Microsoft
Office Suite - offfice 2007

So I made the mistake of trying an Office 2007 trial version. I figured if I didn't like it—or more likely, didn't see enough of a benefit to fork over the dough—I could always go back to my 2003 version.

Wrong.

The 2007 version installed "over" the incorporating the earlier version into itself. Now that the trial period has ended, the computer's office products are largely frozen: I can access documents, for example, but I can't edit them or even cut and paste the data. I'm told that the only way to go back to the way things were is to uninstall 2007 and reinstall 2003. Simple enough, except that at some point in the intervening years I lost the 2003 disks and theProduct Code Number.

It seems to me that the world's most sophisticated software company should be able to tell that I have a legitimately installed 2003 system below my now-frozen 2007 system. It seems to me that a company with a concern for its customers would set up the trial version of 2007 to automatically revert to the 2003 version if the customer chose not to upgrade.

But the real kicker is that I can't even contact Microsoft about this without losing money. They charge $49 to discuss, via email or phone, any problems you might have with the Office Suite, if you don't happen to have your product code handy.

It's as if I walked into a car dealership, was enticed into trying out a new car for a few days, then when I returned it got told that not only could I not get my old car back but that I couldn't even complain to the dealership about it without being charged for the privilege!

Company: Microsoft
Country: USA

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