ChatterBank0 min ago
Microsoft Office 365
I have a new HP computer with Microsoft Office 365 and the trial period is ending. Microsoft want £80/annum to continue using the system.
On Windows 7 I used Microsoft Office Starter Pack which was free and sufficient for my limited needs. Is it possible to get the same thing, or similar, free on Windows 8? I only need Word/Excel and Outlook Express.
On Windows 7 I used Microsoft Office Starter Pack which was free and sufficient for my limited needs. Is it possible to get the same thing, or similar, free on Windows 8? I only need Word/Excel and Outlook Express.
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No best answer has yet been selected by Supermike. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Office suites are very much a matter of taste. Try downloading OpenOffice. It's a very powerful office suite, it will read and write Microsoft files (and a huge number of other formats) and it's free. If you don't like it, you can simply delete it. I prefer it to Microsoft Office although there are plenty who disagree - especially Bill Gates. http:// www.ope noffice .org/do wnload/ index.h tml
I'm unaware of anything similar from Microsoft for Windows 8 but there are several free alternatives. My post here provides more information:
http:// www.the answerb ank.co. uk/Tech nology/ Compute rs/Ques tion130 8849.ht ml
The most popular (free) alternative to Outlook Express, as an email client, is Thunderbird:
https:/ /www.mo zilla.o rg/en-G B/thund erbird/
http://
The most popular (free) alternative to Outlook Express, as an email client, is Thunderbird:
https:/
PS If you're only using Outlook as an email client, get Windows Live Mail which comes free from the Microsoft site (provided you have a legal version of Windows) http:// windows .micros oft.com /en-gb/ windows -live/e ssentia ls-othe r#essen tials=o verview other When you run the installation routine, you can decline Skydiver and Writer.
Hi Supermike.
This is the one you can buy for a one-off payment: http:// office. microso ft.com/ en-GB/h ome-and -studen t/
Check out your old version of office and see if you can find the product key - it's possible you'll be able to download a version of the software with it.
Older versions of office will be available in some shops. The 2010 version is quite good enough for most people. You might pay about £80 for it in this case.
You might even be able to find a 2007 product key somewhere - and you can get the software here: http:// www.mic rosoft. com/off ice/dow nloads/ and use the product key to activate it.
I'm very fond of the 365 version myself.
This is the one you can buy for a one-off payment: http://
Check out your old version of office and see if you can find the product key - it's possible you'll be able to download a version of the software with it.
Older versions of office will be available in some shops. The 2010 version is quite good enough for most people. You might pay about £80 for it in this case.
You might even be able to find a 2007 product key somewhere - and you can get the software here: http://
I'm very fond of the 365 version myself.
A wise choice, Supermike. (I've got OpenOffice on my netbook and I love it).
Just a (hopefully) helpful hint though:
By default, OpenOffice saves files in its own formats, which are NOT compatible with Microsoft Office formats. (e.g. it save word processor files with the extension .ODF, rather than with .DOC). So if you simply click 'Save' and then email your file to someone using Microsoft Office, they won't be able to view it. The trick is to select 'Save As' and then choose a Microsoft format from the menu.
However that can get tedious. A far better solution is to change the default settings, so that files are AUTOMATICALLY saved using Microsoft formats (simply by clicking on 'Save'). The instructions you'll need are here:
http:// voices. yahoo.c om/how- set-ope noffice -writer -save-a s-micro soft-11 017880. html
Just a (hopefully) helpful hint though:
By default, OpenOffice saves files in its own formats, which are NOT compatible with Microsoft Office formats. (e.g. it save word processor files with the extension .ODF, rather than with .DOC). So if you simply click 'Save' and then email your file to someone using Microsoft Office, they won't be able to view it. The trick is to select 'Save As' and then choose a Microsoft format from the menu.
However that can get tedious. A far better solution is to change the default settings, so that files are AUTOMATICALLY saved using Microsoft formats (simply by clicking on 'Save'). The instructions you'll need are here:
http://