The subscription model. Your thoughts?

from Stardock Forums

So, Microsoft's latest office product is subscription based.

The rates seem "reasonable", but I really don't like the subscription model, because, in the long run you end up paying a lot more than if you purchased it outright. similar to a car lease. While others pay off a car in 3-5 years, 10 years down the road, you're still making monthly payments (Yea you trade it in every 3 years for a new model, but the cash outflow never stops.)

You never own it, in any sense of the word, and once you stop paying for it, it "shuts off". You're trapped.

Now, I understand that the software is the property of the developer, but what I'm afraid of, is that your content that you create with the software will no longer be yours. For example, you will be required to save it to a cloud location, and will not be able to save it to a local hard drive. And even if you can save it locally, it will be in a locked proprietary format, or some form of DRM so you can't open it up in a competitor's program (e.g. Open Office)

Is that day coming, or have I read too many distopian novels?

 

26,458 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think the answer is in how the consumer market accepts this. 

If everyone buys into it then it's going to happen. 

Even though at times it seems the consumers are being herded in a particular direction as to where technology is going they still influence what happens.  Where and how the consumer decides to spend their money will always remain a factor.   :sun:

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Is that day coming, or have I read too many distopian novels?
End of quote

You've read too many novels...;)

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hi Y'all

hmm, okay if I go here:

 http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msca/en_CA/cat/ThemeID.27659600/categoryID.61243200?WT.mc_id=MSCOM_EN_CA_HP_Shop_Office

 and see that the price here in Canada for MS Office Professional Download key is $519.00, for 1 (one) computer install.

It includes : Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher and Access.

Then I go here:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msca/en_CA/pdp/productID.260245000

and I can get MS Office 365, for $99.00 for 1 year, or $10.00 a month for 12 months. ($120.00). And it is license for use on up to 5 computers in the household.

This package includes everything in Office Professional, for a standard home or business user.

Oaky, the average time of Office software new versions is typically every 3 yrs give or take. Office Professional does include free updates for that version, and as long as you stay subscribed, 365 also includes all updates, even to newer versions of the apps.  Office Professional, you would have to go and purchase the newer version all over again.

Office 365 Home Premium

1yr of $10 a month = $120

3 yrs of $10 a month = $360 or 3 yrs  of $99 per year = $297

Office Professional

$519 every three years

How and where does this get to be more expensive than buying it in the store? it just takes common sense.

 

Cheers

GigaByte69

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Adobe and MS (as well as others) have gone over to this method.

Basically, you're paying for software on which all the development and security updates are "there", and you don't have to worry about vulnerabilities, ideally.

In truth? There will be exploits, etc. However, it's a seller's market UNLESS you decide to use an Open Office/Libre product.

You still have options. 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Everry three years. really? I don't know too many people who upgrade every three years. In most businesses I've worked, I've seen the cycle closer to 5-10 years.

Also, if you have an existing copy, you can buy the "upgrade" to a newer version for less than the full price. not to mention alternative such as a vendor on Amazon who is willing to sell  older versions of office for less than you can get it directly from MS.

 

Quoting GigaByte69, reply 3
Hi Y'all

hmm, okay if I go here:

 http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msca/en_CA/cat/ThemeID.27659600/categoryID.61243200?WT.mc_id=MSCOM_EN_CA_HP_Shop_Office

 and see that the price here in Canada for MS Office Professional Download key is $519.00, for 1 (one) computer install.

It includes : Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher and Access.

Then I go here:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msca/en_CA/pdp/productID.260245000

and I can get MS Office 365, for $99.00 for 1 year, or $10.00 a month for 12 months. ($120.00). And it is license for use on up to 5 computers in the household.

This package includes everything in Office Professional, for a standard home or business user.

Oaky, the average time of Office software new versions is typically every 3 yrs give or take. Office Professional does include free updates for that version, and as long as you stay subscribed, 365 also includes all updates, even to newer versions of the apps.  Office Professional, you would have to go and purchase the newer version all over again.

Office 365 Home Premium

1yr of $10 a month = $120

3 yrs of $10 a month = $360 or 3 yrs  of $99 per year = $297

Office Professional

$519 every three years

How and where does this get to be more expensive than buying it in the store? it just takes common sense.

 

Cheers

GigaByte69
End of GigaByte69's quote

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

btw, I realize that a lot of IT people are probably on these forums, and it's in their self interest for the subscription model to become the standard...

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quote: Also, if you have an existing copy, you can buy the "upgrade"

 

sorry, there are NO upgrade versions of Office anymore. Office 2010 and 2013 don't offer upgrades, I don't think 2007 did ether.  You would have to go back to the last version, 2003, to get an upgrade price.

Yes there are free and cheaper offices (Apache Open Office, Corel WordPerfect Office), I wont say they are bad, some re quite good, I like the smooth running and consistent interfaces of MS Software.  It works well.

and the rule of thumb that I stick too, newer is always better, faster and more features, but also learning curve, but I have been in technology for years, and like new cool things.

Okay, why buy older versions, old OS maybe, for older hardware I guess, if you want to get older versions, go for it, I generally don't go backwards.

Old Computer for older software, why ?

or New Computer and newer software.

New Console to play old games : Why ?

 

GigaByte69

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

If I could, I'd still be using XP.

Not everyone feels the need to have the latest and greatest, or be early adopters.

And sometimes the latest and greatest isn't...

But there is a difference between natual obsolecence, and planned obsolecence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence

Quoting GigaByte69, reply 7
Quote: Also, if you have an existing copy, you can buy the "upgrade"

 

sorry, there are NO upgrade versions of Office anymore. Office 2010 and 2013 don't offer upgrades, I don't think 2007 did ether.  You would have to go back to the last version, 2003, to get an upgrade price.

Yes there are free and cheaper offices (Apache Open Office, Corel WordPerfect Office), I wont say they are bad, some re quite good, I like the smooth running and consistent interfaces of MS Software.  It works well.

and the rule of thumb that I stick too, newer is always better, faster and more features, but also learning curve, but I have been in technology for years, and like new cool things.

Okay, why buy older versions, old OS maybe, for older hardware I guess, if you want to get older versions, go for it, I generally don't go backwards.

Old Computer for older software, why ?

or New Computer and newer software.

New Console to play old games : Why ?

 

GigaByte69
End of GigaByte69's quote

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Word is Word, I don't need a better spell check, I'm better than it is anyway.

 

As a result, I'm still using Office 2003.  Not that I use it any time I don't need to...  I do most of my notes in txt files, and use Notepad++ for modding.  Bloated file formats filled with irrelevant information aren't an improvement.