What do you get with microsoft office?

Each copy can be loaded on one desktop machine and one portable device, both of which must be owned by you

You get the installation discs.  Each copy can be loaded on two machines.

 

If you get it preinstalled on a new system (OEM) you can only have it on that specific system.
So if you order it on a new Dell for example....that's it...one system.
I usually recommend buying it seperately so you can keep the license if you sell your computer...among other reasons.

..............TD

Actually for Many Customers you dont get re-install CD's unless you specifically ask for them. You get an OS cd but the Office is "pre-installed" and by default does not come with cd's.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/editions/prodinfo/faq.mspx

OEMs can provide the following Office 2003 Editions:

• Office Small Business Edition 2003, with Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager, Microsoft Office PowerPoint® 2003, Microsoft Office Publisher 2003, and Word 2003.
 
• Office Professional Edition 2003, with Access 2003, Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, Outlook 2003 with Business Contact Manager, PowerPoint 2003, Publisher 2003, and Word 2003.
 
• Office Basic Edition 2003, with Excel 2003, Outlook 2003, and Word 2003.

 

There are many instances where Office is pre-installed but No CD's are given with each system to save costs aka site licences where 1 copy of media is used to install multiple pc's.

Determine If You Are Missing Media

Dell urges all customers to carefully check the box for backup
CDs for all of your software on first receipt of a new computer.

Dell can only replace missing media during the first 30 days
of ownership, because of obligations to the software authors.

After the first 30 days of ownership, the only way
to replace media is to purchase new copies or upgrade copies.