Alternative to M$office (Word/Excel/Outlook)?

[NeilF]

My mother is moving to a new Window 7 Pro machine and ideally - although she's used to M$Office (Word/Excel/Outlook) - I'd like to step away to free alternatives?

Basically she just needs to:-
1) Do sinple Word documents and spreadsheets - Opening her old Office 2003 ones.
2) Do emails in a nice friendly way, ideally using/importing in her existing Outlook 2003 emails/contacts.

 

[bledd]

Gmail/GDocs

 

[andy_mk3]

Openoffice is pretty good.

 

[Tappits]

Open office?

But TBH whats wrong with normal Microsoft office. if that's what she is used to using just let her use it.

 

[theheyes]

This can be done with Office Online. Free with a Microsoft account.

 

[NeilF]

Open office?

But TBH whats wrong with normal Microsoft office. if that's what she is used to using just let her use it.

$$$$ - Can't install the old version on the new machine

 

[NeilF]

Gmail/GDocs

Gmail? Absorbing an outlook PST file?

Plus gmail is no way near as friendly as something dedicated like Outlook.



So ideally I'd want dedicated apps, not browser alternatives I suspect.

 

[james.miller]

LibréOffice and mozilla thunderbird for email, i guess.

i'd still look for a cheap copy of office 2007/2010 though.

M$

1995 called.....

 

[MagicBoy]

$$$$ - Can't install the old version on the new machine

How old is the version?

 

[andshrew]

Office 2003 should work fine with Windows 7.

However for free alternative for someone that is used to Office then Office online is probably the best bet, with an Outlook.com e-mail account.

If you want to import PST into an Outlook.com/Gmail type account then the easiest way is to set the new account up within Outlook and then copy the files you want to keep from the PST account to the new one.

 

[MagicBoy]

Office 2003 should work fine with Windows 7.

This.

 

[spoffle]

What's with the "M$" rubbish?

 

[MagicBoy]

An attempt a humour, suggesting they charge a too much for their products I expect. Frankly I'm shocked the OP didn't use "Windoze" as well.

 

[Hxc]

I do tech support for the uni and had a student come in with Office XP on it, so 2003 will certainly function.

 

[linktoinsanity]

Office 2003 will still work most of the time, but may be incompatible with some documents (even with the compatibility pack).

However as for free alternatives, you could try Libre Office?

 

[Shure]

How about Kingsoft for office(http://www.kingsoftstore.co.uk/) and maybe live mail or thunderbird for email?

 

[Vimes]

How about Kingsoft for office(http://www.kingsoftstore.co.uk/) and maybe live mail or thunderbird for email?

+1

Kingsoft office gives you the choice of the older style interface or the type with the ribbon. It has all the functionality that I need.
Whilst it will not have the functionality or depth of the MS Office equivalent, for some, I am amazed at how small it is, install wise.

Windows Live Mail for Desktop works great with my IMAP settings for several web based email accounts.

 

[KIA]

Office 2003 should work fine with Windows 7.

Office 2003 support ends today.

 

[MagicBoy]

Office 2003 support ends today.

It'll still work, it doesn't turn into a Pumpkin at midnight.

 

[Pawnless Endgame]

Office 2003 should work fine with Windows 7.

Office 97 on Windows 8 here!