Microsoft is soon launching a subscription-based product for Microsoft Office Live, otherwise now known as Office 365. Its a cloud-based service that offers online sync, online office (in-browser), free upgrades (within the 4 year subscription period) and full tablet touchscreen support.
Taken from Engadget:
MS offering a special four-year, $80 subscription to higher-education students. For that sum, you'll get four years of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access if you're seeking a sheepskin scroll, which Redmond says works out to $1.67 per month. Also included are 60 Skype world minutes per month and 27GB of Premium SkyDrive storage, along with free upgrades and the ability to install on two separate computers, to boot.
Coming soon in Q1 2013.
If you're a student-to-be next year you might want to consider signing on this plan rather than purchasing a copy of Office 2010, as this will work out cheaper and also give you free upgrades within the 4 year period.
Thanks Scrimshaw. Good heads up. I hope it applies to Uni lecturers as well.