Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
If you do have a "retail" type license, it will allow you to install on up to 2 machines at the SAME time (3 for home and student). In that case all you have to do is install and activate on the new machine.
Do the disks include term "Backup" in the title? It is possible to have an OEM installation and Official "Backup" installation disks.
There is no price discounted "upgrade" version to 2010 like there was up to and including 2007 that required a "qualifying" earlier application to install. All 2010 licenses are standalone. So, if you intend to end up with 2010, you might as well skip installing 2007 and go directly to 2010.
If you can install and activate 2007 you might as well use it. The differences between 2007 and 2010 for a single user are very limited. If you haven't needed them up to now, you probably don't need them. Most of the changes in 2010 focused on "collaboration", allowing more than one user to edit the file at the same time.
There are a couple of advantages to buying Office 2010 right now. I have seen it offered price discounted to get rid of stock before 2013 is released. I have seen 2010 Home and Student retail licenses as low as US$80 offered online (down from US$140).
The other advantage of buying 2010 right now is that you will almost certainly qualify for the 2013 "Pre-Launch offer". You can get a "free" copy of Office 2013 when it comes out. Depending on which 2010 bundle you buy you can get a local install 1-computer 2013 license, or 3-12 month Office 365 subscriptions.
2012 09 19 Office 2013 “Pre-Launch Offer” / Technical Upgrade Details and Terms (email reminder registration)
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/offer/
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/offer/pre-launch-offer-details-and-terms-FX102902434.aspx
The "offer" gives you a "free" copy of Office 2013 when it is released.
This page includes a “registration” to get an automatic email when 2013 is available to download.
READ the FINE PRINT carefully, Office 2013 license terms have changed substantially, don’t assume you know the terms! Ie All 2013 retail licenses are now for one computer, even if your original 2010 license was for 3 computers (Home and Student Retail). There is some discussion whether the “Offer” is an “upgrade” that replaces the 2010 license, or an “Offer” that allows you to continue to run both
- Eligibility Period – from October 19, 2012 to April 30, 2013: You must purchase, install, and activate your Office 2010 or Office for Mac 2011 product. You may sign up at Office.com/offer to be notified by email when the products are ready for download.
- Redemption Period – from the availability dates of the new Office to May 31, 2013: If you signed up, you will receive an email from Microsoft when the new Office is ready for download. You must redeem the offer at Office.com/offer within the redemption period.
2012 10 17- Microsoft Office 365: More new packages and prices coming in November
- Office 365 Home Premium
- Office 365 Small Business(no local install of Pro Plus)
- Office 365 Small Business Premium (local install of Pro Plus)
- Office 365 ProPlus
- Office 365 Midsize Business
- Office 365 Enterprise
2012 09 17- MS Announcement The new Office 365 subscriptions for consumers and small businesses – Technical Upgrade package
Starting October 19, people who purchase Office 2010 or Office for Mac 2011 will qualify to download, for free, one year of Office 365 Home Premium or the equivalent Office 2013 offering, when available. Small business customers in applicable markets will also be eligible for a three-month trial of Office 365 Small Business Premium.
Subscription features and details are available here. In the coming months, we'll share information about Office 365 Enterprise and other business offerings.
* OneNote, Access and Publisher available for PC only.
NOTE: Pricing for 2013 has been announced and it is substantially MORE expensive for “retail licenses” than the 2010 equivalent because they are really pushing people to go with the “rental” scheme, that will cost you more money in the long term.
2012 09 17- Will a household license convince you to go with Office in the cloud? - $100/yr