I was working on an Excel file this evening at one computer while Shannon worked at the other computer, on which I'd already opened an Excel file. Suddenly, up popped a window saying that the number of users of MS Office applications had exceeded the number of licenses for Office and please click here for more information. As I did so, Excel shut down, thankfully saving my doc on the way out.
Reading the clicked-through content on Microsoft's "Mactopia" site, I discover that MS Office is not only a crummy set of office-work applications, but a little bit of spyware that's using my home network against me:
"Microsoft Office searches the network for other installations of Office that are using the same product ID. If it finds one, it displays a message. Office displays this message when it detects another computer on the network that is running a copy of Office and has the same product ID as your copy of Office. Generally, running duplicate copies of Office on more than one computer is not permitted by the Office software license terms. The license terms for Office allow you to install your licensed copy of Office on a single computer, such as a desktop computer or workstation. The license terms also allow you, as the primary user of that computer, to install a second copy on your portable computer, such as a laptop, for your own personal use. If you are running your licensed copy of Office on both a desktop computer and a portable computer at the same time, and both computers are connected to the same network, you will see this message."
So I had to quit the other Excel file in order to reopen the one on my computer. What a sleazy little operation, especially because in fact I am using the application on just two machines - my old laptop (call it Desky) and my new one (Porty). I love MIcrosoft.