How to get Office 2007 Ultimate for $60

College students get all the breaks, don't they? Like a 91 percent discount on Office 2007 Ultimate (download version).

(Credit: Microsoft)

Welcome to the Cheapskate's Greatest Hits, where I revisit past deals that are still available--and still awesome.

The list price for Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate is a whopping $679.95. The upgrade price? It's an equally whopping $539.99. For that kind of money, it had better come with Megan Fox's Tina Fey's phone number.

Believe it or not, you can score a legal and totally legitimate copy of Office 2007 Ultimate for just $59.95. What's the catch? You need to "borrow" a college student (or, you know, be one).

Microsoft's Ultimate Steal deal is for currently enrolled students who have an e-mail address ending in ".edu" or who attend one of several dozen approved institutions. (Mouse over the "Am I Eligible" link for more details.)

Assuming you qualify, this is a pretty incredible deal. In addition to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Office Ultimate comes with OneNote, Access, Publisher, Groove, and other goodies.

There's one other small catch: Your 60 bucks buys you the download version of the suite. If you want discs, it'll cost you another $13--still a steal.

Of course, some would argue that most students (and other users) can get everything they need from OpenOffice 3.0, a full-featured office suite that costs nada (Download the Windows or Mac version here). Let me know if you're in that camp, or if you think Microsoft's offer is too good to pass up.

Update: If you'd rather have a boxed copy, Newegg is offering Office Home and Student 2007 (3-license edition) for $79.95 shipped. (Apply coupon code EMCLVNW56 to get that price.)

[DetJMunch]

Can you burn the download version to a disc?

[DavidJGarcia]

You sure can. I have it, and I did.

[geekbully]

On top of that I accessed the download account months later and was able to download it again. I wish more software vendors did this now. Once I buy a key I should have unlimited access to the program files. Don't make me scramble around to find a disc.

[objective_optimist]

Or you can go to Torrent sites download it there. Also check with most mid to small tier internet businesses most of there stuff is never licensed. I know several start-ups that don't believe in it.

Remember don't kill the messenger.

[dariffle1]

Just because people do it doesn't make it okay.

[joecandido]

@dariffle1

And just cause Office cost nearly $700 doesn't make spending that much okay either.

[rubberpoliceman]

@joecandido If you don't want to pay, you don't have to use it.

[deepen05]

no "rubberpoliceman". if you don't want to pay, you go to torrents! its as easy as that.

[geekbully]

People that use torrent sites for the purpose of pirating software only rob society of creativity and innovation. I can understand not having the money to buy mainstream software. However that's one of the reasons the open source community exists. Thieves contribute nothing to our society except greed.

[Notjub]

OpenOffice costs cheaper. It's free...like, always. And legal.

[make_or_break]

Really? Lots of businesses steal their software? Hell, if you're a "business" that can't even afford the software costs per seat, then you're NOT a business whatsoever, start up or otherwise.

And you'd better PRAY that you NEVER fire anyone, or tick off an employee in any other way. One disgruntled email to the Software Alliance...

[DADSGETNDOWN]

Using torrents or any other P2P, first off keeps those prices high, (like insurance rates and everything else in the world, thanks to morons and thieves), Plus, you might not get the full version something might be missing (or added like Virii, malware etc,) might not be able to update/patch.
I hope you get caught and prosecuted it's as easy as that.

If a car is to expensive you going to torrent that too ?.:)
Groceries ?. ah but this is software right ?.
YEP IT WAS WAY and rediculously to expensive but still, that is what the market is calling for.
USE OOo.

[ducttape36]

im no student but i work for dartmouth college and have a '.edu' email address. if i didnt already have it, i would get it.

[Nychocolips]

Hmmmn? Is there a student deal for Windows 7?

[dakillaj]

Read Rick's previous posting on how to get Windows 7 for free! :)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13845_3-10279881-58.html

[rickbroida]

Alas, that option is no longer available.

[rickypics]

I have spent the past couple of years weaning myself from Office products and now rely on OpenOffice. I am not entirely weaned from Outlook yet but am so close that MS Office will never be bought by me again.

[merlefisher]

Same here... When I bought a mac almost a year ago, I decided to try working without MS Office, simply because it would put me out $300. So instead I installed Openoffice for mac (which is quite impressive for the price btw.) and a brand new sealed package of Apple's iWork 08 for $40. With those 2 products, I can do anything that my PC coworkers can do... and a LOT cheaper.

[d_e_fresh]

I haven't been a student for 2 years, but still have my .edu address, which I guess qualifies me for this. I also have been using OO for two years now and have been pretty happy with everything but CALC. It's just no match for Excel when it comes to graphing and the equations. I may just have to spring for it.

[Clinton_W]

We have Office 2007 pushed onto our desktops at work. I don't care much for the product. I seems to be a memory hog and takes forever to load a 500K Excel file. I had just tried to check my email with Outlook and the program ground away for a few minutes before generating an error and report to send. I've always used basic keyboard shortcuts, and now I use a lot more ( terrible toolbar layout IMHO). The one upside is that the 24 MB spreadsheet I use everyday is now about 7.5 MBs in the new format. I saved it in the new format after the other file became corrupted because the Excel program stopped responding. Thank you back ups.

On my new HP laptop at home, one of the first things I did was remove the "trial version" of Office and added Open Office. Yes, there is a little learning curve, and some of my shortcuts are missing, but I can't believe it is free. I use many other open source programs as well and am grateful to all the skilled people out there giving up there time and talent.

[FirstReflections]

Why exactly do so many people think that software ought to be free? It takes time, resources, people and money to create software. Is it really so unfair for software makers to be compensated for their work? Looking at a $600 price tag and thinking, "that's too high!" That is one thing. But thinking the price ought to drop all the way down to $0? That's just a bit silly, isn't it?

[djjeesh]

How about you get OpenOffice for free and legit.

[joecandido]

Google OpenOffice. Its a free program.

[joecandido]

Oops I thought you asked "How do you get.."

[drbohner]

If you look at the license - the owner of the software has to be a teacher or student (it's, technically, Student and Teacher licensing). If you borrow either a teacher or a student - you are in violation... The license is COMPLETELY unclear if you student or teacher is a resident in your residence

:-)

[ikramerica--2008]

And like the Student/Teacher edition, you are not supposed to use the software for anything but educational and personal uses (no business uses).

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

Rick, I know people give you a hard time lately and I hate to jump on the band wagon. However, I think reposting and just changing a line is .. well .. how can I put this kindly... taking the easy way out.

Plus I have to agree with drbohner (I hope its pronounced BAY-ner) if you are going to borrow a student card, why not just download\steal it? A more honest option would be "Home and Student" version which excludes Outlook and Access, but is fine for most people. I got my copy for $70 shipped after Bing Cashback.

[wusupjohn]

I got it for $60 last year because I am a student. This deal is for students. Do not ruin it for us!

[vrock420]

This is a great deal. I jumped on this in 2007 when it was first offered. OpenOffice is adaquate for personal use, but until it is saturated into the business market (which isn't even close), Office is here to stay. As an added bonus, you are able to download this on 1 desktop AND 1 laptop according to their TOA: 2.

INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS. Before you use the software under a license, you must assign that license to one device. That device is the ?licensed device.?  A hardware partition or blade is considered to be a separate device.
a. Licensed Device. You may install and use one copy of the software on the licensed device.
b. Portable Device. You may install another copy on a portable device for use by the single primary user of the licensed device.

Excellent deal!

[mhaven98]

Why would anyone spend money on Microsoft Office when Open Office is 100% FREE??

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

@mhaven98 Most people will be fine with OpenOffice.

I used OpenOffice for many years and was OK with it for the most part. However it was slow to start even with the little loader on the tray. MS Office apps loads in about 1 second on my computer vs. about 8 seconds for OpenOffice. Big deal? maybe, maybe not. Plus what a waste of 30-50 MB of Ram for the loader!

OpenOffice was OK until I tried to use existing macros and add some new code. Office is far superior here (esp integration with other application libraries). This may not be an issue for many others that don't need macros or are OK with rewriting macros

The final straw was its compatibility with MS Word originated documents. Documents did not look or print the same and fill out form type Word documents did not work correctly (behaved like a regular document). These documents are not common, but if you every had to struggle through one of the these on OpenOffice then you will buy Office on the spot.

I finally coughed up $70 for Home and Student after cashback (I price that I have not seen beaten) and I have been happy.

[Renegade Knight]

MS Office is better overall. MS office gives you compatability that Open Office doesn't.

MS Office isn't better enough to pay 300+ for it though. At 69 it's about right.

[deepen05]

or when i have a cracked version of office 2007 enterprise on a CD at my house. It has unlimited installs on any PC. i have used it atleast 10 times.

[Lottario]

Being a student myself, there were times this past school year where I actually needed to get onto a friends computer to use her copy of Office (Excel, specifically), because OpenOffice couldn't do what I needed it to (specifically, the Goal Seek function in OpenOffice doesn't seem to work well at really small intervals). But I agree, 99.99% of the time, anything you need to do can be done in OpenOffice.

[Notjub]

I'll happily put up with some nuissances in OOffice than pay $60 for a few perks which are not gonna be used 95% of the time. $12 maybe.

MS Word itself has compatibility issues with previous versions, while OO will gladly accept them, even if in a skewed manner, sooo....

[Renegade Knight]

It's a good deal. I got it for my Son, and tried for my Daughter but their sales system has limited me to one purchase, instead of one purchase for each qualifying college student whom I'd like to buy it for. They give you no way to call someone to correct it. Plus the limited number of installs before you have to phone home and get a code is annoying.

Open office isn't as nice but it installs perfectly every time and you don't have to phone home. Oh, and as a bonus their automated sales system "just works" every time.

[ImSpartacus]

While this is an excellent deal, you are late to the party CNET. I'd venture to say this program has been available for over a year now. This is good news, but old news.

[rickbroida]

Did you not read the first paragraph? :)

[damasta55r]

Microsoft also has freebies for students with their dreamspark program, although I've only found use for their expression web and windows 2k3.

[deepen05]

lmao, i can get it for free. i downloaded a torrent cracked version of office 2007 enterprise a couple of years ago. it still works. i just pop it into any PC and it installs automatically. i have given it to several family members and friends. i think ill stick with my free copy. lol.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

Just like the guy who walked into a store and walked out with a DVD without paying. He got it for free too. There isn't really any differency between piracy and theft. Being a cheapskate is not the same as being a thief. I too was guilty of this at some point, but I changed my ways. I deleted every illegal software copy and purchased everything legally or got everything licensed. With things like open source software like OpenOffice, free software like from giveawayoftheday and trial software there really aren't any excuses any more

[thinkingjohn]

Nice to know people are so brash as to brag about their criminal activity online

[Notjub]

"Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."

[deepen05]

i don't care what you guys think. the last thing im gonna do is pay 500-600 bucks, just to type a few documents once in a while. And i know about openoffice.org, but i'd rather use an office suite, and at the same time help some friends and family out by getting them free software. Almost everything on my desktop and laptop is downloaded from torrents except for my operating system and stuff like itunes and browsers.

[Notjub]

OpenOffice IS an office suite, you miscreant!

Basically, you place a higher value on Word than OO, but you don't wanna pay accordingly. And you're making thieves out of your family in the process.

To top it off, you come and brag about it here. Great job! No more cowardly way of stealing than using torrents to get software illegally...

[oakland6980]

I got it for $15 at my University Computer Store

[theronjames]

Reality check. Most students don't have $60 for something like an Office Productivity Suite. This is a joke. I'd love to see sales numbers on the number of REAL students that plunk down $60 for such bloatware. There are sooooo many free option for students it obscene. Personal, Google Docs offers way more than most students need - FOR FREE!

[cozmikegg]

I'm pretty sure the student version of software is not licensed for commercial use. I'm a student, and I have had lots of student software. They all say "not for commercial use." If you want Office 2007 Ultimate for non-commercial, personal use, then there is obviously something wrong with you.

[thinkingjohn]

Rick, I don't think Office Ultimate being over-priced retail wise justifies "borrowing" a student to scam the license key. Please don't promote this kind of behavior, it only continues to raise prices on cash-strapped individuals and small businesses. Besides, most people don't need all the products included in Ultimate, the home edition is just fine, which is significantly cheaper and can be found at very decent sale prices, all of which are perfectly legal, no matter who you are.

[Notjub]

So in recap:

1) It isn't exactly legal
2) There are much cheaper options (i.e., FREE) that do everything you need it for.

Shame twice, Cheapskate!