Microsoft is making me really upset!
Microsoft is making me really upset!
So I just paid around seventy dollars and spent roughly forty-five minutes trying to get Office for my computer at school. I quickly realized this was a decision I regret making. I visited the Microsoft website, which felt almost identical to Apple’s site from eight years prior, setting a poor tone right away. I scrolled through their offerings, searching for a way to obtain Office. I stumbled upon the Office 365 version. I remember hearing something about it but haven’t actually seen it before. Looking at the various packages and student discounts, I understood I’d likely have to subscribe to a service. Thinking back to my time playing WOW, I admit the $15 per month seemed excessive. They had to maintain servers, constantly update content, manage a large user base, and keep things entertaining—all while keeping me engaged. It made no sense that Microsoft would charge $10 a month for a tool that lets you display text and images on a screen and print them. If they offered my English paper for free, I’d pay; otherwise, it’s frustrating they charge so much without letting me upgrade to a cheaper version or the same price. I discovered later that an annual license for $70 is available. They market it as not a subscription, but it’s still one. I’ll keep renewing and paying repeatedly for something I already own. Unfortunately, even after all my complaints, I still need Office for school. I can’t function without it. That’s why I had to spend the money on the monthly plan. But this isn’t over. I bought Office and received an email verification—something I’ve done many times before. Yet, there’s no straightforward download link anywhere on their site. The time-consuming and confusing process is just frustrating. How can they continue to hold such a monopoly and let people like me get stuck in this cycle? I know Google Docs exists, but adoption is slow. My school won’t let me use it for assignments. After hours of effort and real expense, I still have nothing tangible to show. If you know where to find a download for Office or if you’ve faced a similar situation, please let me know—I’m feeling really upset. Edit ________________________________________________________________________
You have access to Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and another program I don’t remember. With BYOD at school, there are many laptops available. We use Google Classroom, and teachers recommend installing Google Chrome because it’s lighter on battery. I can still use Google Docs. The monthly subscription is necessary for things like Excel and PowerPoint. My family covers the cost, though it would be a bigger problem if I were a student with limited funds.
I didn't choose Office 2013 because Office 365 offered more features and updates.
Sure, if I didn’t have Office 2007 I’d likely try to steal whatever was available if forced to use it. The main reason micro$hit maintains a monopoly comes from non-tech businesses like schools and corporations that control industries. There are many free options, but companies often block them.
I checked the website and searched for Office 2007 or 2010, but it wasn’t easy to locate. After my month of office expired, I think I’ve already paid, so I might go to Frys and get a disk copy since it seems like a better option.