Do I need Microsoft Office?

[The Black Wolf]

I am a college student and I was wondering should I purchase Microsoft Office which includes programs like Microsoft Word and Power Point? I am unsure, my new computer has Microsoft Starter or something, but is it necessary to buy the full version?

[-Kwesnoth-]

Its a nice thing to have, but it is not necessary. There are freeware versions of anything in Office.

Such as abiword. Thats the only thing I use for college.

[Dave-The-Rave]

I refuse to pay for Office, a package that I feel should come as standard with all copies of Windows.

[[DT]]

There are a few reasons you might need MS Office:

You need guaranteed interoperability with other MSO users. Simple docs will generally port over but anything with macros/VBA, complex embedded objects between apps, it's a bit of a crapshoot.

You need more features/power than the freeware/cheaper alternatives. This usually isn't an issue for college papers, or mild spreadsheet work, but serious tech docs, complex worksheets, MSO is way ahead of other apps.

If you're a student, or through some corporate buying programs, you can score MSO pretty cheap.

[MATRIX 2]

I refuse to pay for Office, a package that I feel should come as standard with all copies of Windows.

That's kind of a hypocritical stance to take.

For multiple reasons.

But the most significant one? Your governments would bleed MS dry if they tried to do so.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

http://www.openoffice.org/ A free version.

[The Black Wolf]

Thanks for the input, guys!

[BoyBettaKnow]

GR beat me to it, Open Office is a great substitute to MSO but it's not quite as good as it. I use OO myself as i don't really want to pay for MSO

[Firefox]

Do not get open office ... not really the same thing anymore with everything that happened with Sun.

LibreOffice now is the ideal one.

http://www.libreoffice.org/

BUT should you get Ms office? Well as long as you save each document in .odt and also .doc... you should be fine.

But... if your courses require more fancier uses of MS word that cannot be replicated in libreoffice.. then just get ms office.

- proud LibreOffice user who did not buy MS office

[The Black Wolf]

I HAVE to get Microsoft Office. I just found out one of my courses requires it.

Thank you guys for the suggestions any way.

[weskurtz81]

You can get the student edition for about $60, not sure why people can't stomach such a low price for a piece of software that can do so much. people spend more than $60 on a pair of stinking jeans... come on!!

[Firefox]

You can get the student edition for about $60, not sure why people can't stomach such a low price for a piece of software that can do so much. people spend more than $60 on a pair of stinking jeans... come on!!

The majority of people do buy Microsoft Office. Haven't really seen anyone who hasn't. The minority that doesn't buy it to use open source software is minimal.

And your point about 60 dollar jeans I don't get... what's wrong with free open source software? I quite like the whole suite and efforts they do so I use it. Can I afford MS office? Yes. But do I need it especially with LibreOffice? No. Of course some people will absolutely need to get Office for the stuff they do and that's not wrong either.

The point is we shouldn't always need to look at paid products... if open source software is out there that fits all our personal tasks.. why pay.

[The Black Wolf]

I got the Academic or University pack for around $100. Maybe I overpayed, but it's better than going to wall mart and paying around $300.

[F34R]

Well, since it is REQUIRED, that answered your question right there lol.

[keefy]

It well worth it MS office it is alot better than the free ones.

[gangsta_795]

OpenOffice is an amazing substitute for MS Office

[keefy]

Its adequate but not amazing try open an office document and see what happens even though they claim it supports them.

[three3-times]

OpenOffice Org. Free and exactly like office

[MedicDog]

It's all a matter of taste really, if you like open office stick with that, but if you prefer MS office, purchase that.

Failing both of those options, there is always The Pirate Bay -shrugs-.

[[DT]]

OpenOffice Org. Free and exactly like office

Exactly as in it provides the core “office apps”, not quite that close as in it lacks a good bit of document portability, the ability to handle complex documents and spreadsheets, etc.

It's all a matter of taste really, if you like open office stick with that, but if you prefer MS office, purchase that.

It’s only a matter of taste if both do what you need, then you can feel free to choose which one you like in terms of price, UI, etc. However, like I posted above (and my original post way above), there’s some usage models where OpenOffice (whichever fork you use...) just is not a substitute.

I’m a supporter of open source (and free options) when it doesn’t impose some limitation on me. In the case of office suites, it’s just not an option for myself and many of my peers.

[dreams]

+1 for open office.

It does everything same as ms word.

You can download it from portableapps.com
I'm currently using it myself since i don't have word installed.

[gangsta_795]

Just d/l it from openoffice.org. No need for 3rd party websites

[PeanutButterMunky]

+1 for OpenOffice. It's good stuff.

[dreams]

Just d/l it from openoffice.org. No need for 3rd party websites

does it really make a difference?

[PeanutButterMunky]

does it really make a difference?

No, it doesn't. FileHippo always has extremely fast servers: http://filehippo.com/download_openoffice/