Larry Magid: Paying forever? Subscriptions are taking over tech

There was a time when you only bought things, and once you owned them, there were no additional fees. For years, I owned my copy of Microsoft Office and got to use it indefinitely, only upgrading when I decided I wanted a newer version. Now, for most users, it’s a subscription model. Although there are discounts for teachers and students, most individuals typically pay around $70 a year for Microsoft 365 Personal. Families can subscribe to Microsoft 365 Family for about $100 a year, which covers up to six people.