Opinions about or experiences with MS Office 365?

Reba

Reba

Retired Terp
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Have you tried MS Office 365? Do you know any real life pros or cons about it?
 
Compare Microsoft Office products - Office.com

Other than the "by year" licensing it's essentially the same product as Office 2013.
I know that vets get a discount on the 365 version. I installed it last month for a marine. Not sure if there are discounts for the 2013 version.

I have purchased the 2013 version since it came out. The 365 version is pretty much the same thing other than the additional online stuff it offers.
 
in my PC - I still use Office 2003. I hate the new version. big pain in the arse. not very intuitive. clumsy. clunky.
 
Jiro said:
in my PC - I still use Office 2003. I hate the new version. big pain in the arse. not very intuitive. clumsy. clunky.
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no reason to upgrade if you just use the basic stuff.

2013 has more enhanced features - updated graph and chart types, designs, dual charts etc., better footnote functionality, statistics and analysis features in excel, etc. Each release is just minor improvements for certain uses of the software.

The OSX version is still lagging behind in comparison to the windows version, but it's getting better.
 
naisho said:
no reason to upgrade if you just use the basic stuff.

2013 has more enhanced features - updated graph and chart types, designs, dual charts etc., better footnote functionality, statistics and analysis features in excel, etc. Each release is just minor improvements for certain uses of the software.

The OSX version is still lagging behind in comparison to the windows version, but it's getting better.
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2003 does it right and simply. a perfect program. the new version drives me insane. Calibri font? 1.5 space? seriously?
 
Jiro said:
2003 does it right and simply. a perfect program. the new version drives me insane. Calibri font? 1.5 space? seriously?
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The above accounts for something I have started getting!

I do our church newsletter and have NEVER liked Word so I use WordPerfect. WordPerfect Office X4 does a good job of converting Word docx files. I have fairly recently started getting email attachments of articles with the above formating and hadn't gotten around to verifying what version of Word the individual people are using. I do know one gal has just gotten a new computer and is far from the techie type so is almost guaranteed to be using whatever the mfg. installs. I do not have Calibri so it comes up as Ariel on mine.
 
I have Office 2010 on my Windows computers, and Office 2011 for Macs on my MacBookPro, which I like. I'm considering getting Office 365 for a friend who has Office 2003. I would have preferred to get Office 2010 for my friend but they are no longer selling it at the Exchange. I didn't see an Office 2013 available.
 
I'm about to be force upgraded at work so we'll see how that works out
 
jonnyghost said:
What are they looking for out of the software?
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He is a friend my age, former military officer, who ministers to military prisoners in the brig and other military people. He needs Word, access to pdf's, maybe start using PowerPoint, and start networking his family's computers and printers (I'll probably do the set up for that). Also, his wife, my friend, wants to start up a small home business with a website for that business. I'll be setting up her website for her (part of my class assignment this semester).

Right now they have one PC, one Windows laptop, and one iPad1. The PC and laptop are Windows7.

The software for Office will be my gift to them. I can buy it at the Navy Exchange for a discount, tax free.
 
Since you like a prior version even better, have you checked other sources just in case the older version is offered at enough of a discount to offset the advantages of using the Navy Exchange?

Reba said:
He is a friend my age, former military officer, who ministers to military prisoners in the brig and other military people. He needs Word, access to pdf's, maybe start using PowerPoint, and start networking his family's computers and printers (I'll probably do the set up for that). Also, his wife, my friend, wants to start up a small home business with a website for that business. I'll be setting up her website for her (part of my class assignment this semester).

Right now they have one PC, one Windows laptop, and one iPad1. The PC and laptop are Windows7.

The software for Office will be my gift to them. I can buy it at the Navy Exchange for a discount, tax free.
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Jane B. said:
Since you like a prior version even better, have you checked other sources just in case the older version is offered at enough of a discount to offset the advantages of using the Navy Exchange?
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The military family version of MS Office 2010 that I got was $79 for three computers. The Office 365 is $69 for one year, 5 computers, Windows and Mac.

I'll keep searching.
 
Reba said:
The military family version of MS Office 2010 that I got was $79 for three computers. The Office 365 is $69 for one year, 5 computers, Windows and Mac.

I'll keep searching.
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Other than ebay or other discount retailers (i.e. newegg), you can get a bunch of old microsoft software downloads on their technet division and that includes office 2010, 2007, windows 7, etc.

The caveat to this method, it's designed for a membership service based rather than individual program store. I believe it's around $200 for a member registration and no idea about military discounts, it probably isn't offered. If you try to contact MS about it, they will probably try to sell you the new version. Just the way the world works.

https://mspartner.microsoft.com/en/us/pages/membership/technet-subscriptions.aspx

It may be less hassle to get the newer version. I do wonder how transfer of the license would work if you got the 365 version, when the license expires.
 
naisho said:
...It may be less hassle to get the newer version. I do wonder how transfer of the license would work if you got the 365 version, when the license expires.
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My understanding is that every year you pay the renewal for 365 to keep it going. I don't think it can be transferred to someone else, although if you haven't used all 5 copies I don't know if you can share them. I haven't checked that out because I wasn't going to use it that way. I just want to give the software (which is actually just a code number--no disk) to my friends, to help them out.
 
Have the latest, but don't like the cloud option. My advice is to stick with the old stuff until this whole, "stealing your data" craze blows over.
 
It looks like navy and military members are eligible for the HUP (Home Use Program) for Office 2013. The only requirement is a working and accepted email from the participating institutions in the program. Some universities were part of these program, so that was the same method I got my copy for $10 over the years - I got copies of Windows 7, office 2007, 2010, 2013 throughout the years for $10-30 each license.
Department of Navy Chief Information Officer - News: Microsoft Home Use Program Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.doncio.navy.mil/ContentView.aspx?id=849

Review those instructions and see if you are eligible to try it out, assuming you guys have an active military email.
I didn't read the navy's full faq page but I assume the link to the MS purchase is in there somewhere.
 
naisho said:
It looks like navy and military members are eligible for the HUP (Home Use Program) for Office 2013. The only requirement is a working and accepted email from the participating institutions in the program. Some universities were part of these program, so that was the same method I got my copy for $10 over the years - I got copies of Windows 7, office 2007, 2010, 2013 throughout the years for $10-30 each license.
Department of Navy Chief Information Officer - News: Microsoft Home Use Program Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.doncio.navy.mil/ContentView.aspx?id=849

Review those instructions and see if you are eligible to try it out, assuming you guys have an active military email.
I didn't read the navy's full faq page but I assume the link to the MS purchase is in there somewhere.
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Thank you but it's for active duty or SELRES personnel, not retirees.
 
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