[Linux-aus] Microsoft Offer to Australian University Students

[Kim Hawtin]

Hi James,

James Collier wrote:
> I'm a student at Monash university, today I received an email from the
> University, regarding an offer made by Microsoft to all Australian Uni
> students for it's MSOffice 2007 suite.
> The main gist of the email is as follows:
> 
> "
> Microsoft is offering the top of the range Ultimate 2007 version of 
> Microsoft Office to all Australian university students at a low price
> for 
> a limited time.
> 
> This offer is available until 15 May 2008.
> 
> What are the options and how much is it?
> There are three options. You can:
> *       buy the product outright for $75.00
> *       buy the product for 12 months for $25.00. At the end of 12
> months 
> you can pay an additional $50 to purchase the product outright
> *       download a free trial.
> 
> The recommended retail price for this product is $1150.
> 
> Conditions of purchase
> *       You must use your Monash email address when ordering a copy.
> *       A password is needed to place an order -- DO NOT use your
> Monash 
> password.
> *       Each student may buy only one copy, that is, one copy per email 
> address.
> 
> Where do I go with my queries?
> This is a Microsoft promotion and Monash University will not provide 
> support to students in relation to their purchase. 
> All queries regarding ordering, customer service and other general 
> enquiries should be directed to the FAQs and customer service section 
> which is available on the Microsoft 'It's not cheating' website.
> 
> How can I order and pay for a copy?
> *       You can order a copy online at the Microsoft 'Its not cheating' 
> website below.
> *       Payment is by credit card only.
> 
> To purchase or trial the software or for more information go to 
> Microsoft's colourful orange and yellow site at: 
> http://www.itsnotcheating.com.au/
> "
> 
> Other than the dirty looking man in the website, and the suspicious
> method of payment, it annoys me that Microsoft is once again using it's
> marketing power to lure people who might otherwise use FOSS office
> suites to a cheap version of the "standard" office suite.
> 
> Being very new, I wondered whether, we as individuals or Linux Australia
> as a whole could do anything to perhaps better inform students.
> 
> I know most (if not all) lecturers here don't accept MS new *.docx
> format!

I would refer your IT officers that sent this email about their obligations
under the Australia SPAM Act.

Specifically this kind of unsolicited commercial email has ramifications for
Universities.

regards,

Kim
-- 
Operating Systems, Services and Operations
Information Technology Services, The University of Adelaide
kim.hawtin at adelaide.edu.au