Bought a version of Office to use on a Mac. Bought a version, not the subscription version.

WHY the fuck do I need to log in to a msft account into order to start and use the app? I bought it, they don't need to know who's using it. What do they do when if I log in? Is there a way around it - can I use the SW somehow w/o logging in.

Fuck MSFT. Fuck big tech. Fuck their intrusions. Sick of this shit.

Try LibreOffice. You have nothing to lose, it's free. No need to log in to anyplace to use it. The only time you need to connect to the website is to get the initial download, and then optionally, to check for updates.

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LibreOffice

Thanks, will do. Powerpoint has some picture editing features that the Mac didn't have (Keyonote). Not sure how to basic cropping and background elimination on a Mac but knew Powerpoint had the capability from prior windows laptop. And wanted OneNote for capturing misc notes on things and organize them (instead of flat files with word>

But I hate this log in crap.

"Impress" is the LibreOffice replacement for MS PowerPoint. It's included in the LibreOffice suite.

V-Tail is right. Libre/OpenOffice will do 99% of what MS Office will.

Totally agree that this is a PIA.
However, on the positive side it will keep track of your software key code, allow you to download and install later should you lose the software or forget the install key.
But as much as I promote Microsoft I HATE this too.

You'd better have your login to your Microsoft account squared away, too. I was at a friend's the other day and we went to use Word. Somehow, the login to the Microsoft account exceeded the maximum allowable number of tries and an error message appeared advising that the account was locked for 24 hours.

Called Microsoft and they said sorry, try again in 24 hours.

Is this different than what Apple requires of you when you buy their hardware and software?

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Originally posted by trapper189:

Is this different than what Apple requires?

Yes, it is. Konata's complaint is that he bought the office suite and he is not able to use it without logging in to the Microsoft website.

Apple's office suite does not require the customer to log in to the website in order to use the software.

Now that I think about it, I believe that the Microsoft office suite is available as either a desktop version, installed on the user's computer, or an cloud-based version. Maybe Konata bought the cloud-based version.

Thanks. Yup - I bought the desktop version (2019). I abhor the subscription version and will never (hopefully) go that route unless they stop selling the desktop version. I will use the last desktop version as long as can at that point.

2016 didn't requires this. I wonder if I can dig up my 2016 version and still use it. If so, then 2016 is gold to me.

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Yes, it is. Konata's complaint is that he bought the office suite and he is not able to use it without logging in to the Microsoft website.

Pretty sure the initial MS Account logon is just to setup and install not use.
This is the case for Office versions (perpetual) on PC from 2013 forward.
There are versions of online only (O365) that you would of course have to logon to use.
But mostly it is to initially install - but it is still annoying.

Just so I understand because I will buy one tomorrow if this is true, Apple computers don't require some sort of Apple account to use them or the software they come with? I can just buy an Apple computer, turn it on, and start using it? No need for an Apple ID, icloud, or Apple account with my personal information recorded? The last Apple computer I had was a IIe. I ask because every Apple device we've had has required an Apple account except maybe the watches. That would be 10 iPads and 7 iPhones. Computers and software used to be usable right out of the box up until maybe 20 years ago and I miss that.

Apple computer does ask for Apple ID to get started. Not sure if there is a way around it. I hate it but the computer was already bought and I was adamant against buying windows. No alternative so accepted it.

Windows also asks but I got around it somehow. But I really hate having to enter a msft account to install and use their software. Alternatives available so wouldn’t have bought the sw if I knew in advance. Will look for libre from now on.

Thank you. The whole you need an account thing drives me nuts. Nintendo, Playstation, Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, etc. I bought a Samsung TV for a rental property, sure enough, I needed to setup a Samsung account to use the TV. It seems like everything requires an account to be used. Remember when you you could buy a gaming console, some games, just plug it in on Christmas morning, and start playing? With my wife and three kids, I just can't keep track of it all. All the login credentials and certainly not all the ToS, privacy statements, etc.

Just yesterday, my daughter's computer asked her for a Microsoft account. I'm fairly sure I just used mine when I set it up. I read the privacy, data use and collection statement that was linked. I understood maybe 50% of it and I didn't like 70% of that. I'm the guy at the DR's that reads the forms they ask me to sign and then says I can't sign this one that says you gave me a copy of whatever because you didn't give one to me.

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I'm the guy at the DR's that reads the forms they ask me to sign and then says I can't sign this one that says you gave me a copy of whatever because you didn't give one to me.

Me too.

The vampire lady who draws blood at the lab stuck a form in front of me. Full page of tiny mice-font with "whereas" paragraphs. She was not happy because I was reading the form. She said, "just sign at the bottom."

I replied, "Sure, just as soon as I read what you want me to sign."

Now, to setup an anonymous email account ain’t possible. Seems like they ask for a phone number to set one up now. I really need a burner phone with no traceability.