Microsoft Office Dead or Alive?
Just tried signing up to Microsoft Office Live's beta, but I think at this point, it's better described as Microsoft Office Dead.
Hitch #1:
"You are not using a recent version of Internet Explorer and need to download it in order to use Office Live."
D-U-H! I'm not using Internet Explorer at all, you morons! When everyone else's Web 2.0 application supports multiple browsers, why doesn't Microsoft's?
Oh, wait. Silly question.
Fine, so I fire up Internet Explorer. One must keep such things around for extreme emergencies, and besides, I am sympathetic to betas, even from Microsoft.
Hitch #2:
"If you don’t have your 25-digit Product Key, click here to get one.
NOTE: Due to the number of requests we have received for this beta, we cannot guarantee participation."
You need a product key to use a free service? Right. Try "We can't scale fast enough, so tough luck kiddo."
OK, fine, I'll take my chances. I click the link to get a product key...
..and the Third (and Final, I promise) Hitch:
"Allow 2 to 4 weeks to process your request. Open to U.S. residents only."
I don't know whether to laugh at the fact that it takes 2 to 4 weeks to process a request when everyone else operates in Internet time, or to be mad at M$ for not stating up front that it was open to U.S. residents only.
And seriously, guys, what difference does it make where in the bloody world my proxy server's located, anyway?
I'm starting to wonder if *anyone* aside from notable bloggers has actually been able to use the service. Sheesh.
Hitch #1:
"You are not using a recent version of Internet Explorer and need to download it in order to use Office Live."
D-U-H! I'm not using Internet Explorer at all, you morons! When everyone else's Web 2.0 application supports multiple browsers, why doesn't Microsoft's?
Oh, wait. Silly question.
Fine, so I fire up Internet Explorer. One must keep such things around for extreme emergencies, and besides, I am sympathetic to betas, even from Microsoft.
Hitch #2:
"If you don’t have your 25-digit Product Key, click here to get one.
NOTE: Due to the number of requests we have received for this beta, we cannot guarantee participation."
You need a product key to use a free service? Right. Try "We can't scale fast enough, so tough luck kiddo."
OK, fine, I'll take my chances. I click the link to get a product key...
..and the Third (and Final, I promise) Hitch:
"Allow 2 to 4 weeks to process your request. Open to U.S. residents only."
I don't know whether to laugh at the fact that it takes 2 to 4 weeks to process a request when everyone else operates in Internet time, or to be mad at M$ for not stating up front that it was open to U.S. residents only.
And seriously, guys, what difference does it make where in the bloody world my proxy server's located, anyway?
I'm starting to wonder if *anyone* aside from notable bloggers has actually been able to use the service. Sheesh.