It was possible to download an installer from Microsoft 15 years ago (except MSDN)? For most people getting Office meant trip to the store and getting a box with physical CD.
A link to download an Office Trial, which at the time was just the full version of office which worked without a key for a trial period.
I seem to recall there was an online store for Office to purchase a key.
Though, I suspect you're right, most people probably bought a box back then. These days, I'd expect the average consumer to use the preloaded Office stubs on new PCs.
This seems like a symptom of forgetting 2006 was 15 years ago. I did the math this time but if someone off hand mentions 20 years ago I still think of the 90s.
Ha, you're right, I might have overshot my time period a little. I was thinking Windows 7 era, plus some late Vista/XP. Wikipedia tells me Windows 7 was released in 2009, so my statement would probably hold better if I'd said "around 10 years ago". But on the whole I think it's close enough :)
https://web.archive.org/web/20060430185620/http://g.msn.com/...
A link to download an Office Trial, which at the time was just the full version of office which worked without a key for a trial period.
I seem to recall there was an online store for Office to purchase a key.
Though, I suspect you're right, most people probably bought a box back then. These days, I'd expect the average consumer to use the preloaded Office stubs on new PCs.