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First, doesn't Microsoft give away M365 for free to educational institutions? (Perhaps that's only US institutions, though.) Second, isn't this how they bill th
by jadar 17d ago
First, doesn't Microsoft give away M365 for free to educational institutions? (Perhaps that's only US institutions, though.) Second, isn't this how they bill their accounts — Business Basic doesn't get desktop apps and you need to pay more to use desktop apps? Third, did the OP try to open their document in LibreOffice? I think there's a legitimate criticism of the move from one-time lifetime purchases to the SaaS economy, but Microsoft isn't the only one who deserves criticism for this.
- saulpw 17d agoPerhaps Microsoft is the biggest one though? (Who could possibly be bigger?)
- jadar 17d agoPerhaps Google would be bigger? They don't even have desktop app offerings and the consumer versions are subsidized with your advertising data. They certainly weren't the first to introduce the pattern. I feel like Adobe was one of the first big providers to move from lifetime licenses to subscriptions.
- BlueTissuePaper 17d agoAfter I finished University I was told I could keep my email for life. I can't recall now the license (Web Office apps, Onedrive, email) but Microsoft decided to pull the plug so the university had to close out the old accounts. I understand Onedrive, but not allowing email to continue?! Microsoft are price gouging. Shortly after Microsoft ended the 10x Free Business Premium for Not For Profit/Charities, I went to a convention and Microsoft had a talk about how to maximise profits from NFP/Charities; "NFP doesn't mean no money" "Microsoft are doing more for charities and NFP to help build blah blah" VERY rich after literally dropping these licenses which most small NFPs would run off exclusively for office staff.