Microsoft has an unusual Oktoberfest for Mac users: a big discount on Office when purchased with a new computer.
Beginning Tuesday, buyers of new Macs can pick up the full version of Office v. X for $199, or about $200 less than the full purchase price. The promotion ends Jan. 7, 2003.
As good as that deal appears, Office is cheaper for Windows users, particularly those getting the product on new PCs. New PC buyers pay as little as $100 for Office. Mac users not buying a new computer also are stuck with paying full price, as much as $299 for the Office v. X upgrade or $499 for the full version.
"That"s not that big a deal," IDC analyst Roger Kay said. "That"s a bundled incentive to buy a Mac, which is not the same thing as pricing Office at $200. It"s not really a price decrease, but it does hint at this issue where parity says Office ought to be" in price.
Still, the bundle deal could help achieve some equilibrium between the cost associated with getting the Office suite on Macs compared with PCs. The bundle also could spur adoption of Office v. X, which Microsoft in July admitted was well-below projections. The company had expected to sell 750,000 copies of Office v. X but had sold only 300,000 copies.