Something just does not seem right

Posted by Jeramie

on 10 Jan 2006 8:38 AM

Yes I agree with the others that you should purchase under the Open Charity program and not OEM off of ebay. Office Pro 2003 can be purchased for $69.00 or $106.00 w/2 years Software Assurance from any authorized charity reseller. I highly recommend getting Software Assurance as Office 12 will be released this year and will have save to pdf functionality in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. In addition to the free upgrades, Software Assurance gives you Home Use Rights (employees you buy a license for at work can install on home pc at no cost), and eLearning.

If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me directly.

Jeramie
jeramie@ccbnpts.com

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Posted by toddstroud

on 5 Apr 2007 10:15 AM

We were also told that we need not apply for a discounted Microft license due to the nature of our nonprofit. We are a church. Is it legal in this country to descriminate against religious institutions for having a message? What would happen if Bill Gates excluded nonprofits of certain racial make ups? He could never get away with that nor should he. How does he get away with religious descrimination. How is it legal to treat one nonprofit differently than another simply because they believe they have a specific answer to people's difficulties. My answer may be Jesus, your's may be a health clinic, but there were no free health clinics before Jesus. I believe the constitution protects against this sort of discrimination. Am I wrong?

todd stroud, Pastor

P.S. Our church has helped many people even if they do not agree with our message.

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Posted by glamontagne

on 5 Apr 2007 10:43 AM

Todd, my advice to you would be to do what the others in this thread have stated: contact a Microsoft reseller and ask about the open office charity program. You will still be saving hundreds of dollars. Unfortunately tech soup has their hands tied on this issue since they don't make the rules. Remember, they are a non-profit like the rest of us.

Gary Network/Systems Admin Berlin, NH
Host Non-profit Tech Careers, Security Forums
Co-Host Networks, Hardware, & Telecommunications Forum

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Posted by dtuuri

on 5 Apr 2007 11:50 AM

Hi Todd,

I'd agree with the other posts as well. This is pretty much the same as any other donation. Companies typically select causes that they choose to support. I think that you'll find the purchase of an Open Charity license is the best bet.

OEM software can ONLY be sold with hardware. Any reseller should be able to purchase a 3-Pack of MS Office OEM Edition for you at a similar price. However, to do so legally you'd need to buy hardware such as a system board, processor, etc...

The other thing about OEM licenses. When you purchase them you get NO tech support. If it doesn't install Microsoft will not help you. On the other hand with a MS agreement with Software Assurance you get access to upgraded versions as their released, online training, and the ability of employees to use the software at home (Home Use Program).

Best luck to you, if I can be of more help or if you need a referral to a reseller please feel free to private message/email me.

Dan Tuuri, CISSP * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * All advice given or comments made are mine, and mine only. They do not represent the view of my agency/employer. Eat advice at your own risk.

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Posted by hrumsey

on 5 Apr 2007 4:56 PM

Todd-
Yes, you are wrong. If there were any reason to think that Microsoft's motivation had anything to do with your church's message, as you for some reason assume, the Constitution says nothing about what a private or publicly-owned corporation can do in such matters; Microsoft can do what they want.
As a matter of fact, Microsoft does not extend these discounts to health care institutions either, so you chose an especially unfortunate example. Microsoft seems to figure, probably correctly, that medical institutions and churches are both a lot more flush than they let on, and Microsoft doesn't leave money on the table.
Of *course* the auction was a scam of some sort. The guy had private feedback comments and was using Bidpay, which offers *no* protection to the buyer. Why pay any attention to a fake?
Don't worry. Neither Microsoft nor Techsoup is persecuting your church.

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