I’ve posted here about the trials of trying to install photoshop but that was a cake-walk compared to the treatment from Microsoft. I bought Microsoft Visio at the same time, and I’ve recently tried to save some visio wireframes as a PDF, as my client doesn’t have Visio.
The help menu tells me I need to install a plugin to my copy of Visio. No problems, off to the Microsoft site I go to install it and run the plugin. Then this error message appeared:
When I expanded for more details I was informed that I could uninstall Office so I could validate my use of the plugin.
I take particular exception to this error as my copy of Office (and indeed all my Microsoft programs) are legitimate and I have serial numbers and receipts for everything. But Microsoft won’t give me the opportunity to input these anywhere or even try to validate my purchases. Oh no. I have to uninstall Office from my computer if I’d like to export my Visio file as a PDF.
Why does Microsoft insist on treating its users as criminals or software pirates? It’s is particularly grating as I travel to Asia quite frequently and I could easily pick up copies of their software for a few dollars, and these give me less hassle than legitimately purchased discs. Really, what is the incentive to pay thousands of dollars for software when I’m treated as badly as if I bought the pirated versions?
A slap on the wrist for you Microsoft - go to your room and don’t come out until you can respect your users.
This post is tagged under: Usability
Stuff like this makes me glad when people use pirated versions of anything Microsoft. You cannot ignore your users frustrations and just keep alienating them.
It also compels me to buy software that does think of the end user. My latest purchase of any major software (Swift 3D) justified the cost. Easy installation, great support and a great community of users on the forums / blogs.
Also supporting little apps means a lot more to me when I see this type of ignorance going on with the major players.