Microsoft Unveils Mac Office 2008 Packages, Pricing

Mr. Dee · Sep 25, 2007, 12:44 AM

Quote:

The product will come in three flavors. The standard version, known simply as Office 2008 for Mac, includes PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Entourage and will sell for $399. A $499 Special Media Edition also includes Expression Media, a digital media cataloguing program that Microsoft acquired from its 2006 purchase of iView Multimedia.

Both the Special Media Edition and the standard Office for Mac also include the ability to connect to an Exchange Server, as well as some actions for Automator, Mac OS X's built-in scripting tool.

Read the entire article here

Nermal · Sep 25, 2007, 12:51 AM

Expression Media? Interesting! I wonder whether we'll eventually get Blend too.

I expect that I'll get Office for free from work anyway

Eidorian · Sep 25, 2007, 12:52 AM

I love my site license. Even the home/student version doesn't look that bad.

KJmoon117 · Sep 25, 2007, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Dee

Read the entire article here

Wow 400$ for the regular version and 500$ for the "special" media edition...

Thank God my mom is a student... However when they say:

Quote:

Microsoft is also launching a tech guarantee program under which people who buy Office 2004 between now and March 15 will be able to upgrade to the comparable version of Office 2008 for only the cost of shipping and handling, around $10.

When they say comparable version, I'm guessing I can buy a student version of MS Office 2004 for the Mac for around 60$ then upgrade to 2008 for 10$ extra? Now I'm not the kind of guy who milks out companies or anyone but his is Microsoft... lol

Anyways, I'll be getting 2004 for free from my mom's work... So if I get that do you think I can upgrade to '08? lol

Mr. Dee · Sep 25, 2007, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eidorian

I love my site license. Even the home/student version doesn't look that bad.

If you have access to a Site license, it must mean you should at least get access to the Standard and Special SKUs which both include the Exchange support through Entourage 2008. Microsoft needs to beef up the SKU values though, with the loss of Virtual PC which came with Office for Mac 2004 Pro Edition, the value looks like its struggling. Yes there are some nifty features in 2008 and I sure will be taking a look at it, but I think the sweet needs one more app. Its time to bring over OneNote I say.

Mr. Dee · Sep 25, 2007, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJmoon117

Wow 400$ for the regular version and 500$ for the "special" media edition...

Thank God my mom is a student... However when they say:

When they say comparable version, I'm guessing I can buy a student version of MS Office 2004 for the Mac for around 60$ then upgrade to 2008 for 10$ extra? Now I'm not the kind of guy who milks out companies or anyone but his is Microsoft... lol

Anyways, I'll be getting 2004 for free from my mom's work... So if I get that do you think I can upgrade to '08? lol

I assume your mom is under a Volume License contract at work which gives her home rights/use. Then it would be assumed that if the Company gives her access to the 2008 software she should be able to upgrade her home license of it too. Remember, the license is on lease from the Company, its not hers. And if she leaves there is the issue of perpetual licensing. If I were you, I would look into getting the Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition then take advantage of the free upgrade pricing for the appropriate pricing when it comes out.

KJmoon117 · Sep 25, 2007, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Dee

I assume your mom is under a Volume License contract at work which gives her home rights/use. Then it would be assumed that if the Company gives her access to the 2008 software she should be able to upgrade her home license of it too. Remember, the license is on lease from the Company, its not hers. And if she leaves there is the issue of perpetual licensing. If I were you, I would look into getting the Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition then take advantage of the free upgrade pricing for the appropriate pricing when it comes out.

Yeah definitely, I have multiple ways of getting Office (legally) but the school store sells them for 64$..

So many things to buy yet so little cash... But it isn't really a company, it's more of a laboratory...

Thanks.

Peace · Sep 25, 2007, 01:40 AM

Wonder if there's going to be an upgrade path like MS does with other products.

jackc · Sep 25, 2007, 01:44 AM

What kind of Automator actions do you think they're talking about?

And I guess for the Home and Student edition, anyone can qualify, it's not just for students anymore (or people pretending to be students)? I think I remember hearing about that before, but I wasn't sure.

MisterMe · Sep 25, 2007, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nermal

Expression Media? Interesting! ...

I was thinking this was Expression, but it is just a cataloging app from a different source. I am much more interested in the ability to connect to Exchange servers. Has Microsoft increased the functionality of Entourage or does it think that a cosmetic and UB upgrade to Entourage 2004 is good enough?

bluebomberman · Sep 25, 2007, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackc

And I guess for the Home and Student edition, anyone can qualify, it's not just for students anymore (or people pretending to be students)? I think I remember hearing about that before, but I wasn't sure.

Correct; they're dropping the silly pretense of the specially priced student and teacher edition. That's why it's called "Home and Student" instead of "Student and Teacher"...

Not sure what to do, personally...$149 is a lot for something that doesn't strike me as a total necessity with all the choices we have.

Scrivener + iWork might be enough for me...

Slumbercub · Sep 25, 2007, 02:46 AM

I'll pass thanks. iWork does all I need.

bluebomberman · Sep 25, 2007, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterMe

I am much more interested in the ability to connect to Exchange servers. Has Microsoft increased the functionality of Entourage or does it think that a cosmetic and UB upgrade to Entourage 2004 is good enough?

Hard to tell from the preview site. You might not get a good answer until January 2008.

MacRumors · 11:11 AM

Microsoft has announced packages and pricing of their upcoming Office 2008, to be released in January.

Version:Notable Features:Price
Home and Student Edition: Contains all core Office products, but lacks Exchange support : $149.95(full version only)
Standard Edition: Core products, including Exchange support and support for Automator workflows : $399.95(full)/$239.95(upgrade)
Special Media Edition: Standard Edition plus Expression Media for Mac (Windows product link) : $499.95(full)/$299.95(upgrade)

All versions have been further localized to Danish, Finnish & Norwegian (the "Nordic Pack".)

Also announced is a new technology guarantee. Buyers of Office 2004 from here on out will be eligible for an upgrade to Office 2008 for only the cost of shipping and handling.

Article Link

FJ218700 · Sep 25, 2007, 10:02 AM

so if I have Office 2004, the upgrade is free plus S&H? Can't be right.

longofest · Sep 25, 2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSL4 Guy

so if I have Office 2004, the upgrade is free plus S&H? Can't be right.

If you buy office 2004 today, you are eligible for a free upgrade.

atari1356 · Sep 25, 2007, 10:03 AM

$150 isn't bad for the Home Edition.

For my needs though... I'll stick to NeoOffice.

That Expression Media things looks kind of interesting - it appears to be the result of Microsoft buying iView Media:

http://www.iview-multimedia.com/

Quote:

Microsoft Expression Media is a professional asset management tool to visually catalog and organize all your digital assets for effortless retrieval and presentation, and is based on iView MediaPro 3.

zioxide · Sep 25, 2007, 10:03 AM

no exchange support for student edition?? wtf.

my college uses exchange.

**** microsoft

ruckus · Sep 25, 2007, 10:03 AM

Wow is that what office is going for these days?

synth3tik · Sep 25, 2007, 10:03 AM

Rubbish, Neo-Office is 5X better,

kwood · Sep 25, 2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSL4 Guy

so if I have Office 2004, the upgrade is free plus S&H? Can't be right.

I think it means if you buy it right now then you can get a free upgrade. Just like when Vista was announced, if you bought Windows XP they would give you a free upgrade to the equivalent edition of Vista plus shipping and handling.

Yateball · Sep 25, 2007, 10:05 AM

Can't believe they're giving a free upgrade....... I suppose they did it with XP to Vista too though.

That's awesome though, hopefully it's actually a good improvement cuz I liked 2004 quite a bit.

zirkle2007 · Sep 25, 2007, 10:05 AM

seems a little overpriced. why would anyone pay 499 for an office software package? It looks cool, but I'm not paying that much.

PlaceofDis · Sep 25, 2007, 10:05 AM

i'll probably end up getting the home edition, i don't need exchange support, and really would like a better version of word/excel.

looking forward to trying it out though.
can't believe its going to take so long for release though.

cwedl · Sep 25, 2007, 10:05 AM

Microsoft are being greddy as usual, obviously iWork 08 doesn't shake them! I think for my needs iWork 08 is fine!

Sep 25, 2007, 12:52 AM	#3
Eidorian macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	I love my site license. Even the home/student version doesn't look that bad. __________________ MRoogle it! hikari T7500 2.2 GHz / 4 GB / 320 GB / GMA X3100 / 10.5.8 chobimaru Core i5 750 2.66 GHz / 4 GB / 640 GB / 4830 / Windows 7

Sep 25, 2007, 09:58 AM	#14
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Microsoft Unveils Mac Office 2008 Packages, Pricing Microsoft has announced packages and pricing of their upcoming Office 2008, to be released in January. Version:Notable Features:Price Home and Student Edition: Contains all core Office products, but lacks Exchange support : $149.95(full version only) Standard Edition: Core products, including Exchange support and support for Automator workflows : $399.95(full)/$239.95(upgrade) Special Media Edition: Standard Edition plus Expression Media for Mac (Windows product link) : $499.95(full)/$299.95(upgrade) All versions have been further localized to Danish, Finnish & Norwegian (the "Nordic Pack".) Also announced is a new technology guarantee. Buyers of Office 2004 from here on out will be eligible for an upgrade to Office 2008 for only the cost of shipping and handling. Article Link Last edited by longofest : Sep 25, 2007 at 11:11 AM.

Sep 25, 2007, 10:02 AM	#15
FJ218700 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Blue Dot, Red State	so if I have Office 2004, the upgrade is free plus S&H? Can't be right. __________________ Lab: 3.0 ghz octo MP Mobile: 1.33 ghz 12' PB twitter.com/Dr_H twitter.com/TapeSlave

Sep 25, 2007, 10:03 AM	#20
synth3tik macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Rubbish, Neo-Office is 5X better, __________________ Come check out my music! http://www.batteriesarentfood.com http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/BatteriesarentFood

Sep 25, 2007, 10:05 AM	#22
Yateball macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2007	Can't believe they're giving a free upgrade....... I suppose they did it with XP to Vista too though. That's awesome though, hopefully it's actually a good improvement cuz I liked 2004 quite a bit. __________________ iMac 20" Core 2 Duo (256mb Graphics Card & 2GB RAM Upgrades) Macbook Core 2 Duo iPod Video 5.5g 80gb (With iPod Linux) iPod Shuffle 1st gen (eww)

Sep 25, 2007, 12:51 AM	#2
Nermal Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Whakatane, New Zealand	Expression Media? Interesting! I wonder whether we'll eventually get Blend too. I expect that I'll get Office for free from work anyway

Sep 25, 2007, 01:40 AM	#8
Peace macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: On top of the Storm Peaks waiting for the Time-Lost Proto Drake	Wonder if there's going to be an upgrade path like MS does with other products.

Sep 25, 2007, 01:44 AM	#9
jackc macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2003	What kind of Automator actions do you think they're talking about? And I guess for the Home and Student edition, anyone can qualify, it's not just for students anymore (or people pretending to be students)? I think I remember hearing about that before, but I wasn't sure.

Sep 25, 2007, 02:46 AM	#12
Slumbercub macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gloucester, England	I'll pass thanks. iWork does all I need.

Sep 25, 2007, 10:03 AM	#18
zioxide macrumors 68040 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Massachusetts	no exchange support for student edition?? wtf. my college uses exchange. **** microsoft

Sep 25, 2007, 10:03 AM	#19
ruckus macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2005	Wow is that what office is going for these days?

Sep 25, 2007, 10:05 AM	#23
zirkle2007 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana, USA	seems a little overpriced. why would anyone pay 499 for an office software package? It looks cool, but I'm not paying that much.

Sep 25, 2007, 10:05 AM	#24
PlaceofDis macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago.	i'll probably end up getting the home edition, i don't need exchange support, and really would like a better version of word/excel. looking forward to trying it out though. can't believe its going to take so long for release though.

Sep 25, 2007, 10:05 AM	#25
cwedl macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: London, United Kingdom	Microsoft are being greddy as usual, obviously iWork 08 doesn't shake them! I think for my needs iWork 08 is fine! __________________ iMac 24", TV, iPhone 3G 8Gb, Mobile Me, 120Gb iPod Classic, 3rd Gen iPod Shuffle, Time Capsule, Airport Express (N).

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