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Computing Infrastructure Support (CIS) Computing Support Request Computer Security Unix Services ISS Mercury Project |
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Act Now! Microsoft to Cancel Office Upgrade Advantage Program as of March 31 Microsoft is withdrawing the 12-month Office Pro Upgrade Advantage program offer from the GC Micro portfolio, effective March 31, 1999. While Microsoft considers the program to be unprofitable, it's a good opportunity for Lab users of the Office Pro software suite (Word, Power Point and Excel). For Lab users, this is a good time to consider a subscription to this one-year Office Pro support service. It will provide you with the next Office Pro upgrade at a lower price than the normal version upgrade would cost. Office Pro 2000 is scheduled to be released in the next few months, and subscribing now will give you a license for it when its released. GC Micro, the only vendor for the Office Pro Upgrade Advantage program, is honoring its contracts, so those who have already subscribed will receive a license for Office Pro 2000. If you already have Office Pro 98 (for the Macintosh) or Office Pro 97 (for the PC), consider subscribing now to get the 2000 package. However, no orders will be accepted after March 31. Because of the deadline, Berkeley Lab employees who are interested in taking advantage of the program should review their current licensing and decide if it would be financially worth it to subscribe. The cost is $126.75 per user, whether for the Mac or PC version (this is much less than either the standard upgrade or purchase price). If you want to subscribe, do it now. The package can be ordered through your organization's procurement field buyer. In order to have a field buyer purchase the new version, you'll need to provide a valid project ID and submit the name of each user, or be ready to assign an administrator to oversee distribution. On the day your order is placed, you are legally licensed to use the software whether you have received the paper license or not. At that point, you may install Office on your machine — CDs can be borrowed from the Computer Support Help Desk (ext. 4357) for immediate installation. You may install it yourself, get help over the phone or request a full installation from the Help Desk. (Note: if you want your own Office Pro CD, you'll need to order it separately.) The user does not have to pay every year to maintain this license, but may continue to use it at the last level of upgrade at expiration of 1-year term. The license is permanent and constitutes your sole proof of ownership. Save it. |
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