Lot’s of chatter about Apple’s latest accessory – Microsoft Office! Apple is now selling MS Office software at the Apple Store online.
This isn’t surprising. While Apple have their own office software apps (Pages, Numbers and Keynote) they know that a lot of iPad users will turn to Microsoft Office, so why not make some money selling it?
The bonus for Apple … they can sell at top price to the unwary shopper.
In the USA the prices for MS Office on the Apple Store are the full retail prices:
Office 365 Personal – one PC/Mac install for one year $69.95
Curiously, the more popular Office 365 Home (5 licences) isn’t listed.
Office Home and Student 2016 – one perpetual license for Mac only $149.95
Office Home and Business 2016 – one perpetual license for Mac only $229.95
(Prices as at 29 March 2016 before state sales tax)
Why pay more?
Just like buying direct from Microsoft, buying from the Apple store is too expensive. They are charging full retail price for the same product you can get elsewhere for less.
There’s no DVD etc. with Office 2016. All you get is a Product Key (either online or on a card) to enter when you download the Office software. There’s nothing special about buying for top price or from a particular retailer.
Far better to shop around to get a better price for the same Office software.
Instead of paying $69.99 for Office 365 Personal, pay about $54 from Amazon.
There are greater savings on the Office 2016 perpetual licenses if you shop around. At the moment, the Home and Business bundle sells for $173 on Amazon – saving over $55 on what Apple expects you to pay.
Office 2016: the real startup guide has a chapter devoted to saving money buying Office 2016.
