where/how to get windows 7 & Office 2007?

2nd_Time_Lucky

Computer numpty alert

I run the office of a small business with 5 PC. I need to upgrade from Windows XP/office 2003 to windows 7 and office (need outlook with business manager) professional 2007 (2010). I have found it nearly impossible to get a sensible quote for a multiuser versions (£3300+:eek:) i cannot use the home &student 3 user ones as they are not legal for business use..

:jor can anyone suggest somewhere that would give a discount for purchasing 5 individual programs

All existing machines are less than 18 months old, Dell, purchased with XP as vista option was not compatible with our database which is now upgraded so now W7 is ok.

Thankyou

Shimrod

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Microsoft-Office-Professional-2007-Win32-English-Intl-VUP-CD-RETAIL-UPGRADE 5*£232
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Windows-7-Professional-64-bit-%28Single%29-OEM 5*£116
Total £1740
Do you actually need windows 7 though or do you just want it? I'm not aware of anything that needs to have windows 7 to run that you would want to use in a business environment.
Also be prepared for the productivity loss in office when you lose the good old fashioned menus and gain the 'ribbons' across the top. You might want to budget £18*5 for some software that will give you the menus back again!

fitshase

I would stick with XP and 2003. Stable platform which works.

Bear in mind that Win7 might not have drivers for your printers, etc., and any older kit might not work so your outlay could rise.

Also, 2007 version of Office is a steep learning curve for people used to 2003. Our company is starting to deploy 2007 but some people hate it. At the moment the majority of people have 2003 in the company and some people are requesting to go back to it. I prefer 2007 because I have been using it since it came out at home and at my previous company. As Shimrod says - be prepared for loss of productivity if you move across to 2007.

Mobeer

Shimrod's price includes VAT = £1466 without VAT

If changing versions of Office, why not move to 2010, as it has an improved user interface that is probably less of a change to user's familiar with Office 2003\XP.

But I'm curious why you need to upgrade now? Have you considered upgrading to Windows XP service pack 3, which is supported by Microsoft until April 2014?

debitcardmayhem

fitshase wrote: »

I would stick with XP and 2003. Stable platform which works.

Bear in mind that Win7 might not have drivers for your printers, etc., and any older kit might not work so your outlay could rise.

Also, 2007 version of Office is a steep learning curve for people used to 2003. Our company is starting to deploy 2007 but some people hate it. At the moment the majority of people have 2003 in the company and some people are requesting to go back to it. I prefer 2007 because I have been using it since it came out at home and at my previous company. As Shimrod says - be prepared for loss of productivity if you move across to 2007.

Yes but XP has a shelf life like mine, not guaranteed. Office 2010 is IMHO better than 2007, just a suggestion.

[Deleted User]

2nd_Time_Lucky wrote: »

I run the office of a small business with 5 PC. I need to upgrade from Windows XP/office 2003 to windows 7 and office (need outlook with business manager) professional 2007 (2010).

:jor can anyone suggest somewhere that would give a discount for purchasing 5 individual programs

The Microsoft Small Business portal would be a good place to start, especially when you consider that you're eligible for volume licensing.

Shimrod wrote: »

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Windows-7-Professional-64-bit-%28Single%29-OEM 5*£116

Using OEM software in a business setting? Unwise, not good advice at all.

fitshase wrote: »

Bear in mind that Win7 might not have drivers for your printers, etc., and any older kit might not work so your outlay could rise.

Simple solution; use the Upgrade Advisor to find out for sure.

2nd_Time_Lucky

Thanks everyone :beer:

Our Outlook is rubbish as it crashes all the time and i was hoping that the Business Contact manager would replace our ancient ACT program thats only used as a glorified address book.. anyone know if you can synchronize between the network ?

Shimrod

anewhope wrote: »

Using OEM software in a business setting? Unwise, not good advice at all.

I was merely offering a cheaper option as requested - I did also question whether the upgrade to win7 was really necessary. 93% of companies are running something other than win7 at the moment, so it would hardly seem essential.
http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/it-business/supplier-relations/news/index.cfm?newsid=20399

[Deleted User]

Shimrod wrote: »

I was merely offering a cheaper option as requested

Cheap though it may be, it'd be against the terms of the licence. Using unlicensed software in a business is something that is taken very seriously and is best avoided.

Shimrod

anewhope wrote: »

Cheap though it may be, it'd be against the terms of the licence. Using unlicensed software in a business is something that is taken very seriously and is best avoided.

Sadly the use of OEM licences isn't as clear cut as you make it appear. If you look at some of the other windows 7 licences on Scan you can see they are quite explicit on the OEM licencing terms, but it does not get a mention on this version. For more comment on OEM licences and Microsoft's own confusion over them, have a read of the blog below.


http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/is-it-ok-to-use-oem-windows-on-your-own-pc-dont-ask-microsoft/1561?!!!!!mantle_skin;content

[Deleted User]

Shimrod wrote: »

Sadly the use of OEM licences isn't as clear cut as you make it appear. If you look at some of the other windows 7 licences on Scan you can see they are quite explicit on the OEM licencing terms, but it does not get a mention on this version. For more comment on OEM licences and Microsoft's own confusion over them, have a read of the blog below.

If you follow the terms of the OEM licence as they are printed then in order for the software to be licensed then it hast to be installed via a specific process by a person or organisation enrolled in a specific Microsoft programme. That’s the interpretation that I had clarified by one of the Microsoft representatives that we deal with for software purchases, along with an opinion that most online stores don't provide customers with enough information make them aware of how OEM versions of the software differs from the corresponding Retail version and in many cases seem to support quite a common misinterpretation that as long as the purchase is made with an item of hardware, that they will be fully and correctly licensed.

While there may be a small chance of repercussions for the home user finding them without licensed software, the risks to a business are significantly more. An area that personally, I would not like to put myself in deliberately.