The truth is that back in May, Microsoft decided to freeze the code for Office 365-a continually updated subscription version of Office-and issue that as Office 2019. Not trying real hard to sell us on the whole Office 2019 deal, are they? Scroll down a bit past two whole feature points (“create with ease” and “simplify your work”), and you get to this:
But it also starts digging at you a little bit and making it clear that you’re missing out if you’re not going with Office 365. Microsoft clearly designed Office 2019 as a stop gap for companies that aren’t ready to move to a subscription-based model. That screenshot above is from Microsoft’s Office 2019 landing page, and it starts right off with equivocating language: “For customers who aren’t ready for the cloud” is partly straight talk and partly subtle dark pattern manipulation. Microsoft Is Clearly Downplaying Office 2019 Why not avoid a subscription fee for Office 365 and buy a perpetual license? Well, there are a few reasons. The consumer version, Office Home & Business 2019, isn’t available yet, but Microsoft has announced the price-$249. You make a one time purchase, and you get to keep on using it as long as you want-on one PC or Mac. It’s just like Office was in the days before the subscription-based Office 365 was in play. Office 2019 is the stand-alone, perpetual license version of Office.
