Backstory: On all new PCs, instead of including the junk known as Works or a 60 day trial of Office, Microsoft now includes what is know as a "starter" version of Office. It only gives you Word and Excel, but for many people this would be enough. So how does MS make it free? Some features are stripped away from the full versions of Word and Excel and there is an area on the right side where Microsoft displays banner ads from it's partners. But hey, at least it's free, right?
Well, some people are just never happy. Like this lady.
SC: A previous tech helped me install Office Starter edition and there are advertizements on the right side. I want those ads gone.
Me: Unfortunately, in the starter edition of Office those ads are permanent. The only way to get rid of them is to buy the full version of Office.
SC: That's not an acceptable answer. I want to get rid of those ads.
Me: Ma'am, that's how they make the software free. Otherwise, if there was no ads Microsoft would have to force PC vendors to raise the prices of the computers to cover the cost of the software.
SC: Can't I just turn them off?
Me: Unfortunately, no. Like I said before, the only way to get rid of them is to buy the full version of Office.
SC: I shouldn't have to do that! This is not very fair to me as a consumer! Microsoft is worth billions can't they just give the software away and not bother people like me with unwanted crap like this?!
Me: Ma'am, Microsoft is giving you software which would probably cost around $75-$100 retail for free. They have to recoup the costs somewhere, and putting non-malicious ads on the screen was what they chose to do.
SC: It's clear you don't want to help me to my satisfaction. You just want to be a kool-aid drinker and spout off some talking point script.
Me: I did give you the answer, as before, the only way to get rid of the ads is to....
SC: (Cuts me off) Yeah shell out more money! If that is what you call helping me, I want to lodge a complaint!
Me: Ma'am, me and the company I work for really have no control of the business decisions at Microsoft. If you want to complain about them putting ads in software, it's best to take it up with them.
SC: Fine I may just do that. Thanks, bye.
*Click.*
Yeah lady, call Microsoft and complain about ads which are not harmful and making your software free (last I heard, only Gold Certified Partners are allowed to buy ad space in Office Starter). Oh, and SC: Billion dollar companies don't stay billion dollar companies by "just giving software away."
Well, some people are just never happy. Like this lady.
SC: A previous tech helped me install Office Starter edition and there are advertizements on the right side. I want those ads gone.
Me: Unfortunately, in the starter edition of Office those ads are permanent. The only way to get rid of them is to buy the full version of Office.
SC: That's not an acceptable answer. I want to get rid of those ads.
Me: Ma'am, that's how they make the software free. Otherwise, if there was no ads Microsoft would have to force PC vendors to raise the prices of the computers to cover the cost of the software.
SC: Can't I just turn them off?
Me: Unfortunately, no. Like I said before, the only way to get rid of them is to buy the full version of Office.
SC: I shouldn't have to do that! This is not very fair to me as a consumer! Microsoft is worth billions can't they just give the software away and not bother people like me with unwanted crap like this?!
Me: Ma'am, Microsoft is giving you software which would probably cost around $75-$100 retail for free. They have to recoup the costs somewhere, and putting non-malicious ads on the screen was what they chose to do.
SC: It's clear you don't want to help me to my satisfaction. You just want to be a kool-aid drinker and spout off some talking point script.
Me: I did give you the answer, as before, the only way to get rid of the ads is to....
SC: (Cuts me off) Yeah shell out more money! If that is what you call helping me, I want to lodge a complaint!
Me: Ma'am, me and the company I work for really have no control of the business decisions at Microsoft. If you want to complain about them putting ads in software, it's best to take it up with them.
SC: Fine I may just do that. Thanks, bye.
*Click.*
Yeah lady, call Microsoft and complain about ads which are not harmful and making your software free (last I heard, only Gold Certified Partners are allowed to buy ad space in Office Starter). Oh, and SC: Billion dollar companies don't stay billion dollar companies by "just giving software away."
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