Microsoft Office to Become 'Microsoft 365' in Biggest Brand Overhaul in More Than 30 Years

[mansplains]

Saving an offline version of a live file is one more thing to learn but it's not exactly a hard thing to learn, I think university professors and school teachers are more than capable.

Depends on the professor, some of them have their learning time preoccupied memorizing mantras of corporate establishments instead of teaching skills.

 

[MyOwnDrummer]

I feel like I'm suffering from Deja Vu suddenly when I see members on here moaning about subscription models. I literally just wrote a post on this topic on another thread.

Here's the full article, but below is a summary of what I said: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...tures-and-complications.2365350/post-31617006

People have a very narrow-minded view of subscriptions and simply bemoan them without thinking about why companies are taking this approach. Times have changed people.

It was a very different world in software development before subscription models existed. Only Windows and Mac versions existed. Sometimes it was just the one. There were fewer updates. You didn't expect the developers to support a cloud platform. You also had lower support expectations as you didn't expect a reply within the day.

With a sub-model, you are supporting your favourite software. You are supporting the development and future of the product, and you are paying for the ongoing costs.

So before whining about subscription models, how about you look at why the economics of products have changed? You want cloud features. You want constant updates. You want 24/7 support. You want it across all your devices.

A one-time fee simply doesn't provide the necessary income to support this. A subscription model does, plus it allows users always to receive the latest version of the software.

Cloud data needs to be stored somewhere and this has costs yet we want more and more storage. Who pays for this? Who pays for the developers constantly delivering updates? Who pays for their business costs? Who pays for their marketing, research and more? Do you think it's all free?

Finally, many moan about subscription costs yet everyone is completely oblivious to the fact that we all laughed at the iPhones launch price of $600, yet nobody bats an eyelid today spending $1600 on today's 13 Pro Max....(double the cost if you were to value it in today's money).

I'm not saying all software should be subscription based. Small utilities and accessories don't deserve this, but full-fledged packages (even from the likes of Microsoft and Adobe), are well-suited to subscription models.

You might be right. I refuse to participate to the fullest extent possible. I.

 

[H2SO4]

Meanwhile, I still use the Apple suite of equivalent apps and email converted documents. I refuse to pollute my macs with anything from Redmond.

Good for you. You obviously are mainstream and don't mind assing around converting and finding work arounds. I paid the tax and have full compatibility for anything that may arise.

When I go to a meeting and have a presentation to do in front of a big client, I don't want to look the fool when I can't open a document or when my substitute is proven to be missing features. I refuse to pollute my reputation with excuses and failures.

I use Apple when what I am doing calls for Apple and M$ when the opposite applies. Why limit yourself?

 

[Gasu E.]

JUST as I get the old folks to understand that "Word" is not "Windows" when I try to remotely trouble shoot

Imagine what it's like to help my 94 year old artist Mom remotely, who is an absolute expert at some ancient version of Photoshop running on Windows, but still can't grasp the concept of a "browser".

 

[ackmondual]

Much like your bank accounts, you should keep track of your subs and remove them if unused.

I too have a ton on my plate, but they are used.

• Apple One
• YouTube Premium
• Spotify
• Microsoft 365
• Adobe Photography 1TB
• Zwift
• Netflix
• Amazon Prime
• Disney+
• Strava

Yes it all adds up, but I keep it documented and part of my annual budget. The problem is some people just sign up and forget. Much like a gym membership.

I got curious and what I came up with includes:
--Costco
--CuriosityStream
This will always be with me since it's only $20 per year for HD
--1 or 2 major streaming services
Currently doing my last week of Hulu since it just got a price increase. Doing a couple months of Disney+ after Hulu before that too goes up (Dec. 8th). HBO Max has 40% off annual plans until Oct. 30th.
--MuseScore

I would've done Office 365 if I didn't already purchase the one-time Office 2016 via Microsoft's Home Use Program. I would've done Apple Arcade (for a year, $45 at Costco.com), but I found a few standalone games to keep me occupied (ipad and my Android phone).

 

[ackmondual]

Ergh. Do you know how many people I saw when working in a retail phone store that used the Google app on their iPhone or iPad as a web browser.

Most didn’t know what safari was.

In the last decade, tech products needed to include descriptors like "works for all MP3 players and iPod"

 

[bgillander]

I didn't acuse everyone of piracy. Please don't put words in my mouth. I said Office is one of the most pirated software packages made, and if you believe for one second everyone on this forum is some sort of saint, you are sadly wrong.

Even I pirated Office as a kid! I got my first legal version at University with the educational schemes and then I was given an MSDN license in my employment at HP as part of a program they offered, and then most of my companies have offered home user schemes to allow for cheaper versions of Office. But most of us have pirated software. Especially as kids.

Additionally, the fact that you have chosen not to move on from a quarter century old software package says it all. I also find it amusing that you feel Microsoft should maintain Office 97! It's a bit like asking why Apple won't maintain your Apple II, and asking why you're not getting Apple DOS / BASIC updates.

Subscriptions are not for all and you are not Microsofts market and that's just, well tough for you.

Sorry, you didn’t accuse everyone of being pirates, as you did hazard a guess that a very few bought licenses. So, almost everyone.

I did say that I resumed purchasing Office in the last decade and at no point said MS should be maintaining Office 97, just that I didn’t care for their design decisions after that version, but I guess I shouldn’t expect you to follow that whole “words in mouth” rule you requested.

And Microsoft’s market extends well past Office 365. Doesn’t seem that tough, at all.