Background:
Small business here - 7 employees with about 12 computers (10 WS/Laptops and 2 servers)
Use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook everyday all day
Currently on Office 2013 Pro but my subscription to MAPS has expired and I need to get "legit". Also the program MAPS regs are forcing everyone to Windows 8 and Office 365 (ie the licenses for older software are no longer valid).
We use email A LOT and are currently using hosted exchange through GoDaddy (I think about a dozen email addresses). It has been ok, not great but not horrible. Just some things we don't care for (mainly resource scheduling i.e. conference rooms, shared contacts, etc). We still have our SBS2008 server here in the office running as I have been unable to get us off of it (we don't actually need it for anything we do). As anyone who knows the godaddy service isn't horribly expensive but it certainly isn't cheap.
Being that I need to buy O2013 licenses for at least 10 machines I decided to look into O365. O2013 licenses aren't cheap as you know and I HATE the idea of renting any software on a monthly basis.
I am thinking O365 makes sense as the cost for the Small Biz plan ($12.50 a month per user) is not much more than I pay for my hosted exchange per year (roughly $1800 some for the 2 year deal I started with in 2013 for 12 addresses). Also as I understand it with O365 I would be able to install it on my home machine as well under the Small Biz plan since I work from home as well.
My concerns/questions:
1 - How does this work exactly? Sign up, pay the fee, download and install software just like I would with O2013 and then work from my desktop as always or do I have to login online somewhere and use Excel online?
2 - I do understand that O365 gives me cloud storage but I DO NOT want any of our documents etc stored in the cloud. We need them stored locally on our server which I backup every night and take off site with me each day (secured and encrypted drives btw). Can I set up O365 so that it only stores locally?
3 - O365 would replace the Godaddy hosted exchange service correct? If so do I only have the ability to use OWA or do I get regular outlook as we have always been used to?
4 - Does anyone know how resource scheduling (i.e. conference rooms) works in O365?
5 - Last but not least ... has O365 been a good fit for you in general?
I welcome any and all comments but please bear in mind I am looking for comments from users of the product not people who want to bash the rental service. I too hate the notion but it may just be the best option for us.
Thanks in advance
Greg
Small business here - 7 employees with about 12 computers (10 WS/Laptops and 2 servers)
Use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook everyday all day
Currently on Office 2013 Pro but my subscription to MAPS has expired and I need to get "legit". Also the program MAPS regs are forcing everyone to Windows 8 and Office 365 (ie the licenses for older software are no longer valid).
We use email A LOT and are currently using hosted exchange through GoDaddy (I think about a dozen email addresses). It has been ok, not great but not horrible. Just some things we don't care for (mainly resource scheduling i.e. conference rooms, shared contacts, etc). We still have our SBS2008 server here in the office running as I have been unable to get us off of it (we don't actually need it for anything we do). As anyone who knows the godaddy service isn't horribly expensive but it certainly isn't cheap.
Being that I need to buy O2013 licenses for at least 10 machines I decided to look into O365. O2013 licenses aren't cheap as you know and I HATE the idea of renting any software on a monthly basis.
I am thinking O365 makes sense as the cost for the Small Biz plan ($12.50 a month per user) is not much more than I pay for my hosted exchange per year (roughly $1800 some for the 2 year deal I started with in 2013 for 12 addresses). Also as I understand it with O365 I would be able to install it on my home machine as well under the Small Biz plan since I work from home as well.
My concerns/questions:
1 - How does this work exactly? Sign up, pay the fee, download and install software just like I would with O2013 and then work from my desktop as always or do I have to login online somewhere and use Excel online?
2 - I do understand that O365 gives me cloud storage but I DO NOT want any of our documents etc stored in the cloud. We need them stored locally on our server which I backup every night and take off site with me each day (secured and encrypted drives btw). Can I set up O365 so that it only stores locally?
3 - O365 would replace the Godaddy hosted exchange service correct? If so do I only have the ability to use OWA or do I get regular outlook as we have always been used to?
4 - Does anyone know how resource scheduling (i.e. conference rooms) works in O365?
5 - Last but not least ... has O365 been a good fit for you in general?
I welcome any and all comments but please bear in mind I am looking for comments from users of the product not people who want to bash the rental service. I too hate the notion but it may just be the best option for us.
Thanks in advance
Greg
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