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

[maternidad]

they've taped bits of paper on every desk with "tips & tricks" on how to use Windows 10. also had loads of emails.

That is so cute!

 

[StevieD100]

I think Microsoft Office sounds better. What does the “365” pertain to? It makes me think of Whole Foods 365.

Some marketing drone somewhere in the MS universe... thought that using the number of days in a year as a product name sounded cool. Guaranteed 24-hour downtime on Feb 29th every 4 years...
I'm gradually weaning myself off of Orifice in preparation for the day when I buy an M1/M2 powered Macbook. Then I'll be finally free of anything from Redmond/India.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

After watching their keynote yesterday, I get why they're doing this. But I have to question if Office, part of Microsoft 365, wouldn't have been better branding.

 

[jscooper22]

I don't care what they call it, they're being sleazy (again). "New Outlook" on Mac only working with hosted email (through them, of course) and not on-premise installs is absurd and a blatant and obvious way force everyone to hand over their data and sign on for what amounts to a vertical monopoly.

 

[Tagbert]

I have been Office 365 subscriber for the last 10 years so not sure what the news are. I pay $99 a year for the whole 365 suite which includes 60 mins Skype international calls, OneDrive and I can install the whole suite in 5 computers (Mac or Windows) + 5 portable devices and also share my subscription with 5 family members or friends who can also install the suite in 5 computers + 5 portable devices and each one of them also get OneDrive + 60 mins Skype International Calls.

The new is that they are renaming the application suite from “Microsoft Office” to “Microsoft 365”. Not really a problem but a little confusing since “365” is also the name of the licensing plan. MS have always had confusing naming around their office products and licenses. The naming and slight feature differnce between the stand-alone purchased Office vs the subscription Office is part of that consusion.

 

[Moonlight]

How about Microsoft 180, and they can just spin right around and go away

 

[capamac]

I was in college 2018-2020 finishing my bachelors. I had to use Windows for a lot of assignments, using campus computers. I also used several Office applications including Word and PowerPoint. Neither of those apps are especially good. Windows isn't even very good. It's a very weak product.

 

[reilogix]

I am getting too old for this rebranding sh*t. Microsoft 365. Office 365. Windows 365. Office online. Windows Live. Microsoft Online Services. Perpetual license. PKC version. MAK license. Authorization number. Agreement number. Monthly vs Annual subscription. PRICE INCREASE. Personal account. Work or School account. Microsoft account. Business Productivity Online Services (anyone remember? Pepperidge Farm remembers.) Exchange hosted. Exchange online. Outlook.com. Security questions. Backup code. Recovery code. PAGE CANNOT BE DISPLAYED.

 

[dandeco]

Great, more Microsoft confusion. Of course, I'm already signed up for a pretty basic Microsoft Office 365 plan, because all I use with Office is Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

 

[grouch]

365 days of subscription fees.

 

[NeoSe7en]

Oh, this is going to be just fabulous for customer communication with first tier desktop support agents.

“Yes sir, please open you Microsoft 365 settings.”

“Is that my Windows settings?”

“No sir, your Microsoft 365 settings.”

“All I see is The Google”

 

[geochange]

Shuts down every leap year….

 

[ackmondual]

The number of days before Microsoft reaches into your wallet again.

They all do that. Apple One reaches into your wallet every one month. And there isn't even an option to sub annual at a cheaper rate.

*continues to chug along in Office 2004, the single best Office ever made for Mac or Windows*

My dad used Office 2001 for 20 years until one day, he might've clicked on something he shouldn't have, or some Windows 10 update forced his hand. We couldn't get it back (dunno where the CD went), and he didn't want to pay for it (nor any software really, but that's another thing), so we just installed Libre Office and called it a day. Well, we remembered WPS Office was on there from before, and we uninstalled that too.

Will it run on the 29th of February of a leap year?

Given there are actually 365.25 days in a year, that would be more accurate! However, then you'd have people asking how you could possibly have a quarter of a day, not understanding the idea behind leap years.

 

[Mousse]

You will pay for it for 365 days a year, every year. Price hikes coming soon to a theatre near you as Microsoft leverages its monopoly in Office to offset slowing business in other areas.

More specifically, Excel's dominance as the backbone of the world's finacial system.😒

I keep read cloud this, cloud that. There is no cloud, folks. Your data is on someone else's computer. Your data is held hostage by the "cloud" owner, at the mercy of the server's owner. After Amazon did deleted a bunch of customers a few years back, I ain't trusting cloud for anything important. Your cloud data is the Theon Greyjoy of your data, but not all cloud services are as nice as the Starks.😬

The new is that they are renaming the application suite from “Microsoft Office” to “Microsoft 365”. Not really a problem but a little confusing since “365” is also the name of the licensing plan. MS have always had confusing naming around their office products and licenses.

Not just their office suites, their OS too. There's an old joke about MS counting to 10 using Windows versions.😑

Someone forgot ME. Shoulda been 95, 98, ME, NT...

 

[gijsmans]

Its like Apple dropped Computer a few years back. The MS Suite is used everywhere, anytime. The concept of Office lost its meaning in 2022. Especially after covid. Also emphasises Microsoft as a brand. Makes sense, but no big deal.

 

[ghanwani]

Given there are actually 365.25 days in a year, that would be more accurate! However, then you'd have people asking how you could possibly have a quarter of a day, not understanding the idea behind leap years.

Actually a little more than 365.25 days a year if we're getting into exactness since we skip a leap year every 100 years except if it's every 400 years.

 

[sjdigital]

I’ve been using the subscription version of Office/365 for nearly ten years now and I think it is amazing value for money. For GBP 8 per month I have the full suite of products on my iPad and my laptop with everything synced in the cloud on OneDrive with 1TB of storage. But not only that, my wife, my two daughters and my son-in-law also have 1TB of storage plus the full suite of products. And all for eight quid a month? I reckon it’s a bargain.

 

[mjs916]

I think Microsoft Office sounds better. What does the “365” pertain to? It makes me think of Whole Foods 365.

No one at these companies has any idea what’s going on with product names.

Microsoft:

Xbox 360 (Now I’m dizzy)
Xbox ONE (comes in S and X)
Microsoft 365 (stay at your desk all year long!)
Windows 11 (7, 8…10, 11?)
Windows Server 2022 (pretty straightforward)

Apple:

MacBook Air (makes sense)
iPhone (#) Pro (only professionals can buy it?
iPhone (#) Max (biggest one… makes sense too)
M1 Pro… (for professionals again?
M1 Max (certainly this must be the best one available…)
M1 Ultra (?!)

 

[mjs916]

Let's hope that the "new icons" will make Word and Outlook distinguishable by more than an illegibly small letter and a subtle shift in shading.

If not, just leave them as they are. Please.

Ok so it’s not just me 😂

 

[imnotthewalrus]

Nope. There are many options for this I do not need it uselessly bundled in a productivity suite.



No, I only want the software to work with my OS be it Windows or MacOS, bug fixes and "emergency" security updates as needed (of course I wouldn't need bug fixes or security updates if the software were properly written in the first place). If the yearly/-biyearly updates provided any value people would buy them, but they don't.



No, I have never called MS for Office support and I have been using it since Office 95.



Nope, computer only.



MS needs the sub model because their Office updates do not provide any value! Arguably the only thing of value, for the average user, they have added since Office 2003 is the cloud service and most people have other options for that. I bought Office 2003 and ran it basically until I was forced to use 365 for work. At home I use the Apple suite.

Subs are just the path for devs to continue their revenue stream while not really providing any real value. If MS added something great to Office every year or two people would buy new licenses but guess what? They don't. Again, the vast majority of people would happily be using Office 2003 right now if they could.

Thank you for setting the boy straight. The only thing that saved me from responding similarly was his last paragraph where he conceded there were exceptions to the rule. He should have opened with that paragraph.

 

[ackmondual]

More specifically, Excel's dominance as the backbone of the world's finacial system.😒

I keep read cloud this, cloud that. There is no cloud, folks. Your data is on someone else's computer. Your data is held hostage by the "cloud" owner, at the mercy of the server's owner. After Amazon did deleted a bunch of customers a few years back, I ain't trusting cloud for anything important. Your cloud data is the Theon Greyjoy of your data, but not all cloud services are as nice as the Starks.😬

Not just their office suites, their OS too. There's an old joke about MS counting to 10 using Windows versions.😑

Someone forgot ME. Shoulda been 95, 98, ME, NT...

I hear rumors that they still call Monday, Sunday 2nd Edition

Back in the day (you know the one) MS offered something called HUP - Home User Program - to companies that had site licenses. Employees could buy all the office apps for $9.95 each. It was a pretty good deal.

I did this back around 2017. Got Office 2016, but opted to pay $25 instead to also get an installation DVD. When I moved from win7 to win10, the dang thing wouldn't install. It turns out, the string of numbers on there wasn't the product key. I called M$ and an automated line says they no longer have phone support for this, so please just emailed them. I emailed them and they replied back saying their records do indicate I made such a purchase. Here's you product key, have a nice day!

HUP is still around, but it's only for Microsoft Office 365 (or "Microsoft 365" as they're going with now ). Specifically, 30% off annual subs.

*raises hand*

Then again I’m old. I take your point that most people haven’t done that in ten years because Microsoft made it increasingly difficult.

Also it wasn’t Office 365 that changed that but free Google Docs. Don’t forget that Google came along and turned over the Microsoft apple cart (no pun intended) and made them change the way they do a lot of things.

And yeah the world has changed but *people* changed it, it didn’t have to be this way and still doesn’t. Facebook, Google, and Apple with in app purchase made this bed for us and it’s full of fleas. Not that Microsoft was exactly the good guy.

I do loath when companies force change on us in such ways. I know many who are still bitter that the headphone jack got removed (Apple gets the blame b/c they pioneered it). I was shocked to read articles a decade back that you had a generation growing up using Google Office exclusively. They never touched M$ Office, which was a nice incursion by Google, and a blow to M$!

 

[BeatsBeats]

It's a shame Apple hasn't killed this segment of Microsoft off.

 

[CarAnalogy]

It's a shame Apple hasn't killed this segment of Microsoft off.

Apple doesn’t care. People buy Office for Mac. It just gives Apple one more check in the “can I use a Mac for work?” box.

As nice as it is to have Pages, Numbers, and Keynote free with the Mac, they’re not a complete replacement for corporations that are invested into Microsoft, of which there are still a great many.

 

[bice]

Interesting how many of you disliked (even were angry), with my last comment. I challenge you then. How many of you actually purchased a genuine full software license for Microsoft Office? I would hazard a guess, very few of you.

Microsoft Office was one of the most pirated software packages in existence. Why? Because it was so expensive, so few people bought it. Subscriptions makes that price more affordable and will in turn reduce piracy and add more cloud services.

How few of your see this, is amusing.

I have. Versions 2004, 2011 and 2019, I believe they were named. There was one more, maybe it was called 6 ? Can't really remember. That one was on floppy and it was unbareable.

Yes, it was expensive. But the thing is - it was also worth it as this was pretty much feature complete software.

And this is the major argument for - and against - Office and 365. As an important tool for millions, it is much better to invest in development first and release a stable and feature complete version, that sells for a price that is sustainable for both parties.
Moving this type of software to subscription model is insane. Even if we leave out the cost part for the customer.
It will mean the financing of development is paid in installements, ie development will never have sufficient to make it feature complete.
They will harrow around with a tool that is not and will never be completely ready for the job.

For important tools I prefer paying for a feature complete, stable version which can be trusted to work as intended for an extended period of time.

 

[AltecX]

All your points are well made. Except, I have a backup on an external SSD of ALL my data including my documents. So I don't worry about losing them. I have NO need or desire to store my docs on the cloud and pay only for the first tier of apples iCloud to sync my photos to my other  devices. Everybody is going to have different usage needs and these are mine. YMMV.

If your backup is in the same physical location as your primary then its not a backup. Thats the first rule of backups. You just have a spare copy. If you have a home fire while you are not home you have lost everything.