I'm not sure if I've mentioned it, but it's worth mentioning twice if I did. I recently applied for, and was accepted, to the Microsoft 'Biz Spark' program for small businesses. It's free, and you get to download and use almost *anything* that microsoft sells. I have access to copies of, and keys to every single piece of software I've ever needed. Office, Visual Studio, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Servers, Exchange, the whole shebang. You get free software for two years. After which you're back on the street like you are now. But hey, I've been milking WindowsXP for years after it's discontinuation. Why should anything else be different? http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark I whole heartedly recommend applying. It helps to have an EIN and DUNS number, both of which most businesses should already have when they were created. If not, both easy and free. I genuinely don't know if it's a 'US Only' thing, or if it's global. But I suppose it can't hurt to try. Cheers! -- Smug And for you Macintosh users, granted there isn't much software from Microsoft for the Mac, but heck. I'm downloading MS Office for Mac Home/Business 2011 for free. If nothing else, update your copy of Office. ;)

How was the review process, and did it take long?

I applied, I waited a couple of weeks. Actually forgot about it. Then I got an email with my approval and link, and that was that. It wasn't that long, considering. Cheers! -- Smug

Dang didn't qualify my company is older than 5 years.

Thanks for the info!

Good stuff! Thanks

I tried and got denied. Took 12 days from when I applied. I was told I could reapply if I wanted- but then I realized, there really isn't a lot there that I was in need of anyways. Kind of like the stack of cd's and binders from the MS TechNet days that are just piled up in my office still. I've played around with their Windows Phone development kit/site and those are both free and the only MS software I find myself using anymore - besides good old Office and XP. http://apps.windowsstore.com/ https://dev.windowsphone.com/en-us/develop

@ATRAIN53 Ah the binders, remember the golden Microsoft Key 11111-11111-11111-11111-11111 wished those worked today

I am in bizspark. Its worth it to get visual studio.

Also if you're in a computer class at college, most colleges offer "Microsoft Dream Spark" which offers the same thing.

Will office still work after the 2 years?

Yes, all of the software is normal software, you get the authorization key for free. You can use the software as long as you want. But after two years, you're not getting any free upgrades. Only maintenance updates, as normal. Just as if you paid for it. But better. It's free. Cheers! -- Smug

Ok thx, will give it a try and will know if it is US only or not then ;-)