Still Using Microsoft Office… Why? - Comments Page 2

I've been on LibreOffice since the update was 1.something. Love it. Granted, I am a writer and don't use the calc and other features, but as for Word Docs, LibreOffice saves them better than Word, and I haven't lost a one. Can't say the same using MS/Word. Go Libre!

I used MS Office for years when it was FREE. (At least it automatically and magically just appeared on several computers I had. This was years ago.) When MS Office no longer simply appeared I used Open Office. (Apache then? Don't remember.) That computer got zapped and I went to LibreOffice. I have it on several Windows 10 and Linux Mint computers and it fits all my needs. Oh, I also use Google Docs a bit simply because I also have a Chromebook. It works well enough but does seem limited,

I am still using Microsoft 2003 on windows 10 no problem.

I still have Office 2010. I use Access, Word, Excel and Outlook (which I vastly prefer to any web-based email). It may just be familiarity, but I find it much easier to do complex formulas and filters in Excel than in Google Sheets.

I used to create applications using Access, and actually use some complicated databases at home.

When my husband got his Windows 10 computer we bought Office 2016 rather than be forced into Office 365. He, too, prefers Outlook for email.

We both use Word and Excel every day. I know that if necessary we could get used to something else; neither of us likes the subscription approach, and won't be forced into it! When that day comes, we will check in here to see what Bob and the other readers recommend :-)

Bob, I use the current MS Office suite (Pro 2019) and paid $30 for it on ebay. I have tried the free suites and prefer MS Office. I also have purchased MS Visio 2019 ($10) and Windows 10 Pro ($5), both on ebay. People have commented to me they think buying on ebay is risky, but I have been doing this for as far back as I can remember and only got 'burned' once for $5 (Win10 Pro). In all other transactions, I got the key as promised and it worked. Buying on ebay isn't for everyone, but it sure saves me money.

Why? Why not? I'm still using Office 2007 (pro version, I think) which includes Access data base. Outlook is my email client, I use Excel often, Word sometimes. It does everything I need, everything works, and I'm familiar with all the controls. I have absolutely no reason to change.

SoftMaker also has a completely free version of its Office application called SoftMaker FreeOffice. It's essentially the same as their paid program but with a few less extras. You can learn more about it and download it here:

https://www.freeoffice.com/en/

Why am I using Microsoft Word. I tried one of those "beware of scam" ebay ads that offered 2019 Word Pro for $7 last year and I received a valid key and I am still using it over a year later. Lucky you say? I suppose, but it sure paid to do a little research on the vendor and to use ebay and Paypal.

I have used both LibreOffice and MSOffice. For three months I forced myself to only use LibreOff just to work at finding the MSOff like features. It worked.
It only hit a couple of snags. [1] MSWord provides an easier way to do 'search and replace' with formatting (eg search for paragraph marking and replace with the same marking plus a tab is ^p^t for the latter insert) LibreOff doesn't have it yet but will eventually I'm sure. [2] Macro constructing with LibreOff wasn't as versatile when I tried it, maybe better now.
Oh, and I found it best to always load an MSWord document into LibreOff and do as 'saveas' immediately to assure one does't have glitches in the other. Do the same gong the other way. With that all came off perfectly well on an ongoing basis - even sending the document to others.
So, I'm with you go to the free Apache or LibreOffice (even though I still have MSOffice [mainly for the re-formatting advantage])

I used to use Libre, but it's a HUGE set of programs, I really don't need, my company had an arrangement with Microsoft to allow us to use the full suite on home computer for $10. I'm retired and don't need most of Office at all, so when I retired two years ago, I bought a new machine and since I was losing access to Office (I don't use Outlook, did at work but never at home) I called and talked to them about it. I ended up buying Office Home and Student, for around $120. It's a stripped down version, but there's no annual charge, it updates regularly and is what I'm used to. I'll never do Office 365, though every time I open Word, I am encouraged to. I think Home and Student a good replacement, can update it to newer versions but haven't needed to. Suits my limited needs just fine.

Last year when my computer died while overseas, I picked up a laptop that had Thunderbird for email. It was pleasant to use and seemed straight forward. i did miss (probably due to unfamiliarity) the familiar Outlook contacts interface, but otherwise was happy with it. Now I'd like to know which non-MS/BS office will work with it, since many of those you mentioned don't seem to include an email client. I many years ago loved the Perfect suite and would have kept it forever, but it is a little steep now. Due any of the suites you recommend also offer a robust email program? I don't do much work on spreadsheets, but do need to open an Ecxel file on occasion. My greatest need is for email, word processing and contacts management. Or is there any way to get a discount on the WP suite?

Bob, excellent article, but I have to nit-pick. You mention the Word and Excel file extensions in the paragraph about Libre Office. The correct file extension for Excel files is XLSX (vs. XLXS).

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks, typo fixed!

I'm retired now but when I was working I relied heavily on Excel macros, and for a time VBA in Word as well. That's the reason I never gravitated to the open office alternatives.

Yes, I've no choice...I have technical spreadsheet progs that were written in MS Office Excel, and none of those shareware or free progs will work due to the macros. That's always been the issue with Excel, the darn macros!

I read nothing in the comments on WPS (stands for Writer, Presentation, and Spreadsheets) Office formerly known as Kingsoft Office. I tried it in a trial version years ago, when Microsoft Office became price prohibitive/ridiculous! I found it to be SUPERIOR to Office! I purchased a Lifetime license years ago for $69 or thereabouts, as I recall. I have used it for years, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND it. Writer's module seamlessly handles Word docs without changing format, etc. One feature, just for instance - at no extra cost, Writer one-touch converts Word docs to PDFs, and vice versa!!!

Trying to download LibreOffice but get the message:This installation package could not be opened. Verify that the package exists and that you can access it, or contact the applioation vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows installer package.

I started with MS/OfficePro97 at work, and bought it for home. I love Outlook. I have progressed tho OfficePro2010, but it's gotten too expensive for me at home to update. I use all of the applications including Publisher, and Access, and I'm not sure there are alternatives for those. So I'm running Windows 10 and OfficePro2010 successfully so far.

I may never catch up with the world. But I love Word Perfect and still use it for most of my word processing. Also, I cannot easily use the cloud on satellite internet.

I still use Office 2013 because it has everything I need. Like many people I probably use almost none of the advanced features on My Windows 10 desktop, and since it works fine, why should I change? Maybe if Microsoft stops supporting Office 2013 then I might go for something like GoogleDocs or Libre. I loved WordPerfect, used it for many years, but everybody else went to Microsoft, so I did too.

I used Open Office for years and loved it. I use Google Docs now because it ties in well with whole Google package across my phone, tablets and Chromebooks. I still have it installed on my Windows 10 desktop.