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Microsoft announces Chip In student PC crowdsourcing program

…Chip In, a new seasonal buying program to help students get the Windows PC or tablet they need for school…students crowdsource contributions from friends and family toward the purchase…

Students can participate in Chip In exclusively at http://www.windowschipin.com …

Chip In runs now through Sept. 1, 2013. To participate, students need a valid .edu email address or documentation to prove enrollment in a university or accredited institution…

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2013/Jun13/06-03WindowsChipInPR.aspx

Though, it appears you must have an eddress that has an “edu” top-level domain.

It can be installed on two computers (Windows or Mac), and some mobile devices.

Office 365 University includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.

“The Office 365 University plan allows you to install Office on up to two PCs or Macs and on up to two smartphones or tablets, for use by a single person.”

The supported operating systems include Windows 7, Windows 8 and Mac OS X 10.6 or later.  But:  “…you can install Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on your Mac…”  (Based on that statement I assume there’s a chance OneNote, Publisher, and Access will not function on a Mac.)

I read:

“Office 365 University is a four-year subscription for full- and part-time enrolled university and college students, faculty, and staff in accredited institutions…”

“After purchasing Office 365 University at a participating retailer…Each eligible user can redeem Office 365 University product once in a three year period and can only activate a maximum of two.”

As I’m understanding it:  you can install it once on two different computers within three years.  What if a computer becomes unuseable?  Or a licensed user wants to remove the product from one computer, and install it onto another?

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The cost of the four-year subscription is only $79.99.  Overall, it seems like a great deal to me…