Purchasing Microsoft Office

[davetuc]

We bought our daughter a new laptop for Christmas and have been looking to get Microsoft Office installed on it. However, it seems they have moved the goalposts, and you only get a twelve month license? In the past you bought the software and kept it until you thought you needed an upgrade? Anyone know any ways around this?

[factor-fiction]

I thought you were given options

[Mosaic]

This page has all the options:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/buy/
Scroll down to see 'one-time buy' rather than office 365

If your daughter is at school or college there are generally discounted programs available from their IT support.

[Lie-in King]

Some of the best tech-people on AB recommend "Open Office" -

https://www.openoffice.org/why/why_great.html

[Zacs-Master]

Don't buy MS office see Buenchico's reply here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Computers/Question325563.html

[Zacs-Master]

LiK beat me to it.

[bednobs]

rubbish innit?
same problem in the bednobs household as we both recently got new lappy's and we'd used all the licenses on our old products.
Luckily for us, Mr nobs got given 2 licences at work

[Sycamore3House]

https://www.openoffice.org

Try tha one it's free & compatible

[THECORBYLOON]

This one has no time-limit http://office.microsoft.com/en-GB/home-and-student/

[Buenchico]

You can buy Microsoft Office 2013 (Home & Student Edition) as a download:
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

However that simply looks like a good way to waste a hundred quid to me because she doesn't need Microsoft Office anyway! OpenOffice is just as good, and totally free:
https://www.openoffice.org/

OpenOffice can handle all Microsoft Office formats. However it's worth noting that the default settings are for it to save files in its own native formats. You can use 'Save As' (instead of 'Save') to get around that but it's far better to simply change the default settings so that OpenOffice automatically uses Microsoft formats to save files anyway. Instructions here:
http://helpdeskgeek.com/office-tips/set-openof%EF%AC%81ce-org-to-save-in-microsoft-of%EF%AC%81ce-format-by-default/

OpenOffice isn't the only free alternative to Microsoft Office. LibreOffice is also highly praised (and has been developed from the commercial Lotus 123 office suite):
http://www.libreoffice.org/
Kingsoft Office is 'the new kid on the block' among free office suites but it has quickly won many fans:
http://www.kingsoftstore.com/

[Buenchico]

^^^I really must learn to type faster!
;-)

[Old_Geezer]

You just need to keep the main bulk of text in a text file on the desktop ready for reuse.

[hairygrape]

If it's vital she has Microsoft Office and she meets the eligibility requirements, you might consider Microsoft Office University which currently retails for around £50 and lasts for four years before becoming unusable.

MS Office 2013 University can be installed on two computers and depending on your circumstances, can be installed on a home computer too. Whilst I appreciate what others have said, £25 or so for four years on two computers isn't a bad bargain. Its much better than the home edition offer.

My daughter is one user on the account at her uni and I have the other at home. Believe me, its a bargain.