My point is simply that MS is marketing this as 'try out the new software'
experience. If they were to mention that there is virtually no return
path
to your current product (for average business users like me and millions
of
others) I would accept full responsibility. You were very helpful and I
appreciate that; don't want to have a drawn out debate.
I expected to have fun trying out the new product in advance, that it
would
be buggy, that I would like it generally but not use it for 'production'
(new
term to me). Finally, that I would be enticed into being an early
purchaser
when it comes out but certainly revert to my fully-licensed product in a
couple of days. I believe this is deceptive practice and equivalent to
theft
of my product. They should have required me to turn in my current product
license before installing since that's the equivalent of what happened.
Last, but not least, your help directing me to discussion groups proves
there are hundreds of thousands (at least) of people who are now at risk.
Perhaps we're idiots, but you have to admit we've been swindled out of our
product licenses. My firm of 1000+ employees will have a new software
suite
in place by end of the year, and it won't be MS. That's really how this
battle must be fought. Thanks again for your help; it kept me from losing
my
mind.
JoAnn Paules said:
Microsoft employees will never read this thread. (They can but I honestly
do
not think they will.)
You and I were on the same side up until this post. It's not criminal.
You
have the option to keep both versions or upgrade. Plus there is a warning
that it may cause problems with system stability.
I am a big believer in making sure that all cautions are handed out
before
actions are taken but I do not believe in holding someone's hands.
Computers
are not toys. And you need to use your brain when using a computer.
Anyone
who downloads a beta without being prepared to flatten that system when
the
test is over is a fool. Plain and simple.
--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
John in Kentucky said:
JoAnn, and anyone who gets this far,
Five days later I'm back on Office 2003 Pro. I'm not sure how, but I'm
certain one of the main keys was to delete the file MSMAPI.DLL (NOT
mapi.dll). This is apparently the messaging from 2007 Beta 2 causing
the
conflict.
I am issuing a general warning, however, to MS. Marketing beta
products
to
non-developers, promoting it as a test when it's truly a conversion,
and
forcing general users to commit unknowingly are criminal acts as far as
I'm
concerned. I'm instructing my IT person today to look for alternatives
to
MS
products for our entire company, including researching the new GOOGLE
freeware. What they are doing here with Office 2007 beta should lead
to a
class action suit of epic proportions.
:
I agree with you - beta software should not be offered willy-nilly. We
have
a lot of people who are botching up their systems because they don't
know
what they are doing. I've already said that on Jan 31, 2007, I am
going
offline for a few days. When all of those people who didn't read the
cautions find that their copy of Office 2007 is at best nothing but a
viewer, they will freak. And then when they learn they actually have
to
BUY
the software at full price........I'll be at the mall that day. No
computers. Just me and the mannequins.
--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
message Thanks Mary, and Paula (previous).
I suppose I'm really stuck, but unlike you folks, I think I have a
more
legitimate gripe with MS. I'm not a developer, just a registered
Office2003
Pro user. I received an unsolicited email from MS offering me a
free
trial
of 2007. I'm an executive manager (not IT) who was invited years
ago
to a
one-day MS course when 2003 was being readied for release. I was
given
a
free copy of 2003 and a day of training, I'm sure as an inducement
to
talk
it
up in my company and others. I admittedly did not read the offer
terms
this
time, and recognize they covered their '6' with it, but still and
all I
consider it deceptive.
I don't live in the 'beta world', but, as evidenced by the many
problems
like mine, do like having the latest edition. MS should never offer
beta
installs, especially those that are irreversible, to rank and file
users.
I
thought it was a chance to test a new product and, if I liked it
would
purchase it when the license expired. No more, no less. I wasn't
contacted
as a paid or volunteer developer/tester.
Does that make sense? I've lost 3 days so far and believe it will be
one
more before I can be back to where I started last week.
John
:
HELP! HELP! Running XP on a 1-user machine.
I downloaded and installed Office2007beta2; had probs, uninstalled
it.
Diagnostics found probs were due to conflicting versions of Office
(have
2003PRO). Reinstalled beta then tried to delete 2003. Didn't work
(Error
message: The patch package could not be opened. Verify that the
patch
package exists and your can access it, or contact the app vendor to
verify
that this is a valid windows installer package". I can't uninstall
2003;
2007beta is conflicted. Please help. I didn't realize 2007 would
install
without making proper changes to 2003.
Every time I try to do anything within MS apps the Windows
Installer
pops
up
with the above message.
Uninstalling 2007beta2 doesn't work because I can't reinstall
2003Pro.
And,
I can't uninstall 2003Pro. Meanwhile, I'm about to lose my job for
lack
of
productivity.
Any help appreciated
