- #FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE FREE FOR STUDENTS FOR FREE#
- #FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE FREE FOR STUDENTS HOW TO#
- #FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE FREE FOR STUDENTS INSTALL#
- #FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE FREE FOR STUDENTS FULL#
#FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE FREE FOR STUDENTS FOR FREE#
“I think that also once they have your data, you may not be willing to part with it so you might be willing to continue on with your subscription once you are no longer a student and entitled to receive the software for free at no additional costs,” continued Burton.
#FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE FREE FOR STUDENTS HOW TO#
“If you’re learning how to use Office and there are some things that you don’t like about the free offer… maybe you’ll go to the one of the paid subscriptions,” said Burton. Students already have alternative options to create and edit documents for free with other office suites such as Google Docs, Apple’s iWork, and LibreOffice. The Office for Students program also appears to be a strategic move by Microsoft to promote brand loyalty among its users while combating software piracy and discouraging the use of competing office suites. “Your data, regardless of its sensitivity, resides in another jurisdiction, which can troubling especially in today’s security-minded world,” said Burton.
However, Burton remains concerned about how and where Microsoft stores the files of its Office 365 users. “I have nothing to hide as a student,” said Yip, a third-year finance and marketing major. Ryerson business student Dennis Yip said he already uses Word, Excel and PowerPoint frequently and has minimal concerns about his school work being kept on cloud storage. The mandatory cloud storage of files on Microsoft’s OneDrive and perpetual need for an Internet connection also raises some concerns of privacy and security in the Office for Students program.
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“It’s not a situation where you’re getting the discs to install Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.” said Burton.Īlternatively, a non-subscription to Office Home and Student 2013 edition sells for $139 from Microsoft and allows for direct installation onto a single PC. “What they’re providing you is access to an online version of Office,” said Burton. Drawbacks to Office 365īurton told Humber News that there were some limitations to Microsoft’s Office for Students program. “If you don’t already have access to Office, this is an exciting announcement,” said Ryan Burton, the director of IT planning and client services at Humber College.
Users can access their saved documents on Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage from multiple devices with Office 365.
#FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE FREE FOR STUDENTS FULL#
Microsoft said eligible students and their parents will receive full access to Office 365 on their PCs and Macs, along with tablets and smartphones operating on Android and iOS platforms. “By making Office for Students free of charge, we are removing that barrier and freeing students to choose the technology platform they want, based solely on preference,” he said.Īn annual household subscription to the online-based Office 365 costs $99 on Microsoft’s online store. “Microsoft recognizes that in today’s environment, barriers – whether they are technical or financial – that separate students from such tools must be overcome,” said Seaman in the statement. Microsoft’s vice-president of education Marc Seaman expressed the company’s desire to make the Office desktop programs more accessible for students in need. The company said the Office for Students bundle features one terabyte of cloud storage on OneDrive and Office Online for in-browser editing. Students across Canada will be able to access Microsoft Office programs for free as of Monday, although not all schools have signed up, including Humber College.Įligible students will be given access to the entire Office 365 suite through the Office for Students program, which includes the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, said Microsoft Canada in a press release. Microsoft Canada is offering its Office 365 online suite for free to eligible students.