Buying MS Office on Ebay

B

BP

I need to upgrade from my Office 97 suite. I am looking on Ebay at Office
Pro 2003. There are many "new" full retail and OEM versions but there are
also some "used" (previously installed) versions available at a much lower
price. I know Office 2003 has an activation procedure. What are the EULA and
practical restrictions/problems with buying someone else's software in this
way.
TIA
 
C

Chris Schatte

BP,
Why not just purchase a retail copy that you know is new and not activated
by someone else previously? Retail copies of Office 2003 allow for 2
installs, one desktop and one mobile and is fully upgradable. OEM copies are
bound to the system you install on only, non-transferrable to any other
machine.
Buying software previously owned is never a good idea. You could do a search
on this group for the multitudes of problems people run into by purchasing
software in this way...

Chris Schatte
 
E

Edward W. Thompson

Chris Schatte said:
BP,
Why not just purchase a retail copy that you know is new and not activated
by someone else previously? Retail copies of Office 2003 allow for 2
installs, one desktop and one mobile and is fully upgradable. OEM copies
are
bound to the system you install on only, non-transferrable to any other
machine.
Buying software previously owned is never a good idea. You could do a
search
on this group for the multitudes of problems people run into by purchasing
software in this way...

Chris Schatte
--
use the Office Online web based newsreader here:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
In Office System 2003 applications:
Help/Assistance Pane/open Communities
"Why not just purchase a retail copy"? To answer your question it is a
simple matter of cost . Not everyone can afford the inflated price MS
charges for their software, yet the widespread adoption of the MS software
virtually obliges its use. The word monopoly comes to mind. Yes, I do know
about Open Office.
 
B

BP

What are the problems?

Chris Schatte said:
BP,
Why not just purchase a retail copy that you know is new and not activated
by someone else previously?
Because the item price exceeds my action price point. I don't *need* to
upgrade.
Retail copies of Office 2003 allow for 2 installs, one desktop and one
mobile and is fully upgradable.
Now this is pertinent information!
OEM copies are bound to the system you install on only, non-transferrable
to any other machine.
That's terrible! So you can't actually OWN microsoft products? You can only
pay for use (rent)?
Buying software previously owned is never a good idea.
Why? I own lots of previously owned software. It all works great. Even
Microsoft software. I bought Windows 98SE a couple of years ago to upgrade
and older machine. Project 97 (98?) to upgrade from 3.0 (!). All work just
like you'd expect from quality software products. What's wrong with Office
2003? Bugs? I don't want to pay any money for crippled software.
You could do a search on this group for the multitudes of problems people
run into by purchasing software in this way...
I never thought of that.......
 
B

BP

Edward W. Thompson said:
"Why not just purchase a retail copy"? To answer your question it is a
simple matter of cost . Not everyone can afford the inflated price MS
charges for their software, yet the widespread adoption of the MS software
virtually obliges its use. The word monopoly comes to mind. Yes, I do
know about Open Office.
I'm new to this group and I suddenly feel like I just walk in to a new car
dealership to ask about buying a used car from the newspaper.
Can you suggest a newsgroup where I might find a little more unbiased info
on this matter?
 
C

Chris Schatte

BP,
Because the item price exceeds my action price point. I don't *need* to
upgrade.
Then don't buy retail, get a second hand copy from ebay...
That's terrible! So you can't actually OWN microsoft products? You can only
pay for use (rent)?
OEM copies are licensed this way. Your not renting just buying one license.
Why? I own lots of previously owned software. It all works great. Even
Microsoft software. I bought Windows 98SE a couple of years ago to upgrade
and older machine. Project 97 (98?) to upgrade from 3.0 (!). All work just
like you'd expect from quality software products. What's wrong with Office
2003? Bugs? I don't want to pay any money for crippled software.
Nothing wrong with Office 2003. It will work just like you would expect it
to. Just trying to give you a heads up on buying second hand software. Caveat
emptor...
As I suggested do a search on the group for this subject.

Chris Schatte
 
J

JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]

Don't forget fraudulent sellers.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



Pirated,Damaged,wrong version, Malicious Code just to name a few
 
D

David R. Norton MVP

BP said:
Screw it. I'll just run 97 until something better comes along.

Not a bad choice, I like Office 97! FWIW, I've purchased software on Ebay
and never had a problem. Just make sure you know what you're getting and
check the feedback on the seller.
 
E

Edward W. Thompson

BP said:
I'm new to this group and I suddenly feel like I just walk in to a new car
dealership to ask about buying a used car from the newspaper.
Can you suggest a newsgroup where I might find a little more unbiased info
on this matter?
Unfortunately, this is about as good as it gets. Why some post unjustified
remarks about buying software from Ebay, I can't say. Yes, you can get
burned by buying from ebay but if the item is not accurately described or
not delivered and you pay by Paypal you can recover your money. I always
buy from Ebay and although have had one problem, I have never lost my money
and do not conclude from one problem that all Ebay transactions are fraught
with risk. Most people are honest, at least that is my experience.

The comments concerning OEM software is very relevant. Some, but not all,
OEM software is linked to a particular machine and cannot be easily
transfered to another. Just ask the vendor if the software can be installed
onto your machine. If it will not install you can claim your money back on
the basis of mis-representation.
 
B

BP

Edward W. Thompson said:
Unfortunately, this is about as good as it gets. Why some post
unjustified remarks about buying software from Ebay, I can't say. Yes,
you can get burned by buying from ebay but if the item is not accurately
described or not delivered and you pay by Paypal you can recover your
money. I always buy from Ebay and although have had one problem, I have
never lost my money and do not conclude from one problem that all Ebay
transactions are fraught with risk. Most people are honest, at least that
is my experience.

The comments concerning OEM software is very relevant. Some, but not all,
OEM software is linked to a particular machine and cannot be easily
transfered to another. Just ask the vendor if the software can be
installed onto your machine. If it will not install you can claim your
money back on the basis of mis-representation.
Thanks for the info. I have bought lots of used software on Ebay, mostly
games, and have never had a problem either. You just learn to read carefully
and skip the listings with sparse or squishy descriptions. The OEM issue is
good to know. But what really concerns me now is the possibility that if I
buy new, retail Office software that somehow I am restricted by the EULA
from selling it some years down the road should I upgrade to a more current
application. If my used software will only install on my machine (legally)
then I don't really own a tangible product, do I? And if I build a new
computer (something I do every couple of years) or upgrade hardware (often)
the software I bought can't be (legally) installed? That's just retarded, in
every sense of the word.
 
B

BP

David R. Norton MVP said:
Not a bad choice, I like Office 97! FWIW, I've purchased software on Ebay
and never had a problem. Just make sure you know what you're getting and
check the feedback on the seller.

I too have never had a problem with any of the transactions for merchandise,
games, and software. It sounds like I've got to be much more careful with my
transaction with Microsoft than with anyone on Ebay.
 
M

Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Hi BP - after having read the entire thread (I have no opinion one way or
the other about buying software via eBay - that is where I first bought
Office 97 Pro). However, to clear up a popular misconception, once you
purchase a product and then use that product to upgrade to a newer version,
the products "merge" into one single product and the qualifying product you
used to verify your eligibility to use the upgrade cannot be sold, lost or
destroyed. As it is now a part of the upgraded product, you are required to
keep it or your license to use it is invalid.

This will not apply if you wish to sell the latest upgrade of that software,
however, ALL qualifying products that you used for the upgrade must be sold
in the same package sale.

Just an FYI.


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, BP asked:

| ||
|| |||
||| ||||
|||| ||||| BP,
||||| Why not just purchase a retail copy that you know is new and not
||||| activated
||||| by someone else previously? Retail copies of Office 2003 allow
||||| for 2 installs, one desktop and one mobile and is fully
||||| upgradable. OEM copies are
||||| bound to the system you install on only, non-transferrable to any
||||| other machine.
||||| Buying software previously owned is never a good idea. You could
||||| do a search
||||| on this group for the multitudes of problems people run into by
||||| purchasing
||||| software in this way...
|||||
||||| Chris Schatte
||||| --
||||| use the Office Online web based newsreader here:
||||| http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
||||| In Office System 2003 applications:
||||| Help/Assistance Pane/open Communities
|||||
|||||
||||| "BP" wrote:
|||||
|||||| I need to upgrade from my Office 97 suite. I am looking on Ebay
|||||| at Office
|||||| Pro 2003. There are many "new" full retail and OEM versions but
|||||| there are
|||||| also some "used" (previously installed) versions available at a
|||||| much lower
|||||| price. I know Office 2003 has an activation procedure. What are
|||||| the EULA and
|||||| practical restrictions/problems with buying someone else's
|||||| software in this
|||||| way.
|||||| TIA
||||||
|||| "Why not just purchase a retail copy"? To answer your question it
|||| is a simple matter of cost . Not everyone can afford the inflated
|||| price MS charges for their software, yet the widespread adoption
|||| of the MS software virtually obliges its use. The word monopoly
|||| comes to mind. Yes, I do know about Open Office.
||| I'm new to this group and I suddenly feel like I just walk in to a
||| new car dealership to ask about buying a used car from the
||| newspaper.
||| Can you suggest a newsgroup where I might find a little more
||| unbiased info on this matter?
|| Unfortunately, this is about as good as it gets. Why some post
|| unjustified remarks about buying software from Ebay, I can't say.
|| Yes, you can get burned by buying from ebay but if the item is not
|| accurately described or not delivered and you pay by Paypal you can
|| recover your money. I always buy from Ebay and although have had
|| one problem, I have never lost my money and do not conclude from one
|| problem that all Ebay transactions are fraught with risk. Most
|| people are honest, at least that is my experience.
||
|| The comments concerning OEM software is very relevant. Some, but
|| not all, OEM software is linked to a particular machine and cannot
|| be easily transfered to another. Just ask the vendor if the
|| software can be installed onto your machine. If it will not install
|| you can claim your money back on the basis of mis-representation.
| Thanks for the info. I have bought lots of used software on Ebay,
| mostly games, and have never had a problem either. You just learn to
| read carefully and skip the listings with sparse or squishy
| descriptions. The OEM issue is good to know. But what really concerns
| me now is the possibility that if I buy new, retail Office software
| that somehow I am restricted by the EULA from selling it some years
| down the road should I upgrade to a more current application. If my
| used software will only install on my machine (legally) then I don't
| really own a tangible product, do I? And if I build a new computer
| (something I do every couple of years) or upgrade hardware (often)
| the software I bought can't be (legally) installed? That's just
| retarded, in every sense of the word.
 
B

BP

Hi Milly- As a residential construction contractor I have become quite adept
at reading and writing contracts over the many years so I have no problem
understanding all of the clauses in Microsoft's EULA. My problem is that
many of those clauses are so far removed from real life that it is nearly
comic. I understand what MS is trying to accomplish and why. It is just a
very ham-handed way to accomplish the goal and serves to alienate a large
segment of the consumer base that does not have evil intent.
I design and draw plans for clients and have always considered my work a
form of intellectual property. If MS's EULA sets a precedent I wonder if I
can get a clause into my contract that allows the purchaser the right to use
the product I produce for them only once (for my bid) and restrict them from
duplicating it and distributing it to other contractors. Yeah! They'd go for
that, wouldn't they?

"Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
Hi BP - after having read the entire thread (I have no opinion one way or
the other about buying software via eBay - that is where I first bought
Office 97 Pro). However, to clear up a popular misconception, once you
purchase a product and then use that product to upgrade to a newer
version,
the products "merge" into one single product and the qualifying product
you
used to verify your eligibility to use the upgrade cannot be sold, lost or
destroyed. As it is now a part of the upgraded product, you are required
to
keep it or your license to use it is invalid.

This will not apply if you wish to sell the latest upgrade of that
software,
however, ALL qualifying products that you used for the upgrade must be
sold
in the same package sale.

Just an FYI.


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, BP asked:

| ||
|| |||
||| ||||
|||| ||||| BP,
||||| Why not just purchase a retail copy that you know is new and not
||||| activated
||||| by someone else previously? Retail copies of Office 2003 allow
||||| for 2 installs, one desktop and one mobile and is fully
||||| upgradable. OEM copies are
||||| bound to the system you install on only, non-transferrable to any
||||| other machine.
||||| Buying software previously owned is never a good idea. You could
||||| do a search
||||| on this group for the multitudes of problems people run into by
||||| purchasing
||||| software in this way...
|||||
||||| Chris Schatte
||||| --
||||| use the Office Online web based newsreader here:
||||| http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
||||| In Office System 2003 applications:
||||| Help/Assistance Pane/open Communities
|||||
|||||
||||| "BP" wrote:
|||||
|||||| I need to upgrade from my Office 97 suite. I am looking on Ebay
|||||| at Office
|||||| Pro 2003. There are many "new" full retail and OEM versions but
|||||| there are
|||||| also some "used" (previously installed) versions available at a
|||||| much lower
|||||| price. I know Office 2003 has an activation procedure. What are
|||||| the EULA and
|||||| practical restrictions/problems with buying someone else's
|||||| software in this
|||||| way.
|||||| TIA
||||||
|||| "Why not just purchase a retail copy"? To answer your question it
|||| is a simple matter of cost . Not everyone can afford the inflated
|||| price MS charges for their software, yet the widespread adoption
|||| of the MS software virtually obliges its use. The word monopoly
|||| comes to mind. Yes, I do know about Open Office.
||| I'm new to this group and I suddenly feel like I just walk in to a
||| new car dealership to ask about buying a used car from the
||| newspaper.
||| Can you suggest a newsgroup where I might find a little more
||| unbiased info on this matter?
|| Unfortunately, this is about as good as it gets. Why some post
|| unjustified remarks about buying software from Ebay, I can't say.
|| Yes, you can get burned by buying from ebay but if the item is not
|| accurately described or not delivered and you pay by Paypal you can
|| recover your money. I always buy from Ebay and although have had
|| one problem, I have never lost my money and do not conclude from one
|| problem that all Ebay transactions are fraught with risk. Most
|| people are honest, at least that is my experience.
||
|| The comments concerning OEM software is very relevant. Some, but
|| not all, OEM software is linked to a particular machine and cannot
|| be easily transfered to another. Just ask the vendor if the
|| software can be installed onto your machine. If it will not install
|| you can claim your money back on the basis of mis-representation.
| Thanks for the info. I have bought lots of used software on Ebay,
| mostly games, and have never had a problem either. You just learn to
| read carefully and skip the listings with sparse or squishy
| descriptions. The OEM issue is good to know. But what really concerns
| me now is the possibility that if I buy new, retail Office software
| that somehow I am restricted by the EULA from selling it some years
| down the road should I upgrade to a more current application. If my
| used software will only install on my machine (legally) then I don't
| really own a tangible product, do I? And if I build a new computer
| (something I do every couple of years) or upgrade hardware (often)
| the software I bought can't be (legally) installed? That's just
| retarded, in every sense of the word.
 
M

Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

I am sorry - I don't see the point of your post.

All I was pointing out is that if you give away the qualifying product but
keep the upgrade, your upgrade is now invalid since the QP has been given
away.

As for your scenario for the building plans, a number of entities have been
sued in my city quite successfully for "stealing" plans from mass builders
and then advertising the homes they built abd sold using those plans as
being "built by" said establishments.

See, everyone is protected. All is right with the world.


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, BP asked:

| Hi Milly- As a residential construction contractor I have become
| quite adept at reading and writing contracts over the many years so I
| have no problem understanding all of the clauses in Microsoft's EULA.
| My problem is that many of those clauses are so far removed from real
| life that it is nearly comic. I understand what MS is trying to
| accomplish and why. It is just a very ham-handed way to accomplish
| the goal and serves to alienate a large segment of the consumer base
| that does not have evil intent.
| I design and draw plans for clients and have always considered my
| work a form of intellectual property. If MS's EULA sets a precedent I
| wonder if I can get a clause into my contract that allows the
| purchaser the right to use the product I produce for them only once
| (for my bid) and restrict them from duplicating it and distributing
| it to other contractors. Yeah! They'd go for that, wouldn't they?
|
| "Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
| || Hi BP - after having read the entire thread (I have no opinion one
|| way or the other about buying software via eBay - that is where I
|| first bought Office 97 Pro). However, to clear up a popular
|| misconception, once you purchase a product and then use that product
|| to upgrade to a newer version,
|| the products "merge" into one single product and the qualifying
|| product you
|| used to verify your eligibility to use the upgrade cannot be sold,
|| lost or destroyed. As it is now a part of the upgraded product, you
|| are required to
|| keep it or your license to use it is invalid.
||
|| This will not apply if you wish to sell the latest upgrade of that
|| software,
|| however, ALL qualifying products that you used for the upgrade must
|| be sold
|| in the same package sale.
||
|| Just an FYI.
||
||
|| --
|| Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]
||
|| Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
|| unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
|| reading.
||
|| After furious head scratching, BP asked:
||
||| ||||
|||| |||||
||||| ||||||
|||||| ||||||| BP,
||||||| Why not just purchase a retail copy that you know is new and not
||||||| activated
||||||| by someone else previously? Retail copies of Office 2003 allow
||||||| for 2 installs, one desktop and one mobile and is fully
||||||| upgradable. OEM copies are
||||||| bound to the system you install on only, non-transferrable to
||||||| any other machine.
||||||| Buying software previously owned is never a good idea. You could
||||||| do a search
||||||| on this group for the multitudes of problems people run into by
||||||| purchasing
||||||| software in this way...
|||||||
||||||| Chris Schatte
||||||| --
||||||| use the Office Online web based newsreader here:
||||||| http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
||||||| In Office System 2003 applications:
||||||| Help/Assistance Pane/open Communities
|||||||
|||||||
||||||| "BP" wrote:
|||||||
|||||||| I need to upgrade from my Office 97 suite. I am looking on Ebay
|||||||| at Office
|||||||| Pro 2003. There are many "new" full retail and OEM versions but
|||||||| there are
|||||||| also some "used" (previously installed) versions available at a
|||||||| much lower
|||||||| price. I know Office 2003 has an activation procedure. What are
|||||||| the EULA and
|||||||| practical restrictions/problems with buying someone else's
|||||||| software in this
|||||||| way.
|||||||| TIA
||||||||
|||||| "Why not just purchase a retail copy"? To answer your question it
|||||| is a simple matter of cost . Not everyone can afford the
|||||| inflated price MS charges for their software, yet the widespread
|||||| adoption of the MS software virtually obliges its use. The word
|||||| monopoly comes to mind. Yes, I do know about Open Office.
||||| I'm new to this group and I suddenly feel like I just walk in to a
||||| new car dealership to ask about buying a used car from the
||||| newspaper.
||||| Can you suggest a newsgroup where I might find a little more
||||| unbiased info on this matter?
|||| Unfortunately, this is about as good as it gets. Why some post
|||| unjustified remarks about buying software from Ebay, I can't say.
|||| Yes, you can get burned by buying from ebay but if the item is not
|||| accurately described or not delivered and you pay by Paypal you can
|||| recover your money. I always buy from Ebay and although have had
|||| one problem, I have never lost my money and do not conclude from
|||| one problem that all Ebay transactions are fraught with risk. Most
|||| people are honest, at least that is my experience.
||||
|||| The comments concerning OEM software is very relevant. Some, but
|||| not all, OEM software is linked to a particular machine and cannot
|||| be easily transfered to another. Just ask the vendor if the
|||| software can be installed onto your machine. If it will not
|||| install you can claim your money back on the basis of
|||| mis-representation.
||| Thanks for the info. I have bought lots of used software on Ebay,
||| mostly games, and have never had a problem either. You just learn to
||| read carefully and skip the listings with sparse or squishy
||| descriptions. The OEM issue is good to know. But what really
||| concerns me now is the possibility that if I buy new, retail Office
||| software that somehow I am restricted by the EULA from selling it
||| some years down the road should I upgrade to a more current
||| application. If my used software will only install on my machine
||| (legally) then I don't really own a tangible product, do I? And if
||| I build a new computer (something I do every couple of years) or
||| upgrade hardware (often) the software I bought can't be (legally)
||| installed? That's just retarded, in every sense of the word.
 
B

BP

Not buying it. Sorry.

"Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
I am sorry - I don't see the point of your post.

All I was pointing out is that if you give away the qualifying product but
keep the upgrade, your upgrade is now invalid since the QP has been given
away.

As for your scenario for the building plans, a number of entities have
been
sued in my city quite successfully for "stealing" plans from mass builders
and then advertising the homes they built abd sold using those plans as
being "built by" said establishments.

See, everyone is protected. All is right with the world.


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, BP asked:

| Hi Milly- As a residential construction contractor I have become
| quite adept at reading and writing contracts over the many years so I
| have no problem understanding all of the clauses in Microsoft's EULA.
| My problem is that many of those clauses are so far removed from real
| life that it is nearly comic. I understand what MS is trying to
| accomplish and why. It is just a very ham-handed way to accomplish
| the goal and serves to alienate a large segment of the consumer base
| that does not have evil intent.
| I design and draw plans for clients and have always considered my
| work a form of intellectual property. If MS's EULA sets a precedent I
| wonder if I can get a clause into my contract that allows the
| purchaser the right to use the product I produce for them only once
| (for my bid) and restrict them from duplicating it and distributing
| it to other contractors. Yeah! They'd go for that, wouldn't they?
|
| "Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
| || Hi BP - after having read the entire thread (I have no opinion one
|| way or the other about buying software via eBay - that is where I
|| first bought Office 97 Pro). However, to clear up a popular
|| misconception, once you purchase a product and then use that product
|| to upgrade to a newer version,
|| the products "merge" into one single product and the qualifying
|| product you
|| used to verify your eligibility to use the upgrade cannot be sold,
|| lost or destroyed. As it is now a part of the upgraded product, you
|| are required to
|| keep it or your license to use it is invalid.
||
|| This will not apply if you wish to sell the latest upgrade of that
|| software,
|| however, ALL qualifying products that you used for the upgrade must
|| be sold
|| in the same package sale.
||
|| Just an FYI.
||
||
|| --
|| Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]
||
|| Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
|| unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
|| reading.
||
|| After furious head scratching, BP asked:
||
||| ||||
|||| |||||
||||| ||||||
|||||| ||||||| BP,
||||||| Why not just purchase a retail copy that you know is new and not
||||||| activated
||||||| by someone else previously? Retail copies of Office 2003 allow
||||||| for 2 installs, one desktop and one mobile and is fully
||||||| upgradable. OEM copies are
||||||| bound to the system you install on only, non-transferrable to
||||||| any other machine.
||||||| Buying software previously owned is never a good idea. You could
||||||| do a search
||||||| on this group for the multitudes of problems people run into by
||||||| purchasing
||||||| software in this way...
|||||||
||||||| Chris Schatte
||||||| --
||||||| use the Office Online web based newsreader here:
||||||| http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
||||||| In Office System 2003 applications:
||||||| Help/Assistance Pane/open Communities
|||||||
|||||||
||||||| "BP" wrote:
|||||||
|||||||| I need to upgrade from my Office 97 suite. I am looking on Ebay
|||||||| at Office
|||||||| Pro 2003. There are many "new" full retail and OEM versions but
|||||||| there are
|||||||| also some "used" (previously installed) versions available at a
|||||||| much lower
|||||||| price. I know Office 2003 has an activation procedure. What are
|||||||| the EULA and
|||||||| practical restrictions/problems with buying someone else's
|||||||| software in this
|||||||| way.
|||||||| TIA
||||||||
|||||| "Why not just purchase a retail copy"? To answer your question it
|||||| is a simple matter of cost . Not everyone can afford the
|||||| inflated price MS charges for their software, yet the widespread
|||||| adoption of the MS software virtually obliges its use. The word
|||||| monopoly comes to mind. Yes, I do know about Open Office.
||||| I'm new to this group and I suddenly feel like I just walk in to a
||||| new car dealership to ask about buying a used car from the
||||| newspaper.
||||| Can you suggest a newsgroup where I might find a little more
||||| unbiased info on this matter?
|||| Unfortunately, this is about as good as it gets. Why some post
|||| unjustified remarks about buying software from Ebay, I can't say.
|||| Yes, you can get burned by buying from ebay but if the item is not
|||| accurately described or not delivered and you pay by Paypal you can
|||| recover your money. I always buy from Ebay and although have had
|||| one problem, I have never lost my money and do not conclude from
|||| one problem that all Ebay transactions are fraught with risk. Most
|||| people are honest, at least that is my experience.
||||
|||| The comments concerning OEM software is very relevant. Some, but
|||| not all, OEM software is linked to a particular machine and cannot
|||| be easily transfered to another. Just ask the vendor if the
|||| software can be installed onto your machine. If it will not
|||| install you can claim your money back on the basis of
|||| mis-representation.
||| Thanks for the info. I have bought lots of used software on Ebay,
||| mostly games, and have never had a problem either. You just learn to
||| read carefully and skip the listings with sparse or squishy
||| descriptions. The OEM issue is good to know. But what really
||| concerns me now is the possibility that if I buy new, retail Office
||| software that somehow I am restricted by the EULA from selling it
||| some years down the road should I upgrade to a more current
||| application. If my used software will only install on my machine
||| (legally) then I don't really own a tangible product, do I? And if
||| I build a new computer (something I do every couple of years) or
||| upgrade hardware (often) the software I bought can't be (legally)
||| installed? That's just retarded, in every sense of the word.
 

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