|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 2/27/2010 1:01:42 AM
|
|
|
A-Mighty-Oak
Posts: 17396
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Formerly known as Humbleinspirit
Status: offline
|
This past week, I was looking at copies of Office 2007 on Ebay and noticed a couple being sold for under $30. They said that these were the full retail version and even had a key for authenticity. My question is how can they sell it for so cheaply if it is new? I smell a rat somewhere.
Also, I heard that these might be trial versions as well. I do not know the ethics of buying such software, however I am wary of doing such a thing.
Comments?
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 2/27/2010 9:56:21 AM
|
|
|
PrimaryOvertone
Posts: 89
Joined: 2/5/2010
Status: offline
|
There are some really great deals on software like that for students and teachers. Some folks on ebay will sell you the student version without mentioning that is what it is. You are only supposed to buy and use such software if you are a student or employee at an educational instituton. The system is based on your honor pretty much but if too many people with no honor lie about whether they qualify for the educational discount the software companies will stop offering the discount. While I do not know for sure that this is what is going on in this situation on ebay it does sound pretty sketchy.
"If it sounds too good to be true it most likely is."
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 2/27/2010 10:37:42 AM
|
|
|
A-Mighty-Oak
Posts: 17396
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Formerly known as Humbleinspirit
Status: offline
|
That was my thought too. I am not gonna buy from this seller just for the simple fact that it sounds too good to be legit.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 2/27/2010 4:02:19 PM
|
|
|
psaulm119
Posts: 185
Joined: 5/11/2005
Status: offline
|
I'd be very surprised to find new copies of 2007 on sale for under 30. The version that is available for students (not the Home and Student version, curiously enough) is the 2007 Ultimate that costs 60-70 from MS itself. Since its meant to be purchased and d/l by individual students I'd be rather surprised to find bulk discounts, which means that nobody is gonna profit from selling these new for below 30, unless, as has been suspected, they are bootlegged.
Popular software can be purchased legally enough via amazon, where you can find used versions (still that have the original cds, serial numbers, etc.) for a fraction of the price. Amazon's strict return policy typically favors the buyer, so you get a lot of protection there.
One more thing--to exploit the difference between the prices between the English and Spanish versions of 2007 (Eng typically being higher than Span), I decided to purchase the Spanish version, install it, then buy an English language pack from MS for an extra 25 bucks, install it and set English as the default. I found that for Home and Student, I could simply enter the serial numbers from the Spanish version, and it worked on the English trial install that I already had on the computer.
This is, of course, assuming that 2003 isn't gonna work for ya. After reinstalling 2003 b/c of problems that I thought 2007 was causing, I realized that I didn't miss 2007 at all and put my copy of 2007 up for sale myself. 
EDIT: BTW--if you can wait, 2010 is going to go on sale in a few months for (list prices) 150 for Home and Student (3 pcs) and 100 for academic (2 computers if you have a valid edu email address).
_____________________________
Paul
Let no offensive talk pass your lips, only what is good and helpful to the occasion, so that it brings a blessing to those who hear it. (Eph 4:29)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 2/27/2010 4:19:50 PM
|
|
|
Miss Giggles
Posts: 4475
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
Status: online
|
Some of it is probably bought by people who bought the software and didn't like it. A few probably installed it and sold the DVDs and kept the product key.
I like 2007. You need a somewhat newer computer though and enough RAM though. You need at least 3 or 4 GB or RAM. It says it will install on 2 but it will really slow your computer down.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/1/2010 4:04:12 AM
|
|
|
keithyhuntington
Posts: 1112
Joined: 7/7/2009
From: Tulsa, Okla.
Status: offline
|
i'm on the lookout for a cheap office 2003. new or used. i just found out this weekend the version my mom put on my computer was a mass-used pirate... i thought it was just her copy alone :-/ now i'm affraid at any moment i'm gonna get that "non genuine" disclaimer and my computer will blue screen or something :-/ i like 2003 alot better than 2007. 2007... just makes no sense to me.
_____________________________
Crosswalk suggested for me to change this signature so none of the members would be offended.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/2/2010 10:01:04 AM
|
|
|
Silas_Barnaby
Posts: 164
Joined: 1/14/2010
Status: offline
|
I have several Educational versions of software. They are generally a great alternative to the full versions but the thing is you may have to provide some kind of confirmation that you are registered with a school even to install/launch the program.
_____________________________
...it is possible to be perfectly right on a superficial level, and wrong in the things that matter most in life
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/6/2010 8:34:56 AM
|
|
|
A-Mighty-Oak
Posts: 17396
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Formerly known as Humbleinspirit
Status: offline
|
The student/teacher ones that they sell at the store do not need any verification at all. Of course it costs over $100, but still.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/6/2010 10:17:12 AM
|
|
|
Strider33
Posts: 760
Joined: 4/24/2008
Status: offline
|
I bought a new copy of 2003 on E-bay about a year ago. It must be legit, because I registered it with Microsoft, with no problems.
It looks to me like a copy that came bundled with a new PC. When Windows is bundled with a new PC, it generally can't be installed on a PC with a different serial number. But this copy of MS office installed and ran with no problems.
I can't remember what I paid. It wasn't dirt cheap, but it was a lot less than a retail copy of 2007.
_____________________________
Not all those who wander are lost.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/6/2010 11:00:21 AM
|
|
|
iluvatar
Posts: 3527
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: keithyhuntington
i'm on the lookout for a cheap office 2003. new or used. i just found out this weekend the version my mom put on my computer was a mass-used pirate... i thought it was just her copy alone :-/ now i'm affraid at any moment i'm gonna get that "non genuine" disclaimer and my computer will blue screen or something :-/ i like 2003 alot better than 2007. 2007... just makes no sense to me.
If all you needs is basic word processor & spreadsheet functionality, try some variant of OpenOffice. I use NeoOffice on my Mac at work and it does everything I need it to do.
-Dan.
_____________________________
Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/6/2010 12:31:39 PM
|
|
|
PGAGA
Posts: 49
Joined: 1/15/2006
Status: offline
|
Saturday 06 March 2010
A couple of things may be going on here. With Office 2010 around the corner (I am currently running betas on a couple of WinXP setups), stock reduction would be the order of the day.
Another factor could be the clearance of old Office 2007, that is stock prior to the lawsuit which caused Office 2007 to be pulled from the market for a short time.
Also the price could be reduced due to pressure from Oracle's takeover of Sun. With IBM having made ODF the default file format for their company and with the Oracle/Sun combo already using it, the price may be an attempt to increase market share or the dumping of stock which has an uncertain future.
If you want to test whether Office 2007 is of use to you try the beta for 2010. I have found very little difference except for some look and feel stuff. If you are constantly on the net, then the online version is interesting because the only components which are downloaded are ones which one uses. This means it has a smaller footprint on a computer.
That said, the OpenOffice.org family remains my Office suite of use and choice.
Phil
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/9/2010 10:21:22 AM
|
|
|
DaveW
Posts: 4119
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: MD suburbs of Washington DC
Status: offline
|
I love open office and use it on all my home computers (DW also has MSO 2003) even though I got a copy of MSO 2007 for $20 thru work.
I just wish they would let me use OOO here too......
_____________________________
Avatar is my son Caleb and Leah on their wedding 12/20/09
=======================
Winner of 2010 "best in "He Says"
=======================
Our CD is available here:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dswaggoner
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/13/2010 10:14:42 AM
|
|
|
gondo
Posts: 3
Joined: 3/13/2010
Status: offline
|
This sounds very unlikely to be legitimate. I would not risk it if I were you
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/14/2010 1:02:42 AM
|
|
|
wretched1
Posts: 283
Joined: 12/6/2009
From: The state of confusion.
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Strider33
I bought a new copy of 2003 on E-bay about a year ago. It must be legit, because I registered it with Microsoft, with no problems. ~~~ I was working w/ a copy of MS Office 2007 today that was purchased online (for very little). It too authenticated about a year ago, but eventually came up as "invalid". There must be some threshold for how many times one product key is used. Hopefully your copy is legit.
_____________________________
"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body."
C.S. Lewis
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/17/2010 7:46:59 PM
|
|
|
thepcmom
Posts: 33
Joined: 3/3/2009
Status: offline
|
I would contact the seller and ask if the copy is genuine, verify which edition, and if it has ever been activated. Would also suggest checking the seller's feedback.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Very Cheap "New" Software on Ebay - 3/20/2010 10:19:10 PM
|
|
|
A-Mighty-Oak
Posts: 17396
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Formerly known as Humbleinspirit
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: thepcmom
I would contact the seller and ask if the copy is genuine, verify which edition, and if it has ever been activated. Would also suggest checking the seller's feedback.
The Sellers feedback is 100%, they said that the software that is being sold is genuine complete with a key code, but I still do not buy it though, no pun intended.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
