What to replace Outlook Express and Works?

[bremen1874]

I'm sorting out a PC for an elderly user after their old PC died.

They were using XP, Outlook Express, and some version of MS Works.

The new PC is running Window 8 and I'm looking for an inexpensive and user friendly option that'll handle their e-mail (BT) and some simple word processing and spreadsheets.

I normally deal with SMEs where the cost of a version of MS Office that includes Outlook isn't a major issue. In this case the furthest I could go is the Home & Student edition.

At the moment I'm looking at either Home & Student + Live Mail, or moving everything over to Google.

I'm rather out of my comfort zone, so any thoughts would be appreciated. Just dealing with the transition from XP to Windows 8 is going to be painful enough!

 

[bremen1874]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'm going to try them with Libre Office and the desktop version of Live Mail.

There's nothing wrong with webmail, but isn't what they're used to. The more familiar things are the better.

The situation isn't helped by my personal dislike of Windows 8. I've had it available since it first went RTM, but still haven't managed to raise the enthusiasm to use it properly.