Stop Using Microsoft Office - Here's Why... - Comments Page 1

I stopped using MS_Office in 2003. I tried Libre Office for a while and then switched to the free version of Softmaker Office and have been using it ever since. I don't need everything that's been added to MS-Office -- never did, actually.

I dual boot Windows 10 and Linux Mint. When using Linux, I prefer OnlyOffice (there's a Windows version too). When using Windows, I prefer MS Office, which I purchased at a bargain price.

I am married to Outlook
What is the best alternative
Thanks
Rich

Back in 2014 my company negotiated an incredible deal for its employees from Microsoft: MS Office 2013 for just $9.95! I grabbed that and subsequently installed it on all my computers. I have no need for more recent updates, and I would NEVER use the cloud-based version of Office (or rent it). I don't trust the cloud with my critical files.

However, I also downloaded LibreOffice to my computer, so that's available just in case. I'm a big believer in redundancy.

I've been running MS Office 2010, since... well 2010 or so. I had to upgrade from Office 2000 when I started having trouble running it on newer PCs. I still miss Lotus AMiPro, which I loved, but it never made it much past Win 3.11.

I have wanted to change to one of the free Office alternatives for many years, but have been unable to find a decent free alternative to Outlook. I have and use over 6 email addresses (I have specific uses for each and am not doing anything illegal or unethical, though one of the addresses is used to remain anonymous) and require a single email application that can accept each address and place my emails in one place. Like Rich (below), I do not believe there are any decent alternatives to Outlook.

Rich: the best alternative to MS Outlook (the program, not the website) is Mozilla's Thunderbird. Yes, a different interface than MS's, but it does all the same things.

I'm surprised that Bob doesn't also mention Microsoft's Office.com, since he does mention Google Docs. There are *free* versions of MS Word, Excel, & PowerPoint available at Office.com with a Microsoft account. They are cut down, simplified versions, but do just about everything the normal user would want. The biggest difference, everything is saved on-line in OneDrive. Direct local saving of documents on your HD is not supported.

My daughter is an "instructional coach" in the public school system and has been using a Chromebook in that capacity for 5 years or more. So, she uses Google Docs for many things and is SLOWLY teaching me. I really would like to be able to give up Microsoft completely when they force me to upgrade to Windows 11 and so far the only thing I use regularly that may stop me is Quicken!!
I am 76 years old and have reached the stage where if what I am using works for ME and does what I WANT TO DO - - I do not want to deal with a learning curve just to upgrade to what someone else thinks I should want to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ZDNet just had a sale for MS Office professional for $35.99 for life.
What's the catch?

Office Professional is currently being sold for $39.95 for either PC or Mac version.

I’m using the 5 license 365 which I share with the family. It’s not expensive per person and everyone gets 1TB cloud storage.

I have never thought paying for Office was a good idea.
I used Open Office, Apache Open Office and finally, Libre Office exclusively for years and never missed Office (or so I thought.)

Now as a board member of a small 501c3 non-profit, I have free access to all the features of Office, and I must say there are many, superior features I was never before aware of: Outlook, Teams, Share Point, Word, Excel and Powerpoint all have powerful features I have never discover in the past and truth to tell this discovery is the main thing keeping me engaged in the drama that is being an officer in any board.

I assume there are open source, free, or cheap versions of all of them, but I seriously doubt having all the separate programs on my computer is a better option than having them all connected under one app, Office. Nor do I think any of those options are superior to the time tested Office suite.

I am intereested in an alternate MS Office 365, which I currently have. I liked your article but wonder why you didn't mention Ashampoo Office 8. It costs $15 dollar and the license allows it to be used on up to five computers. I have never used it but I would like to hear your opinion on it.

LibreOffice for a decade, now. Just search for hotkeys and shortcuts for it and you will find all you need.

hey Bob - thank you always for all of your great newsletters and information. I find all of it very helpful and informative!

One of the dumbest moves ever was Microsoft going to a subscription basis for Office. It would have made sense if the price had been extremely low. Some project manager and their boss at Microsoft should have lost their job over this blunder.
As things stand, Bob is exactly correct, you are foolish if you are paying anything for Office when there are very good suites that are FREE. Of course if money means nothing to you, just keep paying Microsoft.

Have used all of the programs mentioned. I work IT and regularly install LibreOffice for many of our users. As an alternative to Microsoft Outlook, you might try em client.
https://www.emclient.com/

I use Microsooft Office 2010 & Outlook 2010. Versions after that didn't work as well and you still get the 2010 versions dirt cheap.

>> ZDNet just had a sale for MS Office professional for $35.99 for life. What's the catch?

No upgrades or updates. Want a new version? Buy it. Getting a new computer? Lcense is non-transferable; buy a new license. But at $36, it’s manageable.

I use Libre Office for spreadsheets and Open office for text. I also use WordPad for text. And I discovered, on my late husband's computer, a text program called EditPadLite which I have now downloaded for myself. Its main claim for me is that it will sort.