Hi Erik:
The situation is analogous to film or music distribution. If you only want
to use the thing at home for personal use, then it's a discounted price. If
you want to operate commercially and sell the result, you have to pay full
price.
You are not buying the "software". You are buying the "right to use it".
The licence to use is priced according to how much benefit you get from it.
Each kind of licence permits some kinds of use, and prohibits others. If
there were a "server" version and an "enterprise" version and a "data
centre" version, as there is with Windows, then the price jumps would really
get your attention
In each case, the software is identical (* see below), but if you do not
need to use it for commercial purposes, Microsoft will cut you a discount.
On the other hand, if you want to install it across your entire corporation,
they want a bit more money
However, Microsoft is not like the IRS. They're not going to come knocking
on your door and demand to see your documents
They ask that you do the
right thing, and they trust you: if you say that you are going to comply
with the terms of your licence, they will take you at your word!
If you can't afford the extra $200.00, well, Microsoft will cut you a bit of
slack. They will cheerfully sell you the Home and Student edition, and hope
that your business goes better next year as a result
At the end of the day, it's the man in the mirror you have to live with
* The Home and Student Edition does not have the ability to connect to an
Exchange Server. If you need to use Exchange email, it won't connect. The
full version will.
Hope this helps
Damn, i don't understand the ridiculous pricing for this Office package..... I
only need the functionality of home package, but I use the software
commercially, which forces me towards the regular package.
Stupid thing is that i almost bought the home package, since that is all i
need for my work. It doesnt say ANYWHERE that it's illegal to use it for
commercial work, until I will probably install it and read the EULA at that
moment in time.
I still have an old Office 2000 license for the PC, does that also give me the
right for upgrade?
Else, i'll be using good old Mac-native tools or Mozilla/OpenOffice
software.... :-(
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John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:
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McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
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