MS office alternative
 

Well, welcome to my new desk top.
My old Dell 460 was getting a little slow after 9 years and I was getting warning signs of an eventual melt down.
My issue is this: I really don't want to pay Mr. Gates another 300 clams to run word, excel and outlook.
I use excel daily but on a very basic spreadsheet template. In the field I use a netbook and have loaded Open Office and it works OK but has some serious glitches when I try to edit with it.

I have heard of Google documents but don't know anything about it. Also I am not always able to get get internet in the field or when traveling abroad.
I love Outlook and have used it for eons.
1) Is there a good alternative to outlook that gives a calender and drag / drop folder options?
2) Excel compatible option? is the pay version of O office better?
3) Word?
4) or do I just pony up the dough and buy office 2010?

Do you work somewhere that has a fair amount of Windows+Office machines? If so they may have a volume licensing agreement that gets employees cheap copies of Office. Under our EA at work we get a home use license for employees for $10. Worth asking your IT folks. Aside form that, Open Office is the best alternative to MS Office I've found.

Self employed Cory. i am the IT department. unfortunately. The student version doesn't have Outlook. I am looking at Thunderbird. anyone use it?

I use http://www.libreoffice.org/ on my ubunutu netbook. Seems sweet

The loss in productivityy is not worth the savings. There's nothing quite like Outlook, even with its warts.

Got access to a .edu email addy? http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/...e/default.aspx

Open office is the best free thing I've seen...

My fiance's computer needed a overhaul and got windows 7 from a buddy - and then downloaded windows office 07 (I think 07 - the newest versions) and crack from a torrent and works good as ever... and was freeeeeeeeeeeee.

I tried open office for her but she uses a lot if being a communications major and stubborn so she demeaned I get office for her.

Sent you a PM

openoffice.org

Thank you wakeworld.
The issue has been resolved beyond my expectations.
In the interim I learned to use Open Office with more dexterity and found Modzilla Thunderbird is a really good email manager that I would be happy with going forward.
thanks again
John

open office duude