Oh My Goodness… How Cheap can Microsoft Get?

Microsoft released its Office 2007 product in February, and it seems to be taking pretty well with our customers (better than Vista is anyway). A couple weeks ago we received our first shipment of OEM Office 2007 software for installation on new Modular computers.

We were shocked to find that Microsoft is shipping Office 2007 OEM in an empty amaray case! When you crack it open to install the software, all that is present is a small cardboard card with an activation code – a license. OEM installers are now required to download the trial software from the Microsoft website, install the trial, and then activate it using the provided code.

In the past, we have always told customers that when you buy software, you are buying a license to use that software, not the disc it comes on. We were also able to tell customers that in most cases, if you do not get a disc when you buy software, you should be suspect of the license’s validity.

Microsoft helped reinforce that concept when they started their Genuine Advantage program that touted security features that included fancy holographic discs. It seemed a bit odd that the software giant would depart from what was once a staple in their Genuine Advantage program.

Looking for a way to simplify the process, we purchased a retail copy of Office 2007 and then attempted to make copies of the CD for use in our office to make installations easier in our systembuilder environment. We When we tried to install from the disks however, we received an error message that we were not installing from a genuine software disk! So which way does Microsoft want it? Disk or no disk?

Let me just say, it certainly cheapens the perceived value of their software when a customer spends $400 for Office 2007 Professional and receives a piece of cardboard in an empty amaray case. “Here is your $400 software code, have a great day.”