I am using open office at the moment, but i dont particulary like it as i prefer microsoft word an other suite. I have come accross the STUDENT and TEACHER edition of the office 2003. Now this is £120 and can only be used on one or two pc's and doesn't have the full exact programs as the standard and pro edition.
Does any one have this ACEDEMIC edition and how is it?
Also is buying Genuin looking office programs off Ebay safe?

Thanks.
Jimbo

Academic editions are available to faculty and students in accerdited institutions.  They are "real" and legal.  The catch is that you will need to be bale to PROVE that you are within the category guidelines that Microsoft specifies.  I forget the details, but if you are a teacher... you have to be just about full time ...and for a student... I think you also have to be about full time.

There is a process you need to do to activate those programs.  READ the fine print on the package.

best,

................john

Ok, first, lets get some brand and model names straight.

Student and teacher edition contains four office programs. the four basic ones: Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, PowerPoint 2003, Word 2003. They are the full versians, but their license is different. First, you cannot upgrade to future office editions. Second, its for non-comercial use only, meaning, you cannot use it to make stuff for profit.

Academic versian: All office software has an academic versian.
Office 2003 Pro has an acdemic versian, etc.. Academic versians is just a cheaper (but for non-profit) versian of the regular commercial edition. (Note: there is no academic versian of student and teacher edition).

For example, if you needed Publisher 2003 which only comes with office 2003 pro, then you can buy an academic edition of office 03 pro. You must be a student or a teacher at an accredated insitution to qualify for academic or student and teacher editions.

To answer your question, the student and teacher editions are ok for you if:
-you have no desie to upgrade (so, if you want office 2006, you would have to buy the full versian)
-you are a student or teacher at an accreditaed insitution
-you will not use it for profit. If you use for profit, MS is entitled to a share of your profits (BTW, this applies to all academic versians of any software of any company, not just MS; read the EULA people)