The ever-evolving software subscription model
I’m sure you’ve seen the ads: “Get Perpetual Office for a dirt-cheap price that’s so cheap it’s too good to be true.”
It is, though they don’t phrase the pitch quite like that. Instead, the advertisement says: “One-time purchase. No subscription. This is a Microsoft Office 365 account that activates up to 5 devices on all supported platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Tablets. You can install and activate as many times as you want on all 5 devices. Activation is permanent and lifetime. You can always reinstall or transfer to another device. Cloud storage is not included. The login name provided cannot be changed or merged with a personal account. Microsoft Office 365 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Access, and Publisher. This software is multilingual, you can choose your language during installation. Digital Download – Redeem instructions will be emailed to you after purchase.”