Do You Have To Purchase

[emmie]

Microsoft word. i have a new laptop which runs windows 10. If i want to type letters etc do i need to purchase Word. 365 or Microsoft Office
I ask because i have typed a couple of documents, and now Microsoft have disabled it.
i am no techie, but i am not paying 70 quid for 1 year as they are telling me.

[Old_Geezer]

I expect you were using a time limited trial Word is a commercial product and would need to be paid for. Microsoft drove the software licensing system until it became a norm. As others suggest, there are alternative office software suites out there.

[bednobs]

You are not being ripped off (well only in the sense that EVERYONE has to pay for word if they want it) whether ms is a rip off is another discussion. Word does not usually come preloaded

[emmie]

as i found out from Jacks post, OG. it installed and i have typed my first letter on it,

[TonyV]

Bit late now emmie, but I run Open office from Apache, every bit as good as windows and free.

[aelmpvw]

^unless i'm confused, i think emmie's done that

[AuntPollyGrey]

I am running Microsoft Office and have thousands of documents saved -5 years accounts, Invoices etc - . If I download Open Office and cancel MO when my subscription is up will I still be able to 'read' the documents created in Word and Excel?

[THECORBYLOON]

The 365 version of office is cloud-based so it's not on your laptop and your paying extra for that facility. I'm looking to get a new laptop and there's no way I'm paying hundreds of pounds more, over the next few years, to use the 365 version.

[aelmpvw]

yes, you can open microsoft office documents in open office

[Peter Pedant]

thank you eferyone
just done it
and saved seventy knicker a year
we;; done boys

[bhg481]

You can also SAVE documents in Word format (use SAVE AS) so you are compatible with other people.

[jennyjoan]

I use Abiword Emmie - it does the job too. Have been very happy with it.

[beso]

TonyV //Bit late now emmie, but I run Open office from Apache, every bit as good as windows and free.//

Open Office is not a substitute for "Windows" but Microsoft Word.

None of the free substitutes is "every bit as good" as Word but they are perfectly fine for most people who barely scratch the surface of what Word can do. Anyone who thinks they are doesn't know much about Word.

[TonyV]

beso I am a competent user of word but will not pay for it. Apache is just as good IMO.

[barry1010]

OpenOffice is old hat and out of favour now. Libre is the much better free option https://www.libreoffice.org/

[bednobs]

ps bobbosox was offering free subscriptions to office 365 the other day

[Peter Pedant]

just down loaded apache and used it
many thanks to all

[TonyV]

OK barry we all have our personal options.

[piggynose]

So beso why is word the bees knees?

[HansUrbancka]

Beso is lost and hasn't a Word to say.!!

[Peter Pedant]

did another one - er made a document that is !
and thought of you all

er that came out wrong - I congratulated you all on opening up openoffice and cursed the greedy bill gates and his minions - his familiars - his his succubi ! !