Do I need to buy laptop software?

[tennisplyr]

I are looking to buy a new inexpensive laptop (under $500) and was wondering what software do I need to buy? Specifically I have an old Dell and had to buy Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PP) and think it's too old for a new laptop. Will I have to buy a new Windows software package or does it come with it. I think Google has comparable word processing/spreadsheet applications, would they be compatible with Office software? Sorry if I'm rambling or am being unclear.

[JoeRetire]

Buy a Chromebook and use Google apps.

[bogleblitz]

No, you do not need to buy laptop software. You can use google docs which is like microsoft word at https://docs.google.com

[aristotelian]

You can open MS Word in Google Docs but it has trouble saving documents in MS Word format.

There is now an online version of MS Word so you do not need to buy the software unless you need the advanced functionality of the full version.

Is this for personal use?

[tennisplyr]

This is for low key, personal use. DW needs to be able to open docs from friends. Talking basic here. I need to be able to print things, don't have another laptop or desktop.

[Toons]

Chromebook
A couple of fine choices.
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Chromebo ... chromebook

https://www.amazon.com/Chromebook-C202S ... 2470955011

How to print with chromebook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Qkw-9OHIQ

[Alexa9]

If you don't know what software you need, you probably don't need it!
Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Linux, they're all great in their own ways.
Windows: most susceptible to viruses, best for gaming and software
Mac: nice interface, pricy
Chromebook: cheap, simple, basic
Linux: simple, customizable, works great on old hardware (might put on your old laptop)

[go_mets]

If you have a Microsoft email account as I do, I get basic versions of Word and Excel and OneNote and Powerpoint online for free.

https://office.live.com/start/Word.aspx?auth=1
https://office.live.com/start/Excel.aspx?auth=1
https://office.live.com/start/PowerPoint.aspx?auth=1


.

[AllMostThere]

Look at LibreOffice. It's a totally free suite of office products that IMO mirror MS Office with same functionality. I've been using it of years without issue. Go to https://www.libreoffice.org/

[cutterinnj]

You can get a perfectly decent Chromebook laptop for MUCH less than $500. It will have all the software you would need; The google office suite has become very powerful (and is free.)

If you go with a Windows machine (which you can also get for less than $500, you can still use Google Suite. You could also try Libre Office, which is similar to Office, but also free.

There's probably no reason to buy any software.

[RetiredAL]

... had to buy Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PP) and think it's too old for a new laptop.

Office 2007 or later will run on Win10. So if you have the CD for Office 2007 or later, just install it and then Windows will update it.

Do note that LibreOffice is an excellent alternate. I use that on my drag around ( travel ) laptop. Just understand when saving a file, you will need to tell it which version of Office to save to as the default is not an Office format. It's public domain user group supported so it's pretty up-to-date with Office.

[edvest]

Linux: simple, customizable, works great on old hardware (might put on your old laptop)

We have a ms server with exchange and 15 workstations. Could I use Linux to replace MS? The network has, and does not need any internet/cloud connection.

Tu, Tennisplyr, Alexa and all!

[Turbo29]

Linux: simple, customizable, works great on old hardware (might put on your old laptop)

Indeed, I have a 10 year old HP laptop running Ubuntu and it works fine. Posting on it now.

Haven't booted up the Windows partition in 5 years.

[Turbo29]

duplicate

[Alexa9]

We have a ms server with exchange and 15 workstations. Could I use Linux to replace MS? The network has, and does not need any internet/cloud connection.
Tu, Tennisplyr, Alexa and all!

What exactly do you do with these workstations? You might get more feedback on a Linux forum about what you can/can't do coming from Windows.
Linux is free and fairly easy to use once you get the hang of it. I'd recommend Linux Mint.
https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=254
https://forums.linuxmint.com/
Make a bootable USB using Rufus and it's fairly simple to install.
You can partition your drive to test it out or just run it on the USB to make sure it works to your satisfaction.

[edvest]

What exactly do you do with these workstations?

Write letters in ms word, internal email with ms outlook on the workstations and ms exchange, which holds the mail on the server, a man'f application, some excel and old paradox databases.
What usually happens is the server dies and the vender comes in and install all newer ms stuff. $10k +.

[Alexa9]

Write letters in ms word, internal email with ms outlook on the workstations and ms exchange, which holds the mail on the server, a man'f application, some excel and old paradox databases.
What usually happens is the server dies and the vender comes in and install all newer ms stuff. $10k +.

That sounds fairly basic. You might ask your IT guy about it but they probably won't like the idea of it because it's free. Linux uses LibreOffice rather than Microsoft Office unless you use Wine to run Windows programs. It might take some getting used to and there will likely be some hiccups setting it up but may be a good move long term. https://www.ubuntu.com/server
Definitely give it a test run first.

[weltschmerz]

deleted

[tennisplyr]

Look at LibreOffice. It's a totally free suite of office products that IMO mirror MS Office with same functionality. I've been using it of years without issue. Go to https://www.libreoffice.org/

So if I get Word documents sent to me, I can open them through LibreOffice?

[Alexa9]

I see recommendations for Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Chromebooks, etc. I am coming from a Windows machine running Windows 7. What about drivers to run my printer and scanner? I know I need to take action sometime, since Win7 is not supported past next year. I would love to move away from Windows if I can still get my old peripherals to work.

Make a bootable Linux Mint USB and try it out on your current computer for free to test if they work.
https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=254

So if I get Word documents sent to me, I can open them through LibreOffice?

Yes, Google Docs is also a good substitute if you want to store them all online.

[RickBoglehead]

It's unfortunate that while Microsoft was offering free upgrades to Windows 10 from Windows 7 you didn't take it. Have no idea if you dig around online if you can still find that option.

I upgraded several PCs. On other PCs I saved the ability to upgrade so I can when I want to, I still use Windows Media Center, which is part of Windows 7 but not part of Windows 10.

As indicated, many versions of Office will still work fine on Windows 7 or Windows 10. I plan on using Office, installed on my computers, for as long as it is supported with security updates, which is December 31, 2020.

As far as using Google's free online software, one should carefully understand what Google scans for content and what it does not. I have things in my documents and spreadsheets that I will never put online.

[RudyS]

I use OpenOffice for documents, spread sheets, and it works fine with the "standard" Microsoft document files.

[Austintatious]

Chromebook
A couple of fine choices.
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Chromebo ... chromebook

https://www.amazon.com/Chromebook-C202S ... 2470955011

How to print with chromebook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Qkw-9OHIQ

The Samsung model offers 16, 32 and 64 GB options. The ASUS offers 16 and 32 GB options. Do you have any thoughts re how meaningful the differences in those options are, in terms of day-to-day usage?

[mighty72]

What exactly do you do with these workstations?

Write letters in ms word, internal email with ms outlook on the workstations and ms exchange, which holds the mail on the server, a man'f application, some excel and old paradox databases.
What usually happens is the server dies and the vender comes in and install all newer ms stuff. $10k +.

I don't know how much do you need to keep the email on local server. Is it super sensitive information?

I would look into online version of Google office or office 365. For the cost of the server (10k), you will get years of service and you can use any off the shelf laptop or desktop.

[bloom2708]

Office 365 Personal (1 user) is $70 for a year.

Office 365 Home (6 users, kids? parents? It is by Microsoft account) is $100/year.

Each user gets 1 TB of OneDrive space.

https://products.office.com/en-US/compa ... ucts?tab=1

You can try the free options, but sometime sticking with what you are used to for a reasonable price is still worth it.

[VictoriaF]

You can reuse your old Microsoft Office product key on the new laptop.

I like Microsoft Office and don't trust free alternatives. I also don't like the idea of a Chromebook where everything is in the cloud. But of course, this depends on how you are using your MS Office.

Victoria

[LSLover]

If you use Quicken you need Windows laptop. At least for now...

[Toons]

Chromebook
A couple of fine choices.
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Chromebo ... chromebook

https://www.amazon.com/Chromebook-C202S ... 2470955011

How to print with chromebook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Qkw-9OHIQ

The Samsung model offers 16, 32 and 64 GB options. The ASUS offers 16 and 32 GB options. Do you have any thoughts re how meaningful the differences in those options are, in terms of day-to-day usage?

Those are all storage capabilities on the chromebook itself.
It all depends on what one stores on the chromebook.
Personally I only need 16 gig as I store most everything on Google Drive.
No need for local storage.
On another note ,I would purchase the device that offers 4gig of ram as opposed to 2.

[Austintatious]

Chromebook
A couple of fine choices.
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Chromebo ... chromebook

https://www.amazon.com/Chromebook-C202S ... 2470955011

How to print with chromebook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Qkw-9OHIQ

The Samsung model offers 16, 32 and 64 GB options. The ASUS offers 16 and 32 GB options. Do you have any thoughts re how meaningful the differences in those options are, in terms of day-to-day usage?

Those are all storage capabilities on the chromebook itself.
It all depends on what one stores on the chromebook.
Personally I only need 16 gig as I store most everything on Google Drive.
No need for local storage.
On another note ,I would purchase the device that offers 4gig of ram as opposed to 2.

thanks

[feh]

Look at LibreOffice. It's a totally free suite of office products that IMO mirror MS Office with same functionality. I've been using it of years without issue. Go to https://www.libreoffice.org/

+1

For both windows and linux.

[sunny_socal]

Look at LibreOffice. It's a totally free suite of office products that IMO mirror MS Office with same functionality. I've been using it of years without issue. Go to https://www.libreoffice.org/

+1

For both windows and linux.

I can't stand Open/Libre-office. Office docs don't look good IME.

Spring for the real office if necessary, else use google docs.

[Earl Lemongrab]

I can't stand Open/Libre-office. Office docs don't look good IME.

Spring for the real office if necessary, else use google docs.

At least for spreadsheets, they look almost the same to me. I had developed my portfolio managing sheet under Excel, but it ported into OpenOffice with little trouble. Oddly, in Libre some of the formulas don't work. Searching online, it seems that sometimes it can "see" circular references that aren't really there.

I would suggest that before spending money on Microsoft, that anyone interested try the open source versions first.

[michaeljc70]

It sounds like a Chromebook or Google Docs will work for your needs. If you get a Windows laptop, there are cheap options to get Office. I bought Office 2016 Pro Plus online, which I believe to be legit, for around $30. I found it on a popular deal site and was able to register it with Microsoft more than a year ago and have had no issues.

The one issue you could have, and it is unlikely if you are opening basic documents, is Office macros won't work on competing products.