Microsoft Office

[bednobs]

want to buy the above (well, not really want to, more "got to")
have they changed it recently? It seems like you can only buy it on yearly/monthly subscription? Surely that can't be right?

[THECORBYLOON]

There's Office Home and Student here, http://office.microsoft.com/en-GB/home-and-student/

[Buenchico]

Are you sure that you actually need Microsoft Office? Many public bodies (such as Government offices and police forces) ceased using it years ago. The most popular free alternative (by far) is Apache OpenOffice:
https://www.openoffice.org/

Other alternatives (which are also very well-reviewed) include Libre Office 4:
http://www.libreoffice.org/
and Kingsoft's WPS Office Free 2014::
http://www.kingsoftstore.com/kingsoft-office-freeware.html

All three of those office suites can open and edit documents in Microsoft Office formats. They can also save into Microsoft Office formats but, unless you change the default settings (which use their own proprietary formats), you need to remember to use 'Save as', rather than 'Save'. However changing the default settings (so that documents are automatically saved into Microsoft Office formats) isn't difficult. Here's how to do it in Apache OpenOffice:
http://helpdeskgeek.com/office-tips/set-openof%EF%AC%81ce-org-to-save-in-microsoft-of%EF%AC%81ce-format-by-default/

[THECORBYLOON]

Not all Departments have stopped using Office, we've recently upgraded to 2010...

[Prudie]

Well my lot must be well behind the times as we've just been upgraded to Office 2010. Have you asked your employers if you can get a reduced rate by the way?

[boxtops]

Are you still NHS, bednobs? We used to be able to get staff rates on this sort of thing (well, in Ye Olde Dayes, that is).

[bednobs]

yes, i am NHS, however, they withdrew the license for home use, Which we had free) a few years ago

[bednobs]

ps chris, we also still use it :)

[mjwman]

Just use Open Office for free and save your cash. It has worked fine for me for years and is regularly updated.

[Jennifermeria]

Microsoft office are many provide the tools .it manage the all infromation