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Warning On Office 2007 "Try-Before-You-Buy"
walterbyrd writes with a warning: "Microsoft is pushing Office 2007 with 'try-before-you-buy.' Please don't let your friends and relatives install Microsoft 'trial' software. When Microsoft tells you 'try-before-you-buy,' the 'buy' part is not meant to be an option. Once you 'try' a Microsoft 'upgrade' you can not easily go back, because your files will be replaced by new versions that you need the new software to read." The ChannelRegister article also notes how Microsoft's push goes against the grain of the consumer revolt against "crapware." Read on for an account of walterbyrd's experience with a previous Microsoft trial upgrade.
I remember when my brother-in-law decided to try Office-2003. It was a complete mess. I didn't think I'd ever get it fixed. Here is the story:
Office-2003 installed over his Office-2000. His Outlook-2000 email was reformatted to the new-and-improved Outlook-2003. And Outlook-2003 format is incompatible with everything except Outlook-2003. So when his trial period was over, he could no longer access his email — unless he wanted to buy Office-2003.
Of course, I could not fully remove the "trial" version of Office-2003. Once Office-2003 has been installed, it can not overwritten with an earlier version of Office. Also, you cannot remove Office-2003 and re-install Office-2000, unless you know how to hack the registry. And you can not easily install Office-2000 and Office-2003 on the same PC.
What I eventually did to correct the situation:
- Signed up for my own trial version of Office-2003
- Used my trial version to import my brother-in-law's email file
- Saved my brother-in-law's email in another format
- Backed up his data
- Wiped his HDD
- Restored everything
In fairness, I have not used the trial version of Office-2007. But, after my experience with the trial version of Office-2003, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Please make sure your friends don't touch it either.
I remember when my brother-in-law decided to try Office-2003. It was a complete mess. I didn't think I'd ever get it fixed. Here is the story:
Office-2003 installed over his Office-2000. His Outlook-2000 email was reformatted to the new-and-improved Outlook-2003. And Outlook-2003 format is incompatible with everything except Outlook-2003. So when his trial period was over, he could no longer access his email — unless he wanted to buy Office-2003.
Of course, I could not fully remove the "trial" version of Office-2003. Once Office-2003 has been installed, it can not overwritten with an earlier version of Office. Also, you cannot remove Office-2003 and re-install Office-2000, unless you know how to hack the registry. And you can not easily install Office-2000 and Office-2003 on the same PC.
What I eventually did to correct the situation:
- Signed up for my own trial version of Office-2003
- Used my trial version to import my brother-in-law's email file
- Saved my brother-in-law's email in another format
- Backed up his data
- Wiped his HDD
- Restored everything
In fairness, I have not used the trial version of Office-2007. But, after my experience with the trial version of Office-2003, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Please make sure your friends don't touch it either.
Hot! Are Harry's kids named Lily, James, and Sirius?
waaaaait.... is that bold line supposed to be the last line of the book? That's not true, scar has to be the last word, as in "Harry drove off into the sunset in hi scar."
ResidntGeek
I'm using the free version of Microsoft Office Accounting - they made it free in order to muscle into QuickBooks market (the free version is equivalent to the 90$ version of quickbooks).
Problems so far:
It depends on a version of SQL server it installs as a service (why does it have to run as soon as I power on the machine?) which sometimes (for no reason) balloons up to over a gigabyte of ram use. Also SQL didn't install properly the first time because it refuses to install in a compressed directory - well as easily as they could test that the directory is compressed, they could have made their subdirectory uncompressed. After all they're installing it as a fucking service and that takes admin access.
It has fucking AVERTISEMENTS running in the main window the time. Not only is there no way to turn them off or to rearrange the window so it doesn't take up 100% of the screen real estate, but the system stops for a few minutes retrying on the fucking ADVERTS every time my internet connection goes down. That's right, you can't do any accounting for fucking minutes because their fucking advertisement is more important!
Really, this all seems like a great reason to pay $200 for a good version of Quickbooks. If the free Office Accounting is bad, is there any reason to believe that the other one, say DOESN'T have adverts? Or that it lets you use your screen for things other than a huge menue designed to force you to watch those averts?
>>What happens with Outlook I'm not sure
The story was basically about the difficulties I had with Outlook. So how can you say the whole story is "FUD" while admitting that you don't know what happens with Outlook?
The problem was not with *my* computer, it was my brother-in-law's computer. Like most people, my brother-in-law is not all that sophisticated about computers.
No way in hell would I ever install msft "trialware."
Only in my case it was a 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI, and the problem was soft paint. Every little grain of sand that hit that car cut through the black finish to the white primer. It looked like shit. Eventually I was able to get VW to repaint the car, but they insisted I pay $60 to repaint one of the panels. There was no logic to this, but the division rep said, "Well, if you don't want to do that, I'll just keep repainting your panels one at a time as the scratches come," so I went along with the scam. Anyway, I haven't tried a VW product in over 20 years, but I would recommend you keep yourself and your loved ones away from this car company.
factually incorrect.
I don't know if it is or not, nor do I plan on finding out. The latest MS Office I have is Office 97 and I don't really need a newer version. Heck I haven't used 97 in 2 or 3 years. And because MS wants to treat me like a criminal, that's what Activation, WGA, and WPA do amoung other things, I'm even switching my OS. The PC I'm typing this on runs Windows however last year I got a new PC with Linux preinstalled, I'm using it as a server right now. And when I get a laptop, RSN, I'll get a Macbook Pro. As it is now I'll stay as far away from MS products as I can.
FalconShould there be a Law?