Microsoft Office

Hi everyone, and please excuse me if I’ve wandered into the wrong subforum or if this discussion has already been 😉
Anyway, I have a bit of a situation regarding Microsoft Office... I recently picked up a laptop running Windows 7, and it came pre-installed with a version of Microsoft Office Starter. It was quite limited from the start—for instance, when using Microsoft Word, there were several features missing that you’d typically expect to see in a full version. Now that the trial period for the Starter edition has expired, I'm basically stuck and can't get anything done in Microsoft Word at all... so I was wondering if anyone knows where I might be able to pick up a legitimate Microsoft Office suite at a decent price, especially since I'm in a bit of a rush to get back to work.
I suppose I could have just kept it short and sweet and simply asked: does anyone know where to find a budget-friendly way to get Microsoft Office? 🙂

I suppose I could have phrased this much more concisely—perhaps even a bit more simply—but really, I’m just looking for the best way to pick up a cheap version of Microsoft Office.

Honestly, just go ahead and install OpenOffice. It's essentially Bill Gates' gift to us all, and frankly, it's remarkably similar to Microsoft Office.

Either LibreOffice, which I guess is better than OpenOffice

I'm also a big fan of that. LibreOffice.
For my day-to-day work, I mostly stick to Microsoft Office 2003, though I do find myself dipping into LibreOffice every now and then—usually just when someone sends me a file I need to open. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time lately working with .docx files. It’s funny how much we rely on them for everything, isn't it? Whether I'm putting together a quick memo or a more detailed report, it feels like the standard way to get things done. I was actually using Microsoft Word earlier today to organize some notes, and it just makes sense given how much everyone uses it. Just one of those little things about modern office life! I was working on this one massive document recently, and I decided to do things by the book. I used LibreOffice and made sure to stick strictly to using styles for everything. Once I finished, I exported the whole thing to a PDF, and honestly? It turned out absolutely perfect! 👍
I wouldn't even hesitate on this one—LibreOffice is totally free, whereas Microsoft Office is just way too expensive.

Jack Hayes said:For most of my work, I tend to stick with Microsoft Office 2003—though I do find myself reaching for LibreOffice every now and then, mostly when someone insists on sending over a docx file or something similar.

You really don't have to.

Nicholas King said:You don't have to.

I get that, really. That's actually why I don't use LO, but when I do end up needing it, it just feels like the most logical way to handle those newer Microsoft Office file formats.

Jack Hayes said:I’m leaning toward LibreOffice myself.
For work, I mostly stick to Microsoft Office 2003, though I do dip into LibreOffice occasionally, mostly because someone inevitably sends over a docx file.

Just download an update for Microsoft Office 2003, and you should be able to open docx files without much trouble.

If you aren't looking to drop serious cash on Microsoft Office, LibreOffice is actually a solid alternative—especially once you get used to an interface that feels much more like Microsoft Office 2003 or those older versions.

Sure, Microsoft still holds the edge on pure quality right now—mainly because their spellcheck is superior and they nail those tiny little details—but LibreOffice is evolving fast. They’re crushing bugs at a rapid pace, and honestly? I think they'll overtake Microsoft Office in terms of quality sooner rather than later. For now, check out this comparison between Microsoft and LibreOffice:
http://www.vikitech.com/9366/libreof...etailed-review

🙂

Joshua Garcia3 said:Just download and upgrade to Office 2003, then you won't have any trouble opening docx files.

I hear you, I really do, but I don't want an upgrade, a viewer, or a whole new suite. Honestly, I don't need anything else when I can just get by perfectly fine using LibreOffice. Okay, maybe I shouldn't have used the word must, but right now, it’s the only solid alternative on my PC. Plus, I’m actually trying to move away from Microsoft Office and use LibreOffice more often. 🙂

Hey,

I need some urgent help here. I'm running Windows 7 Starter and my trial just expired, so now I'm locked out of Microsoft Word. I actually called a friend to try and crack the Windows password for me, but the password isn't working and the whole thing is a total disaster. I have something super important to do right now and I'm stuck. What should I do?

1) Should I just buy a Microsoft Office suite online? Does it arrive instantly or am I going to be waiting around?

2) Or should I just install OpenOffice? If so, which site is the safest to use?

swiftstag said:Greetings,

I find myself in desperate need of some immediate assistance. I am currently running the Windows 7 Starter edition, and my trial period has finally expired, which has effectively locked me out of using Microsoft Word. In a bit of a panic, I called a friend to see if they could bypass the lockout with a password, but predictably, the credentials wouldn't work and the whole attempt was a total bust. Given that I have some urgent matters to attend to right now, I am facing a significant hurdle. I would be most grateful if you could weigh in on which path you would recommend:

1) Should I simply purchase a Microsoft Office suite online? If I go this route, does the access arrive instantly, or is there a waiting period involved?

2) Or would it be more prudent to install OpenOffice instead? If that is the better move, which website would you suggest I use to ensure I'm getting the legitimate version?

Option 2 👍

Just stick to the official website.

Does anyone know if you get immediate access via email when you buy Microsoft Office online, or is there some kind of waiting period? If it’s instant, I’d rather just pull the trigger now instead of messing around with those free alternatives and risking my files getting messed up.

Also, if anyone knows a reliable site where I can actually buy Office without getting ripped off, let me know.

goldenseal49 said:2 👍

on the official website

Thanks, but I’d honestly rather just go with Microsoft Office. Does anyone know if they actually email the license immediately after you pay, or is there some annoying wait time?