Right, I've been lumbered with sorting out some of our MS licenses. Got a few quotes already and have been given the OK cash wise but...

I now have to write a report concerning our purchase and I'm having a few issues getting my head woken up!

Am I right in saying that our OS licenses are perpetual and once paid will not need to be renewed whereas the Office 2000 ones are two yearly thanks to Software Assurance? Surely we don't have to renew the OS one too?

Any ideas?

Ian

 

Software Assurance provides an upgrade path to any new versions of Office released during the "window" you have SA for.

At the end of that window, you can renew your SA to continue your entitlement to upgrades. If you don't renew (AFAIK), you are still licensed to run the last version of Office you recieved.

However, when you next wish to upgrade to the latest version of Office, you have NO upgrade entitlement and must therefore buy from scratch at FULL price.

 

There's also Upgrade Advantage which rolls into SA at the end of June (IIRC).

This upgrades from an old version, ie Office 95 to the latest ie Office XP. From the 1st of July, it seemlessly changes to Software Assurance.

Hence, if you need to upgrade any existing licenses, do it ASAP. After 31st July you will no longer be able to 'upgrade' to the latest version of a Microsoft product (i.e. upgrade licences will disappear in the Microsoft Open programme). You will have to buy the full licence (if you are not already enrolled in the Software Assurance programme).

Drop me a mail if you've got any more questions.

[Edited by ChrisB - 6/18/2002 11:02:58 AM]

 

Excellent, thats answered a few queries for me - thanks very much

 

or consider star office as we are...

David

 

david, are you using StarOffice now? did you have a look at OpenOffice as well?

i came across this office apps software that has the look and feel of ms-office and can open/save them as ms-office files. have a look at www.ability.co.uk.

 

We looked at open office... this looks like star office... before sun decided to start charging for it and offering support??

Will have a look there.... we are currently evaluating it... but it wont open the world cup excel spreadsheet so doesnt look good.

David

 

you sure about that web address?

David

 

Agreed - I just used www.openoffice.org instead
Does look good though - will download it at home later and have a better look.

 

ops, make that web address www.ability.com or www.uk.ability.com.