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Why has microsoft gone greedy?

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Anonymous
2022-02-27T03:07:57+00:00

Changing from one time purchase option to subscription only screams 'we're lining the pockets of our execs' like there's no tomorrow.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | MacOS

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-02-27T07:17:46+00:00

    You've pegged the answer to "why subscriptions":

    $$$ MORE MONEY $$$

    Last year, 2021, the MS president got $50 million. That has doubled since 2018 ... '

    https://www1.salary.com/Microsoft-Corp-Executive-Salaries.html<br><br>.<br><br>

    I could easily and comfortably live off the interest off of any one of those amounts

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-02-27T11:26:07+00:00

    Yes you can buy 1-time payment licenses.

    BUT, MS has increased the prices massively, to make 365 appear a better value

    .

    Starting with Office 2010 Home and Student as a base, "best case" for users:

    • cost approx $150 (or was it US$140? I'm pretty sure it was ... )
    • allow install on up to 3 computers
    • 5 years "normal" support, some limited new features, bug fixes, security patches
      • 5 years "extended" support, security patches only.
    • $150 / (3comp X 10yr) = $5 per computer per year

    .

    Since then, over the years MS has introduced various (dis)"improvements" to the one-time payment license terms. Including making it very difficult, to transfer one-time payment to a new computer. And effectively impossible to transfer, aka sell, a "used" one-time payment license to another person, even though if you read the license terms MS still grants us that "user right".

    .

    Now Office 2021 Home and Student as comparison:

    • US$150
    • install on one computer
    • 5 years normal support
    • No extended support
    • $150/5 = $30 per computer per year

    Compare to current 365 Personal

    • US$70 / year
    • 5 computers
    • 1 user
    • $70/5 = $14 per computer per year

    Best case for 365 is Family

    • US$100 / year
    • install on up to 5 computers per user "share"
    • Owner can "share" with up to 5 people = 6 users total
    • US$100 / (6 users * 5 computers) = US$3.33 per user per computer.
    • 365 has extra "Features" that 2021 does not, making it a better value, if you use them.

    Some context, evolution of 365 rental offers:

    • Originally there was only 365 Personal
    • Then came 365 "Home" owner + 4 shares.
    • OneDrive had truly "unlimited" space. A few people
    • Partner Benefits: Discounts / free trials of "partner" software
    • OneDrive "improved" to 1TB per user
    • Finally came 365 "Family", owner + 5 shares
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  3. Stefan Blom 339.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-02-27T09:55:55+00:00

    Software companies prefer subscriptions because they generate profit, obviously.

    However, you can still purchase perpetual (one-time payment) licenses of Office, for example Office Home & Student or Office Home & Business. Note that only the latter version includes Outlook.

    The downside with the perpetual licenses is that they only allow for one user and one installation (PC or Mac).

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  4. Jim G 134K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-02-27T17:12:03+00:00

    On the business side of things there are plans for more money that include fewer apps and features. You do have to be aware of your options when shopping!

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