differences between Office2004:mac student & professional editions?

[Mark]

Hi- can anyone tell me the differences between the student &
professional editions of Office 2004? I'm having some trouble locating
concise descriptions of features to compare the 2 editions;
Microsoft's website isn't terribly helpful. Or is it just that one is
'student-priced'?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Hi- can anyone tell me the differences between the student &
professional editions of Office 2004? I'm having some trouble locating
concise descriptions of features to compare the 2 editions;
Microsoft's website isn't terribly helpful. Or is it just that one is
'student-priced'?

The Student version comes with three licenses, but is otherwise
identical to the standard version. Previous licenses did not guarantee
upgradability from a Student version (but two student versions have been
about as expensive as one upgrade version). However, that will depend on
conditions of future upgrades - I believe that the Office2004 upgrade
accepts previous Student versions.

The Pro version includes VPC7, but is otherwise identical to the
Standard version. It's not out yet, but should be soon.

 

[Ramón G Castañeda]

Hi- can anyone tell me the differences between the student &
professional editions of Office 2004? I'm having some trouble locating
concise descriptions of features to compare the 2 editions;
Microsoft's website isn't terribly helpful. Or is it just that one is
'student-priced'?

Thanks,

Mark

No difference whatsoever, just the price.

 

[Ramón G Castañeda]

Previous licenses did not guarantee
upgradability from a Student version (but two student versions have been
about as expensive as one upgrade version). However, that will depend on
conditions of future upgrades - I believe that the Office2004 upgrade
accepts previous Student versions.

Good point about upgradeability.

 

[William Smith]

Previous licenses did not guarantee
upgradability from a Student version (but two student versions have been
about as expensive as one upgrade version). However, that will depend on
conditions of future upgrades - I believe that the Office2004 upgrade
accepts previous Student versions.

Good point about upgradeability.[/QUOTE]

I'm not familiar with the licensing before Office 2004 S&T but anyone
who purchases this package will not be able to use it for an upgrade
later. It won't qualify.

Another limit to the licensing is that it is non-transferable as well.

Otherwise, exactly the same software.

bill

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I'm not familiar with the licensing before Office 2004 S&T but anyone
who purchases this package will not be able to use it for an upgrade
later. It won't qualify.

That's also the case with previous licenses, but in fact, for Office
2004, Office v.X Student Edition is a qualifying product.

AFAIK, that doesn't set a precedent, so there's no guarantee that Office
2004 Student Edition will be a qualifying product for a future version.

 

[Mark]

Hey, thanks, everybody. Just so I can translate this, because I'm not
so versed in licensing, etc:

3 licenses means that I can install one copy on my laptop, one on my
desktop, and one on my wife's desktop? Can these 3 be running
simultaneously? I've noticed when running Office v.x that if I start
up Word on my laptop while it's open on my desktop, one version has to
quit; I guess one program 'senses' it over the LAN?

Re: upgradeability, what we're saying is that when I buy the student
2004 package, there's no guarantee from Microsoft that when the next
edition of Office comes out that I can use the 'upgrade' price- I'll
have to purchase either student/standard/professional.

-Mark

Good point about upgradeability.

I'm not familiar with the licensing before Office 2004 S&T but anyone
who purchases this package will not be able to use it for an upgrade
later. It won't qualify.

Another limit to the licensing is that it is non-transferable as well.

Otherwise, exactly the same software.

bill[/QUOTE]

 

[William Smith]

Hi Mark!

My comments are inline with yours.

Hey, thanks, everybody. Just so I can translate this, because I'm not
so versed in licensing, etc:

3 licenses means that I can install one copy on my laptop, one on my
desktop, and one on my wife's desktop? Can these 3 be running
simultaneously? I've noticed when running Office v.x that if I start
up Word on my laptop while it's open on my desktop, one version has to
quit; I guess one program 'senses' it over the LAN?

You're correct. The software looks over the network for another copy
running with the same serial number. The three serial numbers you
receive with the Student & Teacher edition are separate and can be run
concurrently on three different machines.

Re: upgradeability, what we're saying is that when I buy the student
2004 package, there's no guarantee from Microsoft that when the next
edition of Office comes out that I can use the 'upgrade' price- I'll
have to purchase either student/standard/professional.

You've phrased this better than I could and that is my understanding.

I've been trying to find official documentation that supports this but
I've been unable. My information is coming from third party resellers
such as this one
<http://www.academicsuperstore.com/market/marketdisp.html?PartNo=714399>

which have been stating these licensing restrictions:

€ This product is for noncommercial, educational use only.
€ This is a personal learning license for qualified educational users
only. (Example: In a household, only the students are eligible to use
the software, however parents can use the software when assisting
students.)
€ You may install this product on up to three computers in the same
houshold.
€ This product does not qualify for future upgrade pricing.
€ You may not transfer your usage rights to another individual.
€ You are only eligible to use this product while you are a qualified
educational user.
€ Microsoft provides only installation support for this product.

Hope this helps! bill

 

[JE McGimpsey]

3 licenses means that I can install one copy on my laptop, one on my
desktop, and one on my wife's desktop? Can these 3 be running
simultaneously? I've noticed when running Office v.x that if I start
up Word on my laptop while it's open on my desktop, one version has to
quit; I guess one program 'senses' it over the LAN?

When Office starts up, it broadcasts its Product ID (PID) over the LAN.
If another copy of Office is running, it responds with its own PID. If
the copy starting up receives the info that another copy is running with
the same PID, it shuts down.

Now, technically, you can install three licenses onto 6 computers -
three desktops and three laptops, if used "exclusively" by the owners of
the corresponding desktop machine. You're not supposed to use them at
the same time.

Re: upgradeability, what we're saying is that when I buy the student
2004 package, there's no guarantee from Microsoft that when the next
edition of Office comes out that I can use the 'upgrade' price- I'll
have to purchase either student/standard/professional.

Yes. However, if you still qualify as a student/teacher when the next
upgrade comes out (whenever that is, but probably by 2007), and MS
follows the same pricing scheme, buying a new student edition will be
cheaper than buying a standard upgrade.

 

[CvT]

Does it broadcast the PID across the internet too?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Does it broadcast the PID across the internet too?

No.