Preinstalled Microsoft Office vs Storebought?

Hi all, I am getting ready to buy a new Hewlett Packard Dv5000. I need Microsoft Office SBE, and it is much cheaper to buy it preinstalled on the laptop than to buy it in a store. But I'm wondering which I should choose. A friend of mine told me that if I get it preinstalled, Microsoft won't provide any support for the software at all.

Can anybody confirm this or offer suggestions?

Thanks!

In addtion, I found sites like CTL software that sell it discounted. Here's what it said:

Price: $182.99

Note: "Student Media" is written on the CD.
This is the full version software which can also be used as an upgrade. This software is fully legal for commercial and educational use.

Is there any catch to buying it from one of these websites at a discount?

 

Just get openoffice... It can read and save Microsoft Office formats, and it's free and open source

 

Your friend's right...

Are you being charged extra to have it pre-installed?

 

have you ever had to ask microsoft for support on Office in the past?

i don't think i've ever heard of anyone doing that.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I really want Microsoft Office. HP will charge me for the software, but they aren't charging me to install it.

 

Drumfu, it's interesting you should ask that. I was just sitting here thinking that I've never had to call Microsoft for assistance on their software. One thing though is that I can see myself wanting to install it on other computers, and if I get it preinstalled I won't have the disks.

 

Sites like CTL Software sell MS Office at a great discount. Here's what it says:

"Price: $182.99

Note: "Student Media" is written on the CD.
This is the full version software which can also be used as an upgrade. This software is fully legal for commercial and educational use. "

Is there any catch to buying it from one of these websites at a discount?

 

No, there is no catch to those sites. The one you're describing is probably just discounted because it says "Student Media" on the CD, and it might be in used or just opened condition. If you are one of those people who fear scammers, buy it from the store, but I have had no problem with sites like these.

 

If HP is installing it, you need to make sure you are also getting the CD's for Office. The reason being if your computer ever needs to be reformatted, you have the program CD's available for reinstallation.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think there's some licensing agreement that differs when getting Student Media labeled software. Whether you have more flexibility in the number of computers you can install, or whether you need to have student ID codes associated, I'm not entirely sure.

 

It says "Student" on the CD and also says there is no box with it. The $182.99 price is for MS Office Pro. I might be a little cautious, but I can live with $182.99 as opposed to $499 in the store.

I think I won't get it preinstalled, but will buy it discounted from a website. That way it's both inexpensive AND I will have the CD.

Thanks for helping everyone.

 

No problem, you picked the smart choice in my opinion.

 

can't you get the discs from HP if you ask for them?

you do with dell.

i would be very surprised if HP didn't let you get discs.

 

I don't know. I guess I assumed they wouldn't since there was no option for it. If they did let me get the disks, I might go ahead and buy through them. I'm going to check on it.