpenOffice is ok but don't use the spell checker on it as I has no UK dictionary and does not offer one either.

LibreOffice on the other hand does offer a UK dictionary and UK templates too. I install it on all my recon machines.

 

[fisicx]

Yes it does.

Tools > Language > For all text > English (UK)

 

[Leo-InstallingIT]

The OEM versions now, are really PKC's (Product Key Cards). So you don't really need to buy it at the same time as the computer.

Once you have the computer with the Office starter edition on, simply buy a PKC and you will be able to activate it with the key provided.

 

[KM-Tiger]

Open Office is great but it can't write to docx/xlsx files, ...

V 3.2 running here does.

 

[Spapro]

I had this dilemma recently when buying a new laptop. In the end plumbed for this retail version of Office Home and Business - not much more than the OEM key but gives you the disk and allows you to install on 2 systems (Licence is for single user on 1 PC plus 1 Laptop) which could be useful.

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Micr...DVD_with_Graphite_Mouse_T5D-01224/version.asp

This pack which I bought linked to above includes a free wireless mouse (which I sold on ebay to recoup a bit of cash).

I uninstalled the pre-loaded (OEM) MS Office off my new laptop before installing from the retail disk I purchased and everything has worked well.

This home and business version includes outlook, word, excel,powerpoint and onenote (does not include access or publisher).

 

[UKSBD]

Yeah, that's what I decided to go for in the end (or most likely will do anyway)

I'm picking up the new PC in the morning but didn't bother getting them to install Office (apart from the free version)

I'm going to see how I get on with the free version for a week first, but if need more will get the same version you got

They were going to charge £200 to pre-load it £50 more than you can buy the product key version yourself.

 

[ferdi2000]

Is there any difference between the student version and full version also?

 

[UKSBD]

Is there any difference between the student version and full version also?

Apart from the obvious?

 

[Leo-InstallingIT]

Is there any difference between the student version and full version also?

Are you referring to the Home & Student edition or the EDU licensing.

If its the home and student, it is just the applications that you have (I.e Word, Excel and Powerpoint) and that it is for non commercial use.

If the EDU version they are only for educational use, but do have the same applications.

Many Thanks

Leo

 

[10032012]

I hear Microsoft have scrapped the Office Starter idea.

 

[nightmare99]

I hear Microsoft have scrapped the Office Starter idea.

Correct, some system integrators may still have licences to use up but you will see it phased out. I believe they will go back to the trial version model with Office 2013. Its a shame but knowing that office starter does the job for about 90% of people I can kind of understand thier reasons but I think it will just drive people back to open office. I do like the subscription idea though, £80 a year for upto 5 pcs is good if you have 4-5 pcs.

 

[10032012]

I think Microsoft risk a lot with bundling software these days. OK, there is no longer any major alternative players (OK, OO/LO open source alternatives but not commercial) but bundling the defacto word processor software etc into Windows, on say a larger scale (all OEM, Volume Licensing and Retail etc) could run them into problems.

I always thought notepad and wordpad were a bit yesteryear since Vista onwards... a lower end version however means no one is going to bother upgrading as even I have rarely used more than probably 1 in 5 features in any one working week.. so wouldn't need to buy the software.

We know about IE and WMP causing problems in the past... however, surely an office package would be a bigger problem than a web browser and media player?