Microsoft Office 2010 Professional - Best Price

Where can I get the best possible deal for an absolutely legitimate, full retail version of Microsoft Office 2010 Professional? I am on the verge of buying a new laptop and I want to update my software at the same time. But $400+ is a lot for this and more than I want to pay.

I have researched this issue reasonably extensively and have been watching Ebay for some time. My sense is that the substantial majority of all Office software being sold on Ebay is counterfeit. Also, the academic, OEM or volume licensed versions will not do. I want to respect the law in every respect on this.

All that being said, does anyone here know where can I get the very best price possible on this software? A legitimate discount or clearance would be very welcome if I could find it. Any helpful recommendations would be much appreciated, not only by me, but I suspect others would appreciate this as well.

I would also like to get Microsoft Office Visio and Project too, but that might just have to wait if I cannot get it at a very reasonable price.

 

Hi,
This might help you. Make sure to read up on as I have no first hand experience with technet memberships.

Save Even More Money with a TechNet Standard Subscription

 

I'm not sure what you do for a living, but I know that my company has a program where employees are allowed to purchase significantly discounted licenses for Microsoft products we use in the office for our personal use. It's called the Microsoft Home Use Program. I was able to get Office 2010 Professional for $10.

 

College gives good discounts as well.

 

You are the man. I am not sure yet, but this may be my answer. My brother had a TechNet membership until just recently, but now he has a more advanced Microsoft membership, so I am checking with him to see what his sense of the limitations of this are. I do provide some measure of IT related consulting services as part of what I do, and I work out of my home. Also, I only want this for myself, and if this works out well, it very certainly could make sense for me to subscribe to this service on an ongoing basis.

I am not sure if my rep carries any weight yet, but in any case, you now have it.

 

I really appreciate your recommendations on this. While these suggestions might be helpful for other posters, they do not fit with my current situation.

Thanks again.

 

I also bought Office 2010 Professional Plus for $10 USD through an employee discount

Can't beat that!

 

OK, I have been looking into the TechNet option. It appears that the license for any software obtained through the program is just a one year license to evaluate the software and that you do not own it. Of course as long as you continue to renew, you continue to have the rights to it.

Buying and owning the software seems like a better way to go. So I am still looking for suggestions, if anyone has any.

 

I think you might be a little confused. The subscription is one year, but the licenses you get last forever. You never OWN software. In the EULA for every piece of software you have ever bought, there is a clause that says that the software is licensed, not sold, to you.

Your license isn't going to turn into a pumpkin after a year.

 

yes, licenses stay active, it's just your access to the download and license page that you won't have anymore.

 

licenses stay active, until/unless msft detects activation activity that they label as suspicious. Then the entire technet account is canceled and all attached licenses are invalidated.

 

I have no first hand experience with Technet.

But Paul Thurrott does say:
http://www.winsupersite.com/article/faqtip/save-even-more-money-with-a-technet-standard-subscription

Appreciate the rep+