Alternative to Microsoft Office Word

[johnk9159]

Hi,
My desktop came with pre-installed MS Office Word 2003 (but no disc). The snag is that the licence expired some time ago and I am not prepared to pay the requested €149.50 for the latest version as I don't believe it's worth that much.
Although I do find I need this for submitting applications for jobs and cv's, I cannot make any amendments to any Word documents I currently have saved in my documents.
I would like to know if there is some alternative software I could use; I have Office.org and Ability but these are totally useless unless the recipient of the document has the same.

Thanks

[mjc]

There is only one 'real' alternative to M$ Office...OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org/).

OpenOffice can save documents in many formats, including various Microsoft formats. Just look in the options when you go to save. Also, if all you need to do is let the end recipient view the document and not edit it, OO can save the document as a PDF.

[classicsoftware]

There is only one 'real' alternative to M$ Office...OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org/).

OpenOffice can save documents in many formats, including various Microsoft formats. Just look in the options when you go to save. Also, if all you need to do is let the end recipient view the document and not edit it, OO can save the document as a PDF.

I beg to differ, there is only one FREE alternative to MS-Office. If you are willing to pony up some Money, WordPerfect is way better than office.

[Paul Komski]

I too beg to differ but go with mjc's statement about "SUITES". WordPerfect is an alternative to Word but it is not a suite. There are also bundles of the horrible, in my opinion, MS Works that commonly arrive with OEM systems and they are not a patch on OpenOffice for value or ability.

Sun's Star Office (http://www.sun.com/software/star/staroffice/index.jsp) is much cheaper than MS Office but I have no experience of it being very very content with OO.

[classicsoftware]

I too beg to differ but go with mjc's statement about "SUITES". WordPerfect is an alternative to Word but it is not a suite. There are also bundles of the horrible, in my opinion, MS Works that commonly arrive with OEM systems and they are not a patch on OpenOffice for value or ability.

Sun's Star Office (http://www.sun.com/software/star/staroffice/index.jsp) is much cheaper than MS Office but I have no experience of it being very very content with OO.

WordPerfect (http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1152105038419) has a full suite just like MS and OO. I use it all of the time and I get OEM copies when I get a new system for less than $20.00.... I have used WP since DOS Version 5.1 and it is till better than MS in every single way except for Powerpoint.

[mjc]

So WP is back in the fray?

Last I looked, admittedly several years ago, they weren't packaging everything like that. But WP and Quattro were what I learned on...way back when. But, I see that ODF is listed as a new feature...

[Sylvander]

How about this review of Tesco Complete Office (http://www.trustedreviews.com/software/review/2006/11/16/Tesco-Complete-Office/p1)?
Buy here for under £20 (http://www.tescosoftware.com/officeinfo.php).

Or...
The FREE OpenOffice Portable (http://portableapps.com/apps/office/openoffice_portable)?
Can be run from any storage location that Windows can access. [USB HDD or Flash Drive]

[Paul Komski]

Admittedly I hadn't realised there was a "suite" but to be fair it is called WordPerfect Office X4 and not just WordPerfect - the long standing name for Corel's very fine word processor. It doesn't seem to have database functionality and at an outlay of some $300 it would have to be absolutely brilliant for it to arrive on my desk.

[classicsoftware]

Admittedly I hadn't realised there was a "suite" but to be fair it is called WordPerfect Office X4 and not just WordPerfect - the long standing name for Corel's very fine word processor. It doesn't seem to have database functionality and at an outlay of some $300 it would have to be absolutely brilliant for it to arrive on my desk.

I only use the OEM version which I get for $15.00 US. It does include a database, but since I use FoxPro, I could care less....

[Rick]

It is at version X4 ?
I have Version X3
Too chicken chit to say version 13 :)

In comes in a couple of flavors ( Standard and Pro )
I have also been using it for many years
In fact I still have version 5 and even still use it when I boot into dos :)

BTW.
Have you looked at the retail price for MS Office lately ?
MS Office pro $499.00
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX101211561033.aspx

[Paul Komski]

What's the full story with such OEM software since the price difference is so huge? Where is it obtained from and what hardware is required to be purchased in order to install it?

Is this a grey area or totally legitimate?

From a Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirated_software):-

"OEM infringement/unbundling" is known as OEM (original equipment manufacturer) software, is only legally sold with specified hardware. Whether misappropriating OEM software constitutes copyright infringement is subject to interpretation - a software publisher would have a difficult time prosecuting a person who has successfully purchased a genuine OEM copy but who, according to the license agreement, would have been supposed to purchase a retail copy. This is because a court must also consider laws relating to the commercial sales of goods such as the Uniform Commercial Code in the United States, which are more established in law and which can be interpreted to prohibit or nullify licensing terms that negate the established nature of a common sale transaction.

[classicsoftware]

What's the full story with such OEM software since the price difference is so huge? Where is it obtained from and what hardware is required to be purchased in order to install it?

Is this a grey area or totally legitimate?

From a Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirated_software):-

A little of both, but the seller is the one who would get in trouble. I only get OEM when I get a new system. I do not install OEM on old systems, but that's just me. Grey would be an accurate description