Should You Buy a Microsoft Office Subscription?

For some reason, Microsoft has decided to start renting an Office software package (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote and a security program called OneCare) to consumers for about $70/year. I'm assuming this subscription policy is an effort to gain back some of the market share they're losing to free programs like Google Docs and Open Office (and perhaps create a market for OneCare), but it seems pretty silly to me.

First, there's a reason they're losing market share; many of these competing software programs are less buggy, more functional, and <i>much</i> cheaper than Microsoft's. Even if you've gotten used to the idiosyncrasies of MS Word, it's easier than you think to make the switch.

Second, you probably have a non-expiring copy of Office lying around somewhere already. Though they try to make it very difficult to reuse Office discs too many times, you can almost always wring one more install out, even if it means having to get clearance from someone in their call center.

Third, I have never used OneCare, but you almost certainly don't need it. There are plenty of great, free anti-virus and anti-spyware tools out there.

(Photo by Niallkennedy)