office XP: student vs. standard

[n8rand]

I was wondering what the difference was between the student edition and the standard aside from the price...are there any limitations to the student version that you can use on the standard? i am a student so i was gonna get the student one unless there are more features with the standard...it seems strange that you can get the student version for $130 but then the standard is $400 so i just want to check. THANKS

[Sanke]

There's not much of a difference, but you won't be able to buy the student edition straight away, you need to send your proof to microsoft.

[sdkfz]

I am not certain about the proof thing as I have helped someone get the software from bestbuy and they said that they installed it that night.

This is straight of the Microsoft site

This product is for noncommercial, educational use only.
This is a personal learning license for qualified educational users only. (Example: In a household, only the students are eligible to use the software, however parents can use the software when assisting students.)
You may install this product on only one computer. If you have more than one computer, you are required to purchase a separate product license for each.
This product does not qualify for future upgrade pricing.
You may not transfer your usage rights to another individual.
You are only eligible to use this product while you are a qualified educational user.
Microsoft provides only installation support for this product. However, a variety of self-help and paid support options are available online from our Product Support page.

Some of these are kinda hard to prove but hey, this is what they said.....

[n8rand]

Hmmm...I had read that on the box today at SAM's and i wondered how they would be able to only allow studetns and teachers to use the software...what kind of proof is needed? transcript? i know that my parents would be using the software too so i may just go with the standard...i think they are going to be buying it so...it really makes no difference to me...does anyone know how much the seperate licences are for additional computers...is that really necessary to install the software on several computers?

[Mac Medic]

There is no proof required. Look on the MS site and do a search here, i posted a link to M$ showing you do not need to provide proof.

[Furius92]

Perhaps you could point out to your parents that if they go with your "idea" of buying the Educational version they'll save about $250. Maybe you could get a portion of that $250?

There is literally NO WAY for Microsoft to prove that your parents used the software or if you continue to use after you are no longer a student. I am in no way encouraging such activity (as per forum rules) but simply stating that you shouldn't "not care" which version your parents buy because it's their money. I'm not sure about your parents' financial situation, nor do I want to be informed of it, but I know that in some cases if a parent saves money it can directly benefit the kid. Keep this in mind in the future too...

[RayH]

I don't know about the student editions of Microsoft Office that are purchased.

My older son attends a university that passes out some unique editon of Microsoft Office free to its students. Maybe the software price is really hidden in the tuition. After $20,000, what's another $100?

Anyway, Microsoft is generous with that disk. It will install to two computers. Then, it doesn't install any more. I keep trying to get my son to get me a copy to "examine".

[glc]

M$ is looking the other way on this one - they are not requiring that retailers get proof of educational status to buy the software.

[RayH]

Maybe Microsoft would rather have people purchase a student version than no version or a pirate version. $130 still ain't cheap!

[glc]

Exactly - something is better than nothing.

[David14259]

You can buy the student edition from Amazon.com - no proof needed. It's exactly the same as the standard version.

[doctorgonzo]

When I have bought student versions of M$ products, all I have had to do is e-mail them a scan of my student ID. I am sure I could still do it even though I haven't been a student for three years (no expiration date on my ID).

M$ gets many things from selling to students at reduced rates. They get money as opposed to none. They get students hooked on M$ products, a habit that will likely carry over into the future. If these people get jobs where they will have any say in what software to buy for an entire business, M$ will probably get that money.

If you think the price spread between the student and full versions of Office is big, check out the price spreads for developer's tools like Visual Studio.NET.