Microsoft launches $59 Office 2007 worldwide

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Dan Warne14 September 2007, 4:53 AM

Microsoft has slashed the price it charges students for Office 2007, reducing it to $59 worldwide, following a trial in Australia that saw strong takeup of cut-price Office.


Roger the Dodgy Microsoft guy: selling Microsoft software cheapRoger the Dodgy Microsoft guy: selling Microsoft software cheap
Following a successful Australian pilot earlier this year, Microsoft has announced it will start selling Office 2007 to students around the world for just $US59.

"The Ultimate Steal" promotion will run in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States starting today and in France, Italy and Spain starting Sept. 20, 2007. The promotion will end on April 30, 2008. 

Office Ultimate 2007 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook with Business Contact Manager, Access, Publisher, OneNote, Grooveand InfoPath.

Microsoft Australia's pilot, "It's Not Cheating", offered university students access to Microsoft Office 2007 for $AUD75. Microsoft said the Australian pilot resulted in more than 880,000 page views on the local website, though it said at the time that it had only sold  15,000 copies of Office through it -- a very small proportion of the overall student population in Australia.
 
The Australian program will be made available again in October to uni students Australia-wide. Microsoft says it has improved the 'user experience' of ordering the software, too.

At the time of the initial promotion, one APC reader, Neil, commented, " I was dubious about the website because it looks like a scam.When I did a dig and tracert on the website address I was expecting it to go back to Microsoft web servers, but it was not the case."

Another user, Reactor, wrote: "I have a friend who payed $250 for the student version just before I could mention to her about the $75 deal. I purchased the $75 copy, and was amazed to see it was Office Ultimate, with no student-like limitations. If there was more advertising for it, I'm sure a ton more people would have grabbed it."

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mrsteveman1:

I have a feeling they are only doing this because OpenOffice has shoved Microsoft aside in the minds of almost ever student who knows about it.

Microsoft: Only compete when your attempts at destroying competition fail.

Microsoft has been gouging the market for years now with Office, its barely even worth $100. They need to stop selling things at the highest price possible, thats not how the real world works.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Scott:

If you think Office 2007 is barely worth $100 then you've not used it. OpenOffice, good though it is, can't compete with Office 2007, they're not even in the same ballpark, especially when you consider the features you get with Ultimate.

Microsoft do have to improve the way the website works though, I used the wrong email address in an order (I missed a point) and had to order again, as numerous emails to customer support went unanswered. Still, Office Ultimate is cheap at twice the $150 I paid.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

antdod:

They do it because people use illegal software. Do similar with films and music and piracy will go down. On the other hand, some people can't be asked to by oryginal and it is sad. Even if they can afford it.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

FostWare:

Markets usually allow for as high a price as people are willing to spend.

The difference now, is people are willing to spend less of their computer purchase (in percentage terms) on software just to make the computer be basically useful.

Well, that and ADSL2+ / 30Mb cable / DVD prices making downloading or sharing an "enterprise" version of Microsoft software much less hassle than before.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Wes:

The list of countries above doesn't look like the whole world because I was expecting countries like New Zealand and South Africa to be on the list for example. Anyway, thats besides the point.

But the move itself is good because there is no justification for a student spending hundreds of dollars on a software application when there is an equally good open source alternative available in OpenOffice.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymouse:

Well, as I've always said, if Microsoft would sell XP or Vista to individuals for a fair price - say, $100 - I'd actually pay for it.

The answer to "piracy" is staring them in the face and they can't see it. Even Apple gets it right in this department.


29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

sjaeger172004:

Looks like TAFE Students like myself loose out again on the deal as it is most likely be only for Uni Students. THANKS MICROSOFT no wonder a lot of people are going open sourced or Pirating.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

sjaeger172004:

Looks like TAFE Students like myself loose out again on the deal as it is most likely be only for Uni Students. THANKS MICROSOFT no wonder a lot of people are going open sourced or Pirating.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Rad:

I just hope that Microsoft extend the offer to all students!

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

John Smith:

TAFE & School Students already have access to low pricing for Office and Vista just few know about it.

https://www.sigroup.com.au/microsoft

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Rad:

Whilst the prices are low in Microsoft Student Select, I would still rather pay $75 vs $145 for Office. Student Select is still a good option for other Microsoft software titles. The link shown is only for NSW students you need to track down a reseller that services your own state or institutions.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Robert of QLD (New user):

It was a pity it was only for university & TAFE students. Normal school students could have done with that offer also.

12 May 2008, 11:03 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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