Does it make sense for me to buy Office 2010 today?

I've been considering upgrading my Office 2003 installations, since support has run out, and, well, the program is 11 years old.

I primarily use Word, Excel, and Project. Occasionally PowerPoint. So it seems obvious that a Home & Student version would be fine for me, since MS Project does not come bundled in any Office product.

My initial criteria are these:

• I do not want to rent the software. I want to pay for it once and own it.
• Can't be tied to one PC. I want to be able to install it on my newest PCs as I replace my old one with a new one.
• I want a physical or file copy - DVD or Download.
• I want the program installed on my hard drive. I do not want to access business software over the internet.
• I want to install the same version on 2 desktops and 1 laptop. Obviously looking for the least expensive (legal) way to do this. This might include keeping Office 2003 on one or more machines.

Base on my criteria it looks like I am best off with MS Office 2010 Home & Student 3x Family Pack.
Amazon US is selling this for $280. EDIT: $260.

I'm looking for feedback, constructive criticism, warnings, and advice. My criteria is not set in stone, but it is what I am comfortable with. This is a business decision, so the long term cost is going to be the main deciding factor.

TIA for any comments.

It is a good product. I bought it too a while ago when it was a lot cheaper ($149). At Newegg it is currently slightly cheaper than at Amazon. Sometimes it goes on sale at Newegg. You might want to subscribe to their daily feed.

Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Student 3-User Software - Newegg.com

I too have Office 2003 Professional. I've been using free open office product Libre Office and haven't had any problems, so far. But, mainly I just use the word processor program.

My biggest problem has been finding an e-mail program that I like to replace Outlook 2003. I've tried Thunderbird and it was the most painless to install as it copied all my custom folders from Outlook 2003 automatically. I also have Windows Live Mail, but everything has to be manually setup or copied over.

I'm working on new web site too, as what I have now was generated with FrontPage 2003, which has obsolete HTML code.

Libre Office is a good idea too. I use it in Linux - Writer (Word) and Impress (PowerPoint). The UI is a bit different but the major functions are there and to some extent compatible with Office.

Did you ever think the day would come where it would be so difficult to just do a simple thing like buy a program and own it?

Then just put it on any computer you wanted to as long as it was only on one computer at a time. If you wanted to install said program on more than one computer at a time you just paid extra for the option.

NewEgg is safe for software as long as it is sold and shipped by NewEgg, not one of their Marketplace vendors. Amazon, on the other hand, has been know to get their software from their Marketplace vendors, who are sometimes pretty dodgy to downright fraudulent, when Amazon's own stocks run out. I would not trust Amazon for software.

It really bites my ample asset when speculators buy up products being discontinued, then resell them at grossly inflated prices. It's even worse when retailers like NewEgg start doing the same thing. NewEgg has really been slipping lately; I don't even get their daily ads (or any ads) anymore.

You have to be careful with a lot of things on Amazon. I've seen reports of fake Shure microphones from them. There are "far east" knockoff's and unless you have a real one to compare you wouldn't know its a fake.

fireberd said:

You have to be careful with a lot of things on Amazon. I've seen reports of fake Shure microphones from them. There are "far east" knockoff's and unless you have a real one to compare you wouldn't know its a fake.

I got hit a few years ago with an expensive paper cutter from one of Amazon's Marketplace vendors that turned out to be a cheap knockoff and broke outside the normal 30 day return period. Since consumer fraud was involved, I tried to deal directly with Amazon. When Amazon kept ignoring my emails, even after I threatened to complain to the BBB, I complained to the BBB and eventually got satisfaction but I much prefer to avoid the hassle in the first place so I've very cautious about buying from their Marketplace vendors. I actually read the vendor reviews and make my own conclusions before buying instead of just looking at the number of stars in the ratings (too many people don't know the difference between a product review and a vendor review, for starters)

There is an Office 2013 which was actually preinstalled on my Asus Transformer with 8.1. And I found one on the German Amazon. It does have a disclaimer though - not sure what that means. I guess it is what HD said - a collaboration with Office On-line.

This software can be installed only on www.office.com in conjunction with a Microsoft account.