Disappointed in trial

[Angry in Ohio]

I downloaded the trial of Microsoft Office specifically because I needed to
use Excel for a work activity and the computer I was on did not contain the
software. Boy was I in a panic when I realized that the trial doesn't let
you DO anything on Excel. This is NOT the way to sell a product. If I was
thinking about buying this based on my experience with the trail - they just
lost my business. I am not spending that kind of money on something that I
just get to look at and not use first. That would be like buying a car
before driving it or a house before taking a tour. NO SALE HERE.

 

[Ken Wright]

Don't know what you did, but the whole idea of the trial software is to give
you full functionality but only for a limited time - 60 days in this case.
After 60 days it will cease to function, and it usually makes this pretty
clear from the outset.

Generic statement regarding their trial software straight from MS' website:-

"Free trial download
Download your choice of suites or programs from the 2007 Office release.
Trial programs contain the same functionality that you get when you buy the
perpetual versions - but only for a limited time."

It also sounds like you were simply using the trial to avoid having to have
Excel legitimately installed on the machine you were using, and not for
evaluation purposes. That having been said, if as you say you "Needed" to
use Excel, then there is a obviously a business need there that will
supersede any ruffled feathers you may have because for whatever reason you
couldn't get yours to work.

The time you spent searching for this group, and then typing out your rant
would likely have been better spent trying to work out what you were doing
wrong, so that you could indeed use it as it is meant to be used.

Chilled out in the UK, with a fully working version

Ken............................................................

 

[JLatham]

Of course his machine probably did come with Works, which has a spreadsheet
function, although not Excel compatible.

And if he really wants to keep a tight eye on the IT/IS budget (don't we
always end up on the short end of the budget?) he could have downloaded the
entirely free OpenOffice suite, which has Excel compatible tool - unless of
course you'd like to take advantage of the help in these forums (for FREE) or
utilize macros to make the application even more robust and feature filled.

Or as you said, could have just asked what he was doing wrong in trying to
get the courtesy copy of Excel to work at all.

 

[Shane Devenshire]

Hi,

I just test the download and it works fine. Must be something your are
doing. Please provide us with more info.