Retail Copies of Office 2013 Are Tied To a Single Computer Forever 464
An anonymous reader writes "With the launch of Office 2013 Microsoft has seen fit to upgrade the terms of the license agreement, and it's not in favor of the end user. It seems installing a copy of the latest version of Microsoft's Office suite of apps ties it to a single machine. For life. On previous versions of Office it was a different story. The suite was associated with a 'Licensed Device' and could only be used on a single device. But there was nothing to stop you uninstalling Office and installing it on another machine perfectly legally. With that option removed, Office 2013 effectively becomes a much more expensive proposition for many."
Re:just use virtual machines (Score:5, Funny)
Virtual machine machines might not be simple, but virtual machines can be.
Re:What happens when the machine dies? (Score:5, Funny)
If it's like any of the other Microsoft installation limits I've run into, you just call the support number, they ask you why you're installing multiple times, and you tell them you fixed the computer because you the repair shop replaced your motherboard and hard drive. They are pretty reasonable in practice.
The fact that people consider this reasonable still boggles my mind. If ford required you to phone them and re-activate your stereo every time you replaced your spark plugs, there would be a fucking media storm so big their stocks would drop faster than an f-150 driven off a cliff!
Netcraft confirms it... (Score:5, Funny)
This *will* be the year of Linux on the Desktop!
Re:No. (Score:5, Funny)
I don't know whose the single computer will be... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:just use virtual machines (Score:2, Funny)
VM machines are not simple to setup and use for the masses as they are for /. users.
You don't have to use a whole VM machine. Just use a virtual VM machine.
Re:just use virtual machines (Score:2, Funny)
I'd switch, but the horrid VBA in Excel is still far better-documented and easier to develop for than any of the OO.org macro solutions.
Umm... this is /., we write real programs, not spreadsheet macros.
Microsoft On How To Shoot Yourself In The Foot (Score:5, Funny)
* Hey Steve! How's it going.
- Terrible, Bill, terrible. Nothing's going the way we expected. I mean, we tried our best with Zune - we made it brown even! - but it's no good. Some people even liked the Zune software.
* I see. What else have you tried?
- Well, we replaced the toolbar in Office with - get this - a ribbon. We told everybody it would improve their workflow.
* Bet that shook things up!
- No, people kept buying Office. The ribbon even had fans! They wanted it extended to other apps! But then I thought... XBox!
* XBox?
- Yeah... we'll put ads all over the thing! There'll be a tiny button in the corner to start the game and everywhere else... ads!
* Yes!!!
- No! People complained, but XBox Lives subscriptions are up and game sales are through the roof! Hell, we even canned Bungie and sold more Halo games than ever!
* Oh dear.
- Then I'm sure you heard about Windows 8 and Metro.
* Oh yes, terrific job there. And you tied it to Surface and Windows Phone too!
- Yes, we're all very proud of that. And now this thing with Office 2013; we're tying it to a single computer. No reinstalls. If your motherboard craps out, well, you'll just have to buy a new license!
* Surely that will work. No one will be able to ignore the message we're sending now.
- I don't know, Bill. I don't know. People liked the whole Office365 subscription thing, after all. They'll probably like this too. You know and I know that Windows and the Microsoft ecosystem is an abortion and a disaster, and that we've been striving desperately to get people to leave it for greater and better things - I can't help but remember the excellent work you did with "The Road Ahead" and leaving out the Internet entirely; you'd have thought that might have clued them in that we're just hacks - but it's just not working. But look, what if I try this next: security updates only available to people who have a paid subscription. Yeah, that might do it, don't you think?
* Never give up hope, Steve, never give up hope. I can't think of anyone better for this job. And here, toss a chair. It'll make you feel better.
Microsoft is misunderstood. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Microsoft is misunderstood. (Score:5, Funny)
IMO, MS is not a software company. It is an abuse company that uses selling software as a way of delivering abuse.
MS is an abuse company? But I was looking for an argument.