Microsoft office "problems (Mac)

[Dave2002]

One family machine currently is showing slight problems with Microsoft software - MS Office for Mac. I think the package is asking for the license key again - which should be available, but is no doubt hidden away in a cupboard.

I found this offer for MS 2016 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-O...office+for+mac
which would give a newer version anyway if it works - the amazon reviewers seem to suggest it's OK. Though I don't favour giving MS any new money, the new version for under £30 might be reasonable value.

I just wonder if it's possible to install that and leave the original intact within Mac OS - or maybe create a new user and install the download version of MS 2016 there to avoid any possible conflicts.

Also, does anyone have any idea when/if there will be a new release of Office for Mac?

[Stunsworth]

I bought the same version in August - from the same people, though it was £17 when I bought it. You receive a product key and instructions on how to download the software from Microsoft and activate using the key.

Its legitimate in that I think they’re giving you a corporate key. Updates are available to download when they become available.

It works fine and the old version can be left in place - though it will stop working with newer versions of the Mac OS as the old version is only 32 bit.

No no idea when the new version of Office will be released.

[Maclintick]

I'm no expert but I've found freeware alternatives fine for WP & spreadsheets. This one fits the bill for my admittedly elementary requirements :

https://download.cnet.com/Apache-OpenOffice/3000-18483_4-10209910.html

[Dave2002]

I'm no expert but I've found freeware alternatives fine for WP & spreadsheets. This one fits the bill for my admittedly elementary requirements :
https://download.cnet.com/Apache-Ope...-10209910.html

Indeed - I use Open Office a lot, particularly for word processing. I don't like the spreadsheet as much as Excel though.

There are several things I don't like about MS and the Office software. Firstly, I dislike the aggressive pricing, and the move towards subscription pricing in recent years. Secondly, Word has peculiar glitches, which nearly always require work arounds, and compared to some other software it can be slow. Thirdly - and here I now dislike other software too from other vendors - the move towards cloud integration. I don't want my data to go into any clouds - certainly not without my knowledge, and I don't want to be reliant on software which may only work with a good internet connection.

Sometimes one just has to bite the bullet and buy MS software. I had to do that once at very short notice because it was the only way to get a job done in time - this because of compatibility issues between versions, and data compatibility with another organisation, and no other work around I tried using tools such as Open Office worked. If I do have to buy MS software I'd perhaps prefer to have it on CD or DVD - but software vendors don't do that any more. Also, if I decide to buy MS software I prefer to wait until there's a multi machine version available at reasonable cost, but MS seem to be shutting down that opportunity too. Thus I'd rather pay £100 or so for software which will run on 3 or 5 machines (but not locked into the cloud - like MS 365) than having to fork out for single machine licences.

Office 2019 is launching now in both Mac and PC versions.

In the meantime, the original problem which triggered this thread remains. Indeed it has worsened, as originally it only affected one machine, leaving one machine with a working system. Something has now stopped working on two machines, both of which had valid licenses for MS Office. Both run Mac OS - though that may not have been updated. Could it be that an OS upgrade might fix this problem? The machines are good - so could be worth a try. I would have preferred to do a move to Sierra or High Sierra (which I know about), but I suppose because of timing the installation will have to be to Mojave.

[Dave2002]

I think I've now got to the bottom of the issue with the machines and the software.

See https://www.businessinsider.com/what...es-2014-3?IR=T

Both machines seemed to be running MS Office OK, but in fact they were on a four year Office 365 subscription, which the user had completely forgotten about. As far as I know there were no warnings that some action would be required - some users could be seriously caught out and "forced" to pay up again.

It wasn't terrible value considering, but questions now arise as to what is the best way forward. Some people and/or families may find Microsoft's pricing acceptable, while others, who hardly use the software but use it occasionally, might not.

In the past I minimised payments to Microsoft by buying multiple licenses, but I'm not sure if that's an option right now - or at least not a cheap one. I think some versions from 2008 and 2011 still work.

Further investigation also suggests a (possible) change in the T&Cs for the one off purchase options on Office 2019 - it now being a "requirement" that the software is connected to the internet at least once a month. I don't remember any such condition for earlier versions of MS Office.

That rules out long holidays, then!

[Pulcinella]

That rules out long holidays, then!

You could always use Excel to keep track of your daily hotel bar bill, Dave.


I piggy-back (legitimately) on my partner's Office 2011 licence.
We have both updated our Macs to the latest version (which I call Mojito!), and Word/Excel seem as OK as they were before. No intention yet of upgrading to Office 2019, but that's something to do with compatability with some other package he uses, I think (all way beyond me!).

[Dave2002]

You could always use Excel to keep track of your daily hotel bar bill, Dave.

Ah - do you remember the Old Alcoholic Drinks thread? !!!
Actually we don't have too much to drink - that's perhaps why we have a lot of full bottles, rather than empty or half empty ones.

I piggy-back (legitimately) on my partner's Office 2011 licence.

We try to optimise licenses (US spelling since Microsoft ...) amongst ourselves and our machines. One of our number - younger member - works, and would find it useful even to pay. I'm not sure if it's worth having the family version of 365, or if that would interfere with the other licenses we have on our machines. It would allow use on iPads which could be useful, but if there was any conflict of licenses that would not be welcome.

We have both updated our Macs to the latest version (which I call Mojito!), and Word/Excel seem as OK as they were before. No intention yet of upgrading to Office 2019, but that's something to do with compatability with some other package he uses, I think (all way beyond me!).

Mojitos are drinks which we do sometimes indulge in - and enjoy - but not too often. Probably not worth "updating" to 2019 if the existing software works OK. Most people who aren't working or otherwise linked to an organisation which uses MS software can avoid having to use MS software or keep such up to date. Some people who work and may have to have upto date MS software for compatibility reasons probably have firms which will pay for the licenses, while others who work for public sector organisations possibly do not - particularly in these times of economic stringency.