I’ve gotten quite a few requests from our clients for purchasing Microsoft Office 2010, versus the newer Microsoft Office 2013 or Microsoft Office 365 recently. I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that yes, you CAN still purchase and run Office 2010, but Microsoft sure doesn’t make it easy on your pockets!
How Can I Still Purchase Microsoft Office 2010?
Like I stated above, it is still possible to install and run Office 2010 on your PC’s, under the following conditions:
*You can run 2010 on your PC’s if you purchase an Open Office 2013 license that includes the downgrade rights to run Office 2010. You would be able to switch over to use Office 2013 at a later date, whenever you are ready. You can also move these licenses from PC to PC. These licenses cost $369.99 apiece.
BUT…
*Microsoft makes the customer purchase (5) Open licenses – ANY Microsoft Open license would count – initially, then you could purchase just one license at a time moving on. Microsoft allows the customer to tie additional licenses to any Open Microsoft license purchased for a limited amount of time after the initial purchase. In most cases I’ve seen, this is usually a year and a half to two years after the initial purchase. The initial purchase of the (5) Open Microsoft licenses is what I was referring to about Microsoft making it hard on your pockets!
Is it Worth It?
That’s up to you. Can you use (5) Open Microsoft licenses now, or would use in the future? You can hold onto Open licenses and install them at a later date, but the expiration date for adding one or two Open licenses later would not change. Are the software programs you use for your business compatible with Office 2013 yet? If they are, it would probably make more sense for you to make the transition to Office 2013 in the near future, instead of holding onto Office 2010. Office 2013 OEM licenses (OEM means that the license is tied to the PC that it is initially installed on) cost $209.99 at this time. You can purchase one of these licenses at a time. Microsoft will most likely make it even more difficult to purchase Office 2010 as time goes on, or possibly not allow the program to be purchased at all!
by Alison Ruston, Sales & Marketing
