Access 2024 (2 Viewers)

[Dave E]

I'm using Office Pro 2010 and thought I might upgrade to a non-subscription MS Office Pro Plus 2024.
Does anyone know if the Access version is a 2024 version and are there many changes since 2010?
For ~£30 it's a steal. Is it?

 

[GPGeorge]

"For ~£30 it's a steal. Is it?"

And why would you think that?

Is it because the full retail is $179.00 (US), or ~ £133?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/access/CFQ7TTC0PD0B

Perhaps, when a deal seems like a steal, it really is just that.

 

[DHookom]

I'm using Office Pro 2010 and thought I might upgrade to a non-subscription MS Office Pro Plus 2024.
Does anyone know if the Access version is a 2024 version and are there many changes since 2010?
For ~£30 it's a steal. Is it?

I have purchased one or more of these from legitimate sources and have had no issues.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I bought my Office 2021 LTSC at a considerably reduced price vs. outright retail. My source was a Canadian online vendor whom I was able to research (as to reputation). All items were of the appropriate "vintage" and I've had no problems at all. Do a little up-front diligence and you might find that the company is legitimate.

 

[GPGeorge]

The key is that you will be buying an LTSC licensed copy, with all the rights and restrictions that entails. Specifically, it is my understanding that LTSC licenses are NOT intended to be resold at retail. They are sold to an organization, to be used within that organization.

Overview of Office LTSC 2024 - Office

Provides IT admins with an overview of deploying Office LTSC 2024.

learn.microsoft.com

"Office Long Term Service Channel (LTSC) 2024 is the most recent on-premises edition of Microsoft's core productivity apps, designed for use in disconnected or restricted environments. It's available to organizations through volume licensing agreements"

Microsoft Office | Microsoft Volume Licensing

Explore Microsoft Office licensing options. Empower your organization with essential tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to boost productivity and collaboration.

www.microsoft.com

"Office Long Term Service Channel (LTSC) 2024 is the most recent on-premises edition of Microsoft's core productivity apps, designed for use in disconnected or restricted environments. It's available to organizations through volume licensing agreements"

Office LTSC Licensing Guidance

Explore licensing for Microsoft Office LTSC, designed for regulated environments with long-term support needs.

www.microsoft.com

You may interpret it differently, but I can't see any loophole that allows a vendor to purchase an LTSC license and then resell individual licenses to the general public under that agreement.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Nonetheless, I as an individual and clearly presenting myself as such got a 2021 LTSC Office license.

 

[RonPaii]

Nonetheless, I as an individual and clearly presenting myself as such got a 2021 LTSC Office license.

This from CoPilot.

ME > Is a 2021 ltsc office license legal to sold and used by individuals?

Here’s the clear, grounded answer based on what Microsoft publicly states and what your question implies.

Is an Office 2021 LTSC license legal for individuals to buy and use?​

Short answer:​

Office 2021 LTSC is not intended for individual consumers. It is a commercial, volume‑licensed product, and Microsoft sells it only to organizations — not to private individuals.

However, using it as an individual can be legal only if the license was originally obtained through legitimate volume licensing and properly transferred, which is rare and often not what grey‑market sellers offer.

What Microsoft says​

Microsoft’s own documentation states that Office LTSC is a product for commercial customers and is distributed through volume licensing.Consumer customers are instead directed to Office 2021 Home & Student or Home & Business editions.

This means:

• Microsoft does not sell LTSC licenses directly to individuals.
• LTSC licenses are perpetual, but tied to volume licensing agreements, which individuals normally cannot enter.

So is it legal to​

​

• The license comes from a legitimate volume licensing agreement.
• The seller has the legal right to resell it (e.g., in the EU, used software resale is allowed under specific conditions).
• The license transfer includes proper documentation proving legitimacy.

​

• The license is a “key-only” sale with no documentation.
• It comes from MSDN, education, or corporate keys being illegally resold.
• It is a MAK key being sold repeatedly (common scam).
• It is advertised as “lifetime” or “retail” — LTSC is neither.

Most cheap LTSC keys online fall into the illegal or non‑compliant category.

 

[GPGeorge]

I think it's a grey area and most such reseller offers probably do skirt the edges of their licensing agreements with Microsoft.

On a different, but related topic. I am now party to two different class action lawsuits against AI companies for downloading books from pirated online libraries. Basically, the online pirates stole the books (mostly as PDFs) and offered them free or at minimal cost. The AI companies took advantage of those huge libraries to train their AIs. So, in essence, OpenAI, Meta, xAI, Perplexity and Anthropic re-stole stolen copyrighted materials. Two of the books I authored or co-authored are in those libraries and subject to compensation, should any materialize at the end of the lawsuits.

I don't expect more than a couple hundred dollars when all is said and done, if that much. The attorneys are going to do well though.

The point is that the internet has long been a wild, wild west for bad actors. Just because you can find great deals out there doesn't mean they're legit deals.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

To clarify the situation, my copy of Office 2021 LTSC was obtain in 2024, when a newer version was available but only at full price. Which means that I got what book-sellers refer to as a "remaindered" copy.

 

[June7]

are there many changes since 2010

I went from 2010 to 2021 and there were a few changes, most of which didn't matter to me. Let's see what I can remember:
1. pivot table/form/chart removed
2. Collect Data removed
3. Modern Chart added (can still create old MSGraph chart object)
4. changes with Outlook means I can no longer use CDO code for personal account (although I can for Gmail)

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I went from 2010 to 2021 and there were a few changes, most of which didn't matter to me. Let's see what I can remember:
1. pivot table/form/chart removed
2. Collect Data removed
3. Modern Chart added (can still create old MSGraph chart object)
4. changes with Outlook means I can no longer use CDO code for personal account (although I can for Gmail)

In my copy of 2021, I was able to install "Classic Outlook" so didn't need to play games with CDO.

 

[Dave E]

Thanks for all the advice and info, guys. The one advertised doesn't appear to be an LTSC version; My current software is an LTSC version as I had worked for the local uni and got it for free. I will do a little more research and see ehat comes up...

Dave

 

[isladogs]

For a list of all changes in each version of Access, see my article

A Trip Down Memory Lane

This article reviews the main changes in Access features and appearance from its first release in 1992 through to the current day.

isladogs.co.uk

 

[DHookom]

For a list of all changes in each version of Access, see my article

A Trip Down Memory Lane

This article reviews the main changes in Access features and appearance from its first release in 1992 through to the current day.

isladogs.co.uk

Great page Colin. I started using Access V1.1 and kept using new features until v97. Almost every application I have created since ignore newer features.

 

[June7]

I bought MS Office Pro 2021 couple years ago from Flixeasy for $20. I had no issues. Here is what Bing search said about Flixeasy:

Flixeasy is generally considered a legitimate source for Microsoft Office software.

• Many users report positive experiences, noting quick delivery and effective support.
• Flixeasy is described as a trusted Microsoft partner, offering genuine software keys and a money-back guarantee.
• However, some users have raised concerns about activation issues and the validity of keys, indicating that experiences may vary.
• It's advisable to read reviews and ensure you understand the activation process before purchasing.

Overall, while many customers have had satisfactory experiences, it's important to proceed with caution and verify the legitimacy of the keys you receive.

 

[Cotswold]

As I understand it when I buy a license and the online Access install from one of these companies it is a one-off fee.
One company I have used has had the same name and email for ten years that I know about. So do presume they are legal copies.

1. If I install by mistake as 64bit instead of 32bit, then I have to buy another copy to install a 32bit version.
2. If I want to replace a PC then I have to buy another copy of Access.

My Access2010 on a CD has no such restrictions.

I understand that if I bought Access direct from Microsoft that 1 & 2 above will still apply. Buying copies at five times the cost, just for personal use and interest is out of the question. I have no problem with £20-£30 every few years. Access365 is too expensive for the two or three PCs that I'll use due to the annual charges. I certainly would never pay £210 a year for three licenses when I can buy an odd licence every five years or more for less than £30 each.

I have copies of Access2019 32bit on two PCs and Access2021 64bit on another but wouldn't have any at full list price. I'd be using Harbour based software for free and suffer the loss of productivity. When I was in business, I ran on Access2000 for ten years before buying Acess2010 and still have that on one PC.

Plus, when AI comes of age in maybe 10-20 years, will Access and PCs even exist? Presumably Microsoft will want to control what you do and how you do it, with their own AI systems. Programmers will just be better at getting AI to do what they want, than most other people will be. Maybe programming as we know it, together with Access is destined to join the wheelwright, the farrier and the spinning jenny in the museum?

 

[dalski]

I've purchased many licenses from Google's search results (not directly from the manufacturer). I wouldn't consider the firm's 'retail price' of a firm with an annual turnover of $282 billion to be what they pretend it to be; if that was an accurate reflection of it's true value they would not be one of the most profitable companies in the universe. I would consider it to be what the competitive search results indicate; Office Pro Plus circa £10-20. I've purchased licenses & adhered to their conditions legally in this manner with different applications which still run fine (as they are genuine legal copies).

Google are/ should be responsible for ensuring their results are compliant (especially in the tech industry which they are directly involved in & regardless of any industry they provide a search result for). If software developers do not want these out there they should not be selling to independent retailers & I'm unsure as to how they are getting-away-with not supporting customers whom purchase through a different retailer. As with any purchase, shop around. I've rarely had a problem with a purchase, always go through Paypal, or a minimum a Credit Card so you are protected with a Section-75 claim (used to be a solid precautionary measure but they make it more superfluous nowadays); Paypal is/ was better/ quicker for reimbursement.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

1. If I install by mistake as 64bit instead of 32bit, then I have to buy another copy to install a 32bit version.
2. If I want to replace a PC then I have to buy another copy of Access.

Yes, the licenses are not transferable. However, the Canadian company I went through allowed me to de-install everything and download the correct bitness for Office 2021 LTSC. They issued new installation keys and "took back" the old keys as part of an "even exchange" program - I guess because they had a customer satisfaction guarantee of 90 days. Which was pretty decent of them. So your point #1, while true, MIGHT not be all of the story. I don't believe you are wrong about your point #2.