Skip to main content

New PC? Now you need Microsoft 365

Have you recently purchased a new computer and realised that you can't create a word document or a spreadsheet? Generally machines don’t come with Word, Powerpoint, Excel or the rest of the Microsoft Office products, but for personal users, there are a few options for getting Microsoft 365 onto your machine. 

Office 365 to Microsoft 365: A quick note about Microsoft rebranding

Microsoft recently rebranded some of their Office 365 commercial plans, which are now called Microsoft 365. This won’t affect the price or the content of these products, it’s simply a name change to illustrate that new apps and services have been added such as Microsoft Teams, Streams, Forms and Planner. You can find out more about these changes in their blog post here. As such, in this article we’ll be using the new name, Microsoft 365. 

Transfer the license from your old computer

If your old computer or laptop has a license for Microsoft Office, it might be possible to move the license across to your new machine. This might not be possible depending on the version of Microsoft Office; it has to be compatible with the software on your new PC, and not be tied to the machine it is installed on.  However, if it is compatible, it is possible to deactivate Microsoft Office on your old machine, and use the license key or installation disk to install it onto your new machine. You can find out how to transfer a Microsoft Office license here.

Purchase a new licence 

If you don’t have a Microsoft Office license which is compatible with your new machine, you’ll need to purchase a new license. There are a couple of different ways for doing this for personal users; if you’re a business and have a number of different computers which you need a license for, you’ll need to consult with your IT support team. They will be able to assist you in deciding which of these options makes the most sense for your company.

One time purchase

The first option that personal users have for getting Word, Powerpont, Excel on their machine is by making a one time purchase. Office Home and Student is a one time purchase for a single device, which makes it ideal for users who want to get going with the basics of Microsoft Office with a single payment. It’s around £110, depending on where it is purchased from. 

The great thing about a one time purchase of Office Home and Student is that there are no ongoing costs; you have the licence forever. However, there are a number of downsides. Once installed on a machine, the license will always be tied to that machine; you aren’t able to transfer the license if you purchase a new machine in the future. You’re also not entitled to any newer versions of Microsoft Office; you’re only entitled to the version that you have purchased.

Microsoft 365

The second option for personal users is Microsoft 365 (previously known as Office 365). With Microsoft 365 you do get a lot more for your money; unlike Office Home and Student which only comes with Word, Powerpoint and Excel, Microsoft 365 also includes a bunch of other applications such as Outlook, Publisher and OneNote. You’re also not restricted to a single device; you can install Microsoft 365 on up to five devices. This is particularly useful if you have a PC and a laptop, or you need these applications on your phone or tablet.

With Microsoft 365 you’re also always entitled to the latest software. If Microsoft releases a new version of Word, for example, your version of Word will be updated too. However, Microsoft 365 is a subscription service, and not a one time purchase. You can choose to pay yearly, which is £60, or monthly, which is £6. There is also the option of Microsoft 365 Family, which can support up to 6 users and is £79.99 for the year, or £7.99 a month.

So which option is right for me?

If you’re not sure which direction to go in with Microsoft Office, we’d recommend you talk to one of our IT support engineers. They’ll be happy to talk you through your options, and help you to decide whether Microsoft 365 or a one time purchase would best meet your requirements. 

Tweet us @TranscenditUK


The Transcendit Way

Transcendit understand that when you choose to work with us, whether we're taking care of your IT, app or web development, you're trusting us with part of your business. So whether we're looking after your computers, phone systems or servers we always do things 'the Transcendit way'.

The whole of our team adhere to the same values, beliefs and policies - the principles that were written when Transcendit first formed in 2000. Whether you come to us for cloud services or recovery backup you can be confident that you'll always receive the same excellent service.

The Transcendit way outlines how we do business; following the same straightforward principles with every client and customer, regardless of how big or small they may be.

That means we get to know you and your business. We offer you a friendly, professional and efficient service, and we'll always be honest with you.
We understand that not everybody speaks fluent IT, so we try to explain things in a way that is simple and clear. We always spend as much time as is necessary explaining things to you.
If you need to talk to us about something, no matter how insignificant, we are only ever a phone call away – and we’re never too busy to make you a cup of tea and have a sit down with you in person.
We understand how frustrating it can be when things are late. When we schedule an appointment with you, we are there when you’re expecting us. If something prevents us from getting there, we always call you in advance to let you know.
Sometimes things can go wrong, but we never lie to you or try to cover something up. If things go askew we tell you what’s happened and how we plan to prevent it affecting your business.
We want you to continuously benefit from working with us. We regularly discuss your business and make suggestions for improving systems and processes wherever we can – but we never try to push you into a purchase.
When we quote a fixed price, that's always the amount we charge – you won’t find any nasty surprises on a bill from us. If you are paying by time and materials, we inform you if our approximations could change.
We understand the importance of privacy for your business and your customers. We respect the confidentiality of your data, and we will never pass on your information to third parties.
We appreciate it when you take the time to give us feedback. A system called CustomerSure records our client's responses, so you can trust that our reviews are from real people.
Find out what they're saying here.
Your team have been superb! Quick to respond. No hassle. They just get on with the job. After a well-planned and executed Microsoft 365 migration I have been firing out emails as teething problems have arisen and they have turned the requests around pronto. Not to mention being carried out in a friendly yet professional manner. Just amazing performance! Rosie Malcolm-MacEwan

Based on 12075 reviews our customers rate us 9.8/10. Reviews and ratings by Customersure. 09-October-2024

Transcendit are proud sponsors of CHUF, the Children's Heart Unit Fund.

Transcendit is a Living Wage employer
Transcendit is a Microsoft Gold certified partner
VMWARE partner
Vipre partner
IPCortex partner
WithSecure partner
DELL partner
Barracuda partner
Veeam partner
N-Able partner