How much will Office 2010 cost?

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Heading into the new year, the Microsoft Office team is motivated more than ever by what we’re hearing about customers’ experiences with Office 2010. Many people think Office is just for the workplace, but millions of people are using Office at home, at school and for their small businesses to get things done. For instance:

• According to the NPD Group, Office Home and Student was the number one selling PC software product -- including games! -- at retail in the U.S. during the week of Black Friday 2009.
• Office Home and Student was one of Amazon.com’s top 3 Hot Holiday Bestseller software products in 2009.

Meanwhile the Office 2010 beta is generating record interest and use, surpassing the previous Office 2007 beta download rate. In just seven weeks, more than two million people around the world have downloaded and are using the Office 2010 beta. To get a better appreciation for that number, it’s a rate of more than 40,000 downloads per day. That’s approximately twice the number of people who run the Boston Marathon each year, or the entire population of Olympia, WA, or Annapolis, MD, downloading the Office 2010 beta every day!
Most importantly, 9 out of 10 beta users feel that the Office 2010 beta is an improvement over their current productivity suite.


How much will Office 2010 cost?

In addition to the great momentum statistics, we are also releasing Office 2010 U.S. retail pricing today. Office 2010 will be offered in four versions, to make it easier to choose a version of Office that’s best for you – Office Home and Business, Office Professional, Office Home and Student, and Office Professional Academic. Here’s a chart that outlines the features and pricing for each version.

• Office Home and Student boxed product is available in a Family Pack, allowing usage on three PCs in one house
• Purchase rights for Office Home and Business, Office Professional, and Office Professional Academic boxed product allow for usage on two of your PCs.
• The Product Key Card is valid for a single installation of the product.

Or click here to download a more detailed guide to each edition.
We’re committed to making Office 2010 the best productivity suite ever, and making it easier for everyone to try, buy and use Office.


Rachel Bondi, General Manager, Microsoft Office

Source:Microsoft Office 2010 Engineering : What the Office team will be talking about at CES

 

[cloud8521]

my wallet is crying... why does this cost more then the os?

 

[Adamd]

I will be sticking with 07.

 

[Lebon14]

It's a double : http://www.sevenforums.com/microsoft-office/52750-microsoft-office-2010-price-list.html

Starter for me. It's enough for what I'm doing

 

[Tews]

I know that if it weren't for my TechNet subscription, I wouldn't be able to afford it...

 

[thefabe]

That TechNet subscription is looking cheaper all the time.

 

[24c]

That TechNet subscription is looking cheaper all the time.

Mine expires 6/7/2010 - hope 2010 is there by then

 

[rbmorse]

A TechNet subscription is nice, but keep in mind it imposes its own set of restrictions on how the software can be used. Probably not something that affects too many people here, but all it takes is a few selfish sociopaths to get caught misusing the program to convince Microsoft to restrict availability or eliminate the program completely. Which would be a shame as the MSDN subscription with the closest equivalent "Software Benefits" package (Visual Studio Professional with MSDN Premium) runs about $2,500 USD.

 

[Martin]

thanks to MSDN subscription

 

[speedy1979]

Will Microsoft have an early adopter sale like they did for windows 7.

I purchased Windows 7 Home Premium in July on Amazon for a significantly discounted price a full 3 months before it officially went on sale. I am hoping the MS does the same thing with Office 2010.

 

[pparks1]

my wallet is crying... why does this cost more then the os?

Unfortunately, that is the way that it has always been with Microsoft Office. Microsoft makes quite a bit of money from businesses and such on licensing for the Office suite...which many businesses have to stay current on. For home use though...I generally don't see that much need to stay current with Microsoft office.

A TechNet subscription is nice, but keep in mind it imposes its own set of restrictions on how the software can be used. Probably not something that affects too many people here, but all it takes is a few selfish sociopaths to get caught misusing the program to convince Microsoft to restrict availability or eliminate the program completely. Which would be a shame as the MSDN subscription with the closest equivalent "Software Benefits" package (Visual Studio Professional with MSDN Premium) runs about $2,500 USD.

As far as Technet goes, I called Microsoft on the issue and they have no problems whatsoever if a home hobbyist buys a copy of Technet and uses all of the software provided on multiple computers within their own home for their own personal use. Microsoft only has an issue if you try to run or support a business with Technet software or if you share your technet software/keys with another person. Personally though, I feel that if you obtain your OS's and Office through Technet...then you should be renewing this Technet subscription year after year. I know many will disagree with me on this, but based on the amount of money saved on what you are using...it's not going to cost that much more (if any) to keep your Technet subscriptions current.



Microsoft is not likely to discontinue Technet as they make quite a bit of money off it that would otherwise likely be lost as people using Technet software would have likely obtained their software through other means.

MSDN costs more than Technet...but it's typically because you get more software and you also have the right to use said software in a business environment. In fact, if purchases for work use by your employer....I don't believe that it allows copies to be used outside of the office (for example, in the developers home).

 

[HammerHead]

To Technet or Not To Technet

I looked at the info on subscriptions on the TN site. Excuse me for being so dense. How do it work? I am interested in Office 2010 with Access which puts it in the $400 range retail. How would I benefit from a TechNet subscribe? I'm just trying to cut down on the surprises if I do subscribe.

 

[pparks1]

I looked at the info on subscriptions on the TN site. Excuse me for being so dense. How do it work? I am interested in Office 2010 with Access which puts it in the $400 range retail. How would I benefit from a TechNet subscribe? I'm just trying to cut down on the surprises if I do subscribe.

Technet is a software subscription service from Microsoft. The retail cost is $349 for the 1st year. There are however discount codes available online which I have seen which drop that cost down to around $250-$265.

Technet provides all of the client operating systems (Windows XP, Vista, 7), as well as the server operating systems (Server 2003, Server 2008, etc), as well as the Office products. They provide approx 10 licenses for each product on the site...which would mean that you could install Windows 7 on 5 home computers with Office 2007 on those 5 home computers all legally for a cost of about $249-$349..depending upon any discount codes you might find.

So for anybody technical with a couple of computers at home with a desire to run Microsoft software...and a desire to not pirate...you cannot beat the price of Technet for what you get.

 

[jradicle11]

What if you're running the '10 beta?

 

[rbmorse]

You spend a lot of time chasing lost icons and waiting for Google to release an updated Google Calendar connector.

 

[cloud8521]

What if you're running the '10 beta?

prob dis-activates and locks cant be sure atm

 

[NinaJay]

How much will Office 2010 cost?

For me? $25 for the full package(under my employers 'work from home' licensing agreement with Microsoft). I knew there was ONE advantage to be stuck in a boring-as-sh*t University job

 

[madtownidiot]

I just downloaded the beta and have been using it for a few hours. Seems to have been streamlined a bit from office 2007.. barring any major errors, I will definitely be getting the retail copy when it becomes available

 

[hclarkjr]

any idea when it is going to be RTM?

 

[sarf321]

Does anyone know will there be any Student Discounts and how much will they be?