Microsoft Products from other vendors

gjm120 · 02-07-2019, 11:42 PM

I recently bought a new desktop PC. The one it replaced had Office 2007 on it and I want something more recent for the new machine. In a web search I came across a bunch of vendors selling what they say are fully licensed Office packages at $50- $100. Any experience with this? Is it legal? Will it get MS updates?

Banana Hammock · 02-08-2019, 11:43 AM

Are you talking about websites that sell CD keys only? They're legit keys but it's kind of a grey market. A lot of people use those keys for many years for the Operating System with no issues.

detroitm2 · 02-08-2019, 11:59 AM

Agree on the "gray market."

However, I ordered a Windows 10 license for Kinguin.net, and it went well. I had some issues activating, but getting on their live chat got me sorted within a few minutes.

The install seems 100% valid, windows update works, everything is fully functional.

gjm120 · 02-08-2019, 12:56 PM

I did a little digging and it seems like grey market is a good categorization. These are likely multi-license packages sold to developers or companies for use within that organisation.

Dang3r · 03-06-2019, 02:55 AM

I bought my W7 Ultimate Key just as a DL and Office 365 also. Never encountered problems with it.
Office 2010 was last version with CD's.
W10 is no match for me, W7 is fully operable and needs no replacement.

gjm120 · 03-06-2019, 12:59 PM

I found a fairly good free substitute for Office - at least the programs in Office I care about. Libre Office has document and spreadsheet programs that are not bad at all. Not as pretty and probably lack some features. I have no idea if the spreadsheet does macros and all the other stuff in Excel, but, for basics it is fine. So far carrying over changes to the docs or spreadsheets into the MS products works.

For an email client, Thunderbird is pretty good also.

I've only had the Libre Office suite for a short while so this is an initial impression. Have had Thunderbird for about 2 months now and happy with it.

Poiseuille · 03-16-2019, 04:29 PM

.

Ximian · 03-25-2019, 04:02 PM

Those keys are most likely not legitimate. However, your employer may have a relationship with Microsoft that would give you certain products for a very reasonable price through the Home Use program - https://www.microsofthup.com/hupus/home.aspx

Z K · 03-25-2019, 04:27 PM

If you don't want to pay for Office 365 as a subscription, you can buy the latest Office 2019 without a subscription as well.

gjm120 · 03-25-2019, 04:32 PM

I know. Already have a valid Office suite on 2 computers and having it on another machine is just a nice to have. Thus my reason for trying to save. Actually, since I started this I've used Thunderbird and Office Libre and for what I need they aren't bad.

02-07-2019, 11:42 PM	#1
gjm120 Colonel 2198 Rep 2,817 Posts Drives: 2013 128i, 2021 230i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: East Texas iTrader: (1)	Microsoft Products from other vendors I recently bought a new desktop PC. The one it replaced had Office 2007 on it and I want something more recent for the new machine. In a web search I came across a bunch of vendors selling what they say are fully licensed Office packages at $50- $100. Any experience with this? Is it legal? Will it get MS updates? __________________ E82 - BMWP Springs / Koni Yellows / M front control arms / Adjustable front endlinks / M rear guide rods / Whiteline Poly RSFB F22 - Stock M Sport, 6MT
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02-08-2019, 11:43 AM	#2
Banana Hammock Beefcake 3738 Rep 711 Posts Drives: R32 GTR Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	Are you talking about websites that sell CD keys only? They're legit keys but it's kind of a grey market. A lot of people use those keys for many years for the Operating System with no issues.
	Appreciate 0

02-08-2019, 11:59 AM	#3
detroitm2 Colonel 2453 Rep 2,539 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Michigan iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	Agree on the "gray market." However, I ordered a Windows 10 license for Kinguin.net, and it went well. I had some issues activating, but getting on their live chat got me sorted within a few minutes. The install seems 100% valid, windows update works, everything is fully functional.
	Appreciate 0

02-08-2019, 12:56 PM	#4
gjm120 Colonel 2198 Rep 2,817 Posts Drives: 2013 128i, 2021 230i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: East Texas iTrader: (1)	I did a little digging and it seems like grey market is a good categorization. These are likely multi-license packages sold to developers or companies for use within that organisation. __________________ E82 - BMWP Springs / Koni Yellows / M front control arms / Adjustable front endlinks / M rear guide rods / Whiteline Poly RSFB F22 - Stock M Sport, 6MT
	Appreciate 0

03-06-2019, 02:55 AM	#5
Dang3r Schmollbraten 12482 Rep 1,985 Posts Drives: M4CPC // HP4 Comp. Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Liandri Central Core iTrader: (0)	I bought my W7 Ultimate Key just as a DL and Office 365 also. Never encountered problems with it. Office 2010 was last version with CD's. W10 is no match for me, W7 is fully operable and needs no replacement. __________________ Citizen of ///M - Town, where too much is just right Some say, that my scrotum has its own small gravity field and when Im slowing down that brake lights come on at my buttox
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03-06-2019, 12:59 PM	#6
gjm120 Colonel 2198 Rep 2,817 Posts Drives: 2013 128i, 2021 230i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: East Texas iTrader: (1)	I found a fairly good free substitute for Office - at least the programs in Office I care about. Libre Office has document and spreadsheet programs that are not bad at all. Not as pretty and probably lack some features. I have no idea if the spreadsheet does macros and all the other stuff in Excel, but, for basics it is fine. So far carrying over changes to the docs or spreadsheets into the MS products works. For an email client, Thunderbird is pretty good also. I've only had the Libre Office suite for a short while so this is an initial impression. Have had Thunderbird for about 2 months now and happy with it. __________________ E82 - BMWP Springs / Koni Yellows / M front control arms / Adjustable front endlinks / M rear guide rods / Whiteline Poly RSFB F22 - Stock M Sport, 6MT
	Appreciate 0

03-16-2019, 04:29 PM	#7
Poiseuille Brigadier General 5427 Rep 3,745 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 DCT Tanzanite/Amaro Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Princeton iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [10.00]	.
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03-25-2019, 04:02 PM	#8
Ximian . 2096 Rep 2,022 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: MN iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00] 2021 BMW M3 [0.00]	Those keys are most likely not legitimate. However, your employer may have a relationship with Microsoft that would give you certain products for a very reasonable price through the Home Use program - https://www.microsofthup.com/hupus/home.aspx
	Appreciate 0

03-25-2019, 04:27 PM	#9
Z K Major General 1913 Rep 5,524 Posts Drives: G20 M340i, S15 Silvia Spec R Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (3)	If you don't want to pay for Office 365 as a subscription, you can buy the latest Office 2019 without a subscription as well. __________________ Auto Detailing Enthusiast!
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03-25-2019, 04:32 PM	#10
gjm120 Colonel 2198 Rep 2,817 Posts Drives: 2013 128i, 2021 230i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: East Texas iTrader: (1)	I know. Already have a valid Office suite on 2 computers and having it on another machine is just a nice to have. Thus my reason for trying to save. Actually, since I started this I've used Thunderbird and Office Libre and for what I need they aren't bad. __________________ E82 - BMWP Springs / Koni Yellows / M front control arms / Adjustable front endlinks / M rear guide rods / Whiteline Poly RSFB F22 - Stock M Sport, 6MT
	Appreciate 0