Windows MS Office version for a student

C

codelad

Level E
Need help with deciding the right MS Office version for a student getting into college. Coming from a non-Windows background, totally confused with the zillion different versions/licenses and just need something that:
1. works over a lifetime or a reasonably long time (no renewals)
2. isn't insanely expensive
3. works on Windows 10 on a laptop (Home, I believe)
4. does not need to be the latest and greatest version

This is for a friend who admits to not being particularly computer-savvy. So, need something that just works hassle-free.

Did read through this recent thread here, but am hesitant to suggest sites that sell licenses for cheap, having no clue about all this whatsoever - unless perhaps someone here has particularly strong recommendations.

Thank you.
 
I buy my windows and office keys from ebay.com. Those are OEM keys/accounts but still are totally legit. Office 365 accounts are usually educational version (even though they mention professional etc), hence these 365 office versions keep working even after a year ( save the installer in a safe place). And don't store anything on those 5TB one drive because that will vanish after a year.
 
ibose said:
... If not eligible, I would suggest getting the Office Home and Business 2019 version from @Ra.hul
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Afraid they may not yet be eligible (since in a transition phase between school and college). Have PMed @Ra.hul about Office Home and Student 2019 - I think Office Home/Business may be beyond their budget.
lockhrt999 said:
I buy my windows and office keys from ebay.com. Those are OEM keys/accounts but still are totally legit. Office 365 accounts are usually educational version (even though they mention professional etc), hence these 365 office versions keep working even after a year ( save the installer in a safe place). And don't store anything on those 5TB one drive because that will vanish after a year.
Click to expand...
Did look at keys on ebay.com. Then again, the choices and offers are way too confusing for me (it's been more than a couple of decades since I last used Windows for more than a few minutes at a stretch).
 
lockhrt999 said:
I buy my windows and office keys from ebay.com. Those are OEM keys/accounts but still are totally legit. Office 365 accounts are usually educational version (even though they mention professional etc), hence these 365 office versions keep working even after a year ( save the installer in a safe place). And don't store anything on those 5TB one drive because that will vanish after a year.
Click to expand...
Do you have a link for the installer.

My daughter's school has provided school ID that provides Office 365 Education but in the laptop, it works online in chrome browser but I am not able to download it. Laptop has Windows 10 with my MS account.

Otherwise, I am using Office 2007 in my PC as well as this laptop and have not faced any issue or missed anything.

But since school is providing Office 365, I want to try it on the laptop my daughter uses for her online classes.
 
prime said:
Do you have a link for the installer.
Click to expand...
These installers have license embedded in them. I can't share mine because it'll have my licence inside it. That's also probably why no one has shared theirs.

prime said:
My daughter's school has provided school ID that provides Office 365 Education but in the laptop, it works online in chrome browser but I am not able to download it.
Click to expand...
Have you checked on office.com? Log in with the school ID and there should be option to install office on the front page itself. If it's not there then, the admin has disabled that.

prime said:
Laptop has Windows 10 with my MS account.
Click to expand...
That account has nothing to do with office. I'm also using regular personal MS account to sign into 365. Logging in into the office has nothing to do with the account which you used to install/license the office. You can use that account to log in but it's not required.
codelad said:
Did look at keys on ebay.com. Then again, the choices and offers are way too confusing for me (it's been more than a couple of decades since I last used Windows for more than a few minutes at a stretch).
Click to expand...
Total MS ecosystem has gotten more messy in last 2 decades. Companies who use such MS services at enterprise level need to employ software engineers who are certified and specialized in MS ecosystem.

anyway, I'm not able to find OEM keys on ebay.com but you can look elsewhere. I'm providing here one example,

ShopClues.com

www.shopclues.com

When you buy this, you'll get a userID and password. You log in using that into office.com where you get installer and just install that. It's simple.
 
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lockhrt999 said:
Have you checked on office.com? Log in with the school ID and there should be option to install office on the front page itself. If it's not there then, the admin has disabled that.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

1. I go to office.com, already signed-in with student id.
2. There is an option to "Install Office",
3. If I click that, there is an option "Install software - Includes Outlook, OneDrive for Business, Word, Excel, Power Point and more."
4. Next page, "Download Office apps & devices".
5. Get Office on your phone or tablet - iOS / Android / Windows
6. After clicking I am signed out and see the screen "Download MS Office for Windows 10 Mobile - Get Office apps", if I sign in again (with student id), it goes to office.com home page (step-1).

What do you think, school has not provided office 365 support?
 
prime said:
3. If I click that, there is an option "Install software - Includes Outlook, OneDrive for Business, Word, Excel, Power Point and more."
4. Next page, "Download Office apps & devices".
Click to expand...
eee.jpg


After step 3, it should directly download an installer instead of opening another page.
In your case it is opening a different page, which could mean either of,

1. School doesn't really have a valid office license or it's expired. Office for web, android and iOS is actually free. Even if you sign up a random account on office.com, you will face the same situation.
2. School has deliberately blocked desktop installer or rather they didn't enable it in the first place. Like I said you need a MS specialist on payroll to reinvent wheels in your organisation. TechMahindra, TCS also can't afford such specialist (because it shows when you are in their broken ecosystem), so where's the school?
 
lockhrt999 said:
View attachment 109737

After step 3, it should directly download an installer instead of opening another page.
In your case it is opening a different page, which could mean either of,

1. School doesn't really have a valid office license or it's expired. Office for web, android and iOS is actually free. Even if you sign up a random account on office.com, you will face the same situation.
2. School has deliberately blocked desktop installer or rather they didn't enable it in the first place. Like I said you need a MS specialist on payroll to reinvent wheels in your organisation. TechMahindra, TCS also can't afford such specialist (because it shows when you are in their broken ecosystem), so where's the school?
Click to expand...
Exactly, it takes me this page if I click on the image you posted (Step 3 in my post).
lockhrt999 said:
anyway, I'm not able to find OEM keys on ebay.com but you can look elsewhere. I'm providing here one example,

ShopClues.com

www.shopclues.com

When you buy this, you'll get a userID and password. You log in using that into office.com where you get installer and just install that. It's simple.
Click to expand...
Are these shopclues sellers reliable? I haven't bought anything from shopclues in last few years. Office 365 Enterprise Lifetime Validity - 5 Devices Account at ridiculously low price. :D

Does it really work?
 

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prime said:
Are these shopclues sellers reliable? I haven't bought anything from shopclues in last few years. Office 365 Enterprise Lifetime Validity - 5 Devices Account at ridiculously low price. :D

Does it really work?
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They should be. I haven't checked. If the seller doesn't deliver an account you can ask for refund. Price is reasonable. I have paid less. :p You can also search google for "microsoft office 365 key" and you will get tons of options.
 
lockhrt999 said:
They should be. I haven't checked. If the seller doesn't deliver an account you can ask for refund. Price is reasonable. I have paid less. :p You can also search google for "microsoft office 365 key" and you will get tons of options.
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Thanks.

BTW, my daughter's account shows this, but I guess it is not worth all the trouble if I can get it at above price.
 

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O365 is a subscription-based service. Don't fall for those "low-priced" baits.

If you really want a licensed version only:

[1] there are 2 sellers on TE = rates are below market values.

[2] Look for standalone software like O2019 Home & Student (this comes without Outlook)on eBay or Kinguin. Be mentally prepared to write off that 300 or 500Rs these sellers are taken down periodically by eBay.
 
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