Licensing Scheme for MS Office 2004

[trag]

I am thinking about picking up a used copy of Office 2004. How does the licensing work on this software? Does it do the thing that I've heard Windows does, where it's registered to the hardware you install it one and once you've installed it three times you're scrod if you try to install it on a new machine? If so, that would make buying used copies pretty useless.

I appreciate any helpful or humorous information.

 

[protocol7]

As far as the "three times and you're screwed" thing (on Windows), I'm pretty sure you can ring MS and activate it over the phone if you've used up your three activations. It's their own fault for not giving you any way to revoke your activation. If you have to format for any reason you've lost one.

 

[ClassicHasClass]

I don't remember any such activation needed for Office v.X. I have 2008 on CD, but haven't gotten around to installing it yet (v.X does what I need and is very quick -- and still has VBA :-( ).

 

[jsarchibald]

Yep, it does indeed lock down any further installs. I tried it at home, and the fourth install explained the problem.

 

[Byrd]

I've used the legit student/full version of Office:Mac 2004 for years, and it can be installed to as many machines as you like, but it will lock you out if another Mac is running it (same serial) and online at the same time. No activation or any other hassles though.

Office 2011 is finally OK, Office 2008 was the biggest, slowest piece of crap I've used from Microsoft (yeah, I had Vista Ultimate for a little while too!).

 

[beachycove]

1. It is NOT tied to the hardware. The latest version might be, from what I hear; 2004 & 2008 are not.

2. The three machines in question need to be running on the same subnet before you get Mr. Gates, objection to starting up a fourth.

3. There is a further complication, at least one some readings of the opaque licence agreement. Each of the three licences can be installed on two machines (typically, a desktop and a laptop). If this is the case, you could install on up to six machines, only three of which could be running ... you get the message.

4. A distant fourth. The pirated versions have been installed - what? 100,000 times using the same number? There can be no written objections from Mr. Gates on screen about all those machines being online at the same time. It's the subnet that matters, Jim, not the number of machines or the hardware to which the licence is tied in the Windows versions of the software.

 

[trag]

Thank you, folks. I appreciate the information. Now I'm willing to buy Office 2004. I just ahve to decide if it's worth $36 on Amazon.

I just installed Open Office for PPC 3.x.x the other night on an MDD single 1.25 GHz. It seems awfully slow to launch. Like, sit around for several seconds after clicking the icon waiting for something to happen. Perhaps the Maxtor 250 GB drive in the thing isn't the fastest, but you'd think with such fast hardware the software wouldn't be slower than Word 5.1. I guess maybe Open Office is loading scores of MB of code or something.

Is MS Office 2004 any more or less responsive?

 

[beachycove]

Office 2004 is fast even on a Pismo.

 

[ClassicHasClass]

OpenOffice on the PowerPC is glacially slow. Even on my quad G5 running at Highest, it is absolutely maddeningly slow to start up. I'm glad an unofficial build is still available but it's pretty much hopeless for practical use.

NeoOffice, on the other hand, is older but significantly quicker.

 

[trag]

OpenOffice on the PowerPC is glacially slow. Even on my quad G5 runningat Highest, it is absolutely maddeningly slow to start up. I'm glad an

unofficial build is still available but it's pretty much hopeless for

practical use.

NeoOffice, on the other hand, is older but significantly quicker.

Ah, good to know. Both facts actually.

Good to know that it's not just me. Open Office is just slow. I can stop worrying about that.

Good to know about Neo. I downloaded that at the same time (literally). I'll try installing that too.

And my new copy of iWorks '08 arrived yesterday. There will be a plethora of office type choices on this machine before long.

 

[trag]

Office 2004 is fast even on a Pismo.

Thank you. That is useful and reassuring to know.