Office 2013 retail is “permanently assigned” to a single computer

[BillyGates]

Full license doesn't revert to reduced functionality

I agree that there should be a type of Office 2013 license that permits you to transfer to another PC, however don't confuse Office 2013 with Office 365, which is a subscription that allows you to use whatever the current version of Office is. The subscription is the one that reverts to reduced functionality and the other is perpetual, albeit only for as long as the PC you installed it on keeps running!

I don't think there is an OEM/SKU license anymore, so this new Retail license is priced between the old OEM/SKU and Retail.

The most scandalous part of this deal is the sneaky way that it locks you into the Microsoft eco system: stop paying the piper his money, lose the ability to edit your documents or create new ones, since the software will got into a reduced functionality read only mode as the FAQ explains. With the previous retail versions, you could just carry on using them forever and it was up to you if you wanted to pay the money for the latest version. Wanna make a bet that if Microsoft is successful with this it will rack up the (currently low) monthly subscriptions significantly once it pulls the retail product, leaving only the rental one as a buying choice?

 

[qubit]

@newtekie1

Oops, I forgot to put that post in the right context which threw you off a bit. I've put an edit in there now for the context so it should now make sense (hopefully!)

Thanks for the info about the OEM activation. I know that MS will generally activate if you tell them it's a replacement mobo and I'll bet they'll even do it if the mobo is actually completely different. However, since they're trying to change their business model to a rental one, it wouldn't surprise me if they start becoming more draconian with this and try to deny activations. This is pure speculation at this point of course, but wouldn't it make for a juicy news story if this came to light in a few months time!

 

[BigMack70]

I still haven't seen a compelling reason to upgrade from Office 2003, especially considering the existence of OpenOffice. This basically seals Office 2013's fate in my mind - it's not worth my time or money.

 

[Fourstaff]

All of this is from my experience with their OEM OSes, so I assume it will be the same for Office as well.

So its business as usual, just a minor change in words?

 

[Frick]

So its business as usual, just a minor change in words?

TBH we don't know that yet. His experiences is based on how things used to be, how they are now... We won't know until we try.

 

[BlackTitan666]

I'm happy with LibreOffice 4.0 plus still have MSO 2003

 

[hat]

It might not activate online if you have to re-install after putting on a new OS, or changing out too many parts, but that is what the phone system is for. And the phone system will activate the software as long as you haven't changed your motherboard.

And before someone says "what if my motherboard dies and I have to replace it, OMG Microsoft is so stoopid for making me buy a new copy!!!11!!". They cover that scenario too. You are allowed to replace a failed motherboard as long as the new motherboard is comparable to the old. Again, this will likely require a phone call during product activation, but they will activate the software over the phone once you explain the situation.

How generous of them to "allow" me to replace my motherboard should it blow up or I wish to upgrade. Now I gotta call Master Hapu and explain that my motherboard took a shit or I upgraded to a new machine and hope He allows such a ridiculous action from his subjects.

 

[OnePostWonder]

How generous of them to "allow" me to replace my motherboard should it blow up or I wish to upgrade. Now I gotta call Master Hapu and explain that my motherboard took a shit or I upgraded to a new machine and hope He allows such a ridiculous action from his subjects.

It's the subtlety that makes this comment funny.

 

[qubit]

How generous of them to "allow" me to replace my motherboard should it blow up or I wish to upgrade. Now I gotta call Master Hapu and explain that my motherboard took a shit or I upgraded to a new machine and hope He allows such a ridiculous action from his subjects.

You ramp up the cynicism there buddy.

 

[newtekie1]

Wait...I just looked it up. Office 2010 wasn't transferable either. The downloadable retail edition only allowed installation on one PC, and it was non-transferable. The Retail Disc Edition was transferable, but how many people actually bought that version(it was more expensive too). The only change seems to be that Microsoft has stopped selling the Retail Disc Edition.

So the claim that the previous version wasn't tied to a single PC permanently is false. The version that most people bought actually is tied to a single PC permanently.

 

[qubit]

Wait...I just looked it up. Office 2010 wasn't transferable either. The downloadable retail edition only allowed installation on one PC, and it was non-transferable. The Retail Disc Edition was transferable, but how many people actually bought that version(it was more expensive too). The only change seems to be that Microsoft has stopped selling the Retail Disc Edition.

So the claim that the previous version wasn't tied to a single PC permanently is false. The version that most people bought actually is tied to a single PC permanently.

So the retail edition is either locked or not locked depending on whether it was sold as a download or not? Sneaky, very sneaky and I'll bet not many people realized the difference.

 

[erocker]

I'll keep using the older version I'm on now, thanks

This is just it. There isn't a thing I've needed with the newer iterations of Office at all.

 

[OnePostWonder]

Wait...I just looked it up. Office 2010 wasn't transferable either. The downloadable retail edition only allowed installation on one PC, and it was non-transferable. The Retail Disc Edition was transferable, but how many people actually bought that version(it was more expensive too). The only change seems to be that Microsoft has stopped selling the Retail Disc Edition.

So the claim that the previous version wasn't tied to a single PC permanently is false. The version that most people bought actually is tied to a single PC permanently.

I'm not sure if this is in agreement with what you said, but here's a reputable source:

TechSpot

 

[qubit]

This is just it. There isn't a thing I've needed with the newer iterations of Office at all.

I'm still on Office 2003, use Outlook all the time and a bit of Word and haven't found a reason to change it. In fact, I tried out the 2007 and 2010 versions from my TechNet sub, but preferred 2003.

Which version are you on?

 

[TheMailMan78]

Wait...I just looked it up. Office 2010 wasn't transferable either. The downloadable retail edition only allowed installation on one PC, and it was non-transferable. The Retail Disc Edition was transferable, but how many people actually bought that version(it was more expensive too). The only change seems to be that Microsoft has stopped selling the Retail Disc Edition.

So the claim that the previous version wasn't tied to a single PC permanently is false. The version that most people bought actually is tied to a single PC permanently.

I wasn't gonna say anything man. Logic has left TPU recently.

 

[newtekie1]

So the retail edition is either locked or not locked depending on whether it was sold as a download or not? Sneaky, very sneaky and I'll bet not many people realized the difference.

I'm not sure if this is in agreement with what you said, but here's a reputable source:

TechSpot

Microsoft's infographic for Office 2010. It clearly says that the key card edition is not transferable to another PC, and currently Office 2013 is only available in key card edition. Only the traditional disc version is transferable. So really the news should be that they eliminated the traditional disc version, because the licensing policy hasn't actually changed at all.

Also, having said that, I've transferred the key card edition to new computers before without a problem.

This is just it. There isn't a thing I've needed with the newer iterations of Office at all.

I'm still on Office 2003, use Outlook all the time and a bit of Word and haven't found a reason to change it. In fact, I tried out the 2007 and 2010 versions from my TechNet sub, but preferred 2003.

Which version are you on?

I'm using Office 2010, but only because I get it through my work's Technet subscription. If it wasn't for that I'd still be using Office 2003, and I'd only be using that because I got it free when I was in college. There isn't much reason to upgrade to newer versions if you are only using it for basic documents.

And I can't stand Outlook anymore, there isn't any point is using it unless you have to connect to an Exchange account. Microsoft Live Mail is better and free.

 

[qubit]

Thanks NT, that infographic is quite illuminating. It still doesn't take away the fact that it's not possible to buy a traditional office suite without this severe restriction however, so exactly how they did it is interesting, but doesn't change anything very much.

I'll have a look at that Microsoft Live Mail and see what I think of it.

btw, my use of Office at home is very basic indeed, which is why I find that the 2003 version is still good enough. I found that using the later versions actually required more mouse clicks to do common actions, introduced the ribbon which I'm not especially keen on (*I don't hate it, either) and didn't give me any compelling extra functionality, so I didn't upgrade.

 

[OnePostWonder]

So really the news should be that they eliminated the traditional disc version, because the licensing policy hasn't actually changed at all.

Isn't a disc version available?

Newegg

 

[qubit]

Isn't a disc version available?

Newegg

Yes, but it works on only 1 PC and isn't transferrable, as it shows on the Newegg product page. That restriction is the whole point of this thread.

 

[OnePostWonder]

Yes, but it works on only 1 PC and isn't transferrable, as it shows on the Newegg product page. That restriction is the whole point of this thread.

I think you missed a post.

I posted an article describing how Office 2013 retail (not download) is using a new EULA.

newtekie1 says the EULA has not changed, which is true for the download (key card) version.

He further stated that the retail (traditional disc) version is not available, thus the EULA hasn't really changed and the only thing that has is they did away with the retail version, which isn't the case.

 

[qubit]

I think you missed a post.

I posted an article describing how Office 2013 retail (not download) is using a new EULA.

newtekie1 says the EULA has not changed, which is true for the download (key card) version.

He further stated that the retail (traditional disc) version is not available, thus the EULA hasn't really changed and the only thing that has is they did away with the retail version, which isn't the case.

Ok maybe (I'm feeling too lazy to read over everything as I'm watching TV, lol) but I think that's just playing with semantics.

The main point is that the only versioin of Office 2013 one can buy has this restrictive licence and it's obvious that they've made it worse to peddle their rental model Office 365. That they've just licenced Office 2013 like the keycard version of Office 2010, which I've never heard of btw, is just an interesting side point that doesn't change the main point.

 

[OnePostWonder]

Ok maybe (I'm feeling too lazy to read over everything as I'm watching TV, lol) but I think that's just playing with semantics.

The main point is that the only versioin of Office 2013 one can buy has this restrictive licence and it's obvious that they've made it worse to peddle their rental model Office 365. That they've just licenced Office 2013 like the keycard version of Office 2010, which I've never heard of btw, is just an interesting side point that doesn't change the main point.

Nah, not playing with semantics, just saying the traditional disc version is there and they changed the EULA on it to match the key card version.

They're definitely pushing Office 365 and offer incentives like SkyDrive to get people on the bandwagon. Over the years I've mainly used Microsoft Word, but I've found a likable alternative in Abiword.

 

[BrooksyX]

Meh ill stick with office 2010 for now. See no reason to upgrade.

 

[erocker]

I'm still on Office 2003, use Outlook all the time and a bit of Word and haven't found a reason to change it. In fact, I tried out the 2007 and 2010 versions from my TechNet sub, but preferred 2003.

Which version are you on?

2010. At work, I pretty much only use Excel... Not much has changed there at all through the years and all of my files converted from 03 to 10 without a problem.

 

[micropage7]

Meh ill stick with office 2010 for now. See no reason to upgrade.

yeah i still run 2007 and that works fine so i dont have any plan to upgrade
except at sometimes i feel 2013 give you different look but that is just another story