M$ Office XP Public Beta for $19.95

[SoulAssassin]

Microshaft is offering the latest beta of the next bad boy in the Office line for $19.95. This is bordering on whether it's really a hot deal, but think about this. You get 5 months usage of a (relatively) stable expensive product for $19.95. Shipping is $4.95. When they had the Office 2K public beta a while back I ordered it. Definitely money well spent.

Check out http://www.microsoft.com/office/xpcorpbeta.htm

EDIT: It lists shipping as $4.95 on the main page but when you actually go to order it standard shipping is free (3-5 week delivery time!!!) and express shipping is $8.95 (2-3 business days).

What You'll Get in the Kit
The Office XP corporate preview kit includes the following:



Office XP Professional with Microsoft FrontPage® Corporate Preview Beta. Experience the newest versions of:

Microsoft Word
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Outlook®
Microsoft Access
Microsoft PowerPoint®
Microsoft FrontPage


Select MultiLanguage Packs.
The Office Product Guide, with detailed information about new and improved functionality.
A link to the online Office Activation Wizard.
Important Notices:

These preview kits are intended for evaluation purposes only.
Each kit can be installed on up to 10 computers.
There is a maximum limit of five kits per order.
Each unique installation requires activation through the online Office Activation Wizard.
There is no product support for the Corporate Preview Beta.
On August 31, 2001, the preview expires, reverting to a reduced-functionality mode. This means files created with the preview software can still be viewed but cannot be altered. To regain full functionality, customers will need to either purchase a license for Office XP or reinstall Office 2000. Complete instructions are provided in the kit.
If you have an MSDN® Universal subscription, you will automatically receive a corporate preview kit in March as part of your monthly shipment; TechNet Plus subscribers will receive their kits in the April shipment. Due to antipiracy technology being used in this preview beta, it cannot be made available on the MSDN Subscriber Downloads page.

 

[BillyBoy4]

Good find..

 

[SuperRob]

This is NOT a "Public Beta." This is a Corporate Preview, meaning that companies get a chance to look the software over before deciding to upgrade. This is not meant for public consumption yet.

Also, it's NOT a beta. It's actually the first release candidate, so it's actually very stable. Still, it's not the final code, and there's no support.

Unless you're comfortable running pre-release software, you should wait until May 31 when Office XP hits shelves. There should be a "trial" version by then.

 

[cwpc]

This is a good deal - I have been running Office XP since the begining of Beta 2 and it has been remarkably stable for a beta product.

Bump for a good deal

 

[Jdog]

Thx super rob. You said almost evreything that I said except asking the question: why pay to beta test MS software that you can't use beyond 120 (probably) from now?

 

[billabong132]

"Each kit can be installed on up to 10 computers.

Each unique installation requires activation through the online Office Activation Wizard. "

D*mn micr*soft and their anti piracy ideas. Anybody wanna help me make a patch?

 

[SoulAssassin]

I haven't received this kit yet, but if it has all of the feedback/bug reporting features of their regular betas have, I highly recommend filling out multiple comments on how the registration process sucks.

It was a while ago, but I don't think the 2K corp preview had the feedback options.

 

[Zwingle]

Patches are already out....actually not a patch, but a workaround the registration and expiration....was published on a reputable news outlet page about 3 weeks ago.....can't remember link.....I am still running my beta of Office 2000 that expired long ago......no problems.....after patching..... The workaround also works with Whistler.....or WinXP

 

[jamester]

Looks like all I get is a Page Not Found

James

 

[SoulAssassin]

jamester -

You musta clicked the mouse a little too hard. I just cleared my cache and verified it's still there.

Zwingle-

I think it I remember reading something about it on the register.

 

[sun818]

Release Candidate software means that the base code will not change, but just the cosmetic/visual type changes will made.

 

[jamester]

I'll be darned. I'm not above admitting when I'm wrong, or when my home PC is doing something funky, and my home PC is doing something funky! I went there at lunch (just before I posted) and got Page Not Found - but here at work, I get the right page. Very odd.

Thanks for the link, though!

 

[Zwingle]

Yes, the Register had the article....and also Betanews had a thread about the workaround also....I have the www for those who want the workaround.......email me at hoo_knows@yahoo.com

 

[najar]

this is the worst deal i've seen in a very long time. Why should one pay to use a Beta software? In fact, MS should pay Beta tester for testing and finding bugs in their product stinking product.:disgust:

 

[SuperRob]

Jdog,

You're not testing the software for Microsoft. It's a release candidate, so they'd only fix "showstopper" bugs anyway. Comments would be ignored. What this is, is a chance for CORPORATE customers to evaluate the software for use within their companies. They want the corporations to upgrade, so they are making limited previews available to foster that.

As for the "hack" that the Register posted, I have some bad news for you. All that hack does is eliminate the registry key that reminds you to register within 30 days or it deactivates the product. You won't get pestered to register.

Unfortunately, it will STILL deactivate at the end of 30 days. Plus, even if you got around that, there is still the little matter of the time bomb at the end of 120 days.

 

[firehawk2]

why do you all want piracy? u guys are the reason that cause corruption and slow down economy!!!

 

[Dameon]

firehawk2, it's not that we WANT piracy, its that we want privacy. This new version forces you to register, which is across the line. Manufacturers started off by being nice and offering things for registering, then microsoft and others moved to demanding it if you wanted tech support, now they demand it even to run their product. They have gone too far and this is an example of where MS needs to have their proverbial balls cut off for trying to screw over the public.

 

[HawkeyeNJ]

Tks for the post Soul !! As you took the time to type out over 30 lines on your post for one thing etc etc. The way I see it any post here if it saves me a buck or 100 bucks as a good post. Or if the person screw up np with me. At least they tried.

I see alot of flaming going on some of the posts here. Find that a shame. Because I am sure that a newbie like myself " who does not know it all " Will not post a deal in fear that someone will rip their head off.

And then ALL might just miss out; on maybe one of the GREATEST deal.

 

[jedithrawn13]

is build 2428 of XP a newer beta build? i dunno if i should give it a try or not