I have had a Microsoft Office disc that I have just used for years and years whenever I got a new computer. May not have had some of the fancy new features but it would create a damn fin .doc file.
Welp I have lost that disc and our computing is now different as kids get older.
They each have their own crappy old PC that does everything they need, my wife has a nice laptop, and I will be getting a MacBook.
I would like the good old fashioned Word program downloaded on the computer and save the files to the computer. Nothing cloud based.
Is this even possible anymore all I am seeing is a yearly cloud subscription thing.

I’ve tried Open Office and Libre office but none too impressed

Subscription based, but O365 should give you a few installs.

I know our work plan gives me 10 installs as long as I'm employed there.

PC World has a software store. Every once in a while they run deals on Office. I got an older version (2021), perpetual license, for $50 on 1 device. It's $129 now, so wait for a sale. I did the same thing for Windows 11, it was able to install on 3 PCs I think.

ETA: I get their newsletter, which is how I found a=out about the deals.

Groupon often has specials:
https://www.groupon.com/deals/...e-2024-home-business

quote:

Originally posted by Lineman101:
Groupon often has specials:
https://www.groupon.com/deals/...e-2024-home-business

Have you used this?
How does it work? I buy from that and it sends me a download link?

I've been using Open Office for 20 years without a problem, and it works just like MS Office as far as I can tell. Its also FREE.

Open Office

Create an outlook.com account, you can use the free web version. That would be the easiest way. No cost. The free version is to compete with Gmail and google docs, which a lot of schools use because it’s free.

I buy the Microsoft 364 family account, I think it gives me 6 users, each with 1TB of storage. This costs me $105 per year, but I use the storage to scan all my docs to one drive and we run our rentals business using it, so it gets written off.

free online if you can do what you need.

I've used this place multiple times for 4-5 years. Most recently a month ago for a Win11 & Office 3-pack. If you don't use the keys fairly quickly (<6mos), they will expire, but I've never had an issue installing promptly after buying.
Win & Office
They basically buy a volume license & then split it off, which is technically against the fine print, but MS doesn't push it too hard.

I have 1 office key left that will likely expire before I use it, if you want to buy a 3-pack & have an extra.

This is what I bought - it's easier if you install office from their links, but I have got fresh downloads from MS that worked. Win11 moreso than Office.
Microsoft Windows 11 Professional + Microsoft Project 2024 Professional + Microsoft Office 2024 Professional + Microsoft Visio 2024 Professional license for 3 devices

If it's virus-ware, it's pretty ineffective - I've had at least 6 PCs with Win & office from them and haven't had anything hacked.

Legitimate use of a student account. Do you or any member of your house have a .edu email?

I just bought a 3 license Office Pro 2024 for $30 for my new build.

Link

My version of office for my work is 2007. Like you, I figure "it ain't broke..."

Hard drive space is cheap. When you get your new copy, whatever it is, copy the CD to a "stored program" folder on your PC. Create a txt file in the same folder with the license key in it.

I have not used Groupon. But it is a very popular site for deals. I’m sure that some of the members here could better comment on the site. It is often linked to on Slickdeals.

I bought a single user license for MSOffice Pro 2019 from Stack Social last year for $29.97. The Mac version costs $42.99. They also sell the newer 2021 version for Windows at $49.97 and for Mac at $69.97. All single licenses, no subscriptions.

Stack Social Microsoft Office

These windows versions require Windows 10 or 11.

quote:

Originally posted by TexasScrub:
I've been using Open Office for 20 years without a problem, and it works just like MS Office as far as I can tell. Its also FREE.

Open Office

This is what I did when Microsoft changed from selling software to selling subscriptions. I can save to .docx format and open it. Same for Excel.

I tried using Libre Office for about 6 months or so. I mostly use Excel. While the very basic functions are the same, not everything works as it should when you save it as a .xls file. I have files that I need to send to others to look at and they don't have Libre Office. When I saved my files as .xls some things didn't display correctly, mostly formatting related.

I'd go the OpenOffice route myself (and do). I have found that it is especially helpful with those oh-too-common "corrupt files" that MS Office refuses to open. In most cases OOo will open and repair them just fine and will save them back to .doc or .docx where MSOff can understand them. Back when I was working in an office, I used to repair many files for my co-workers who didn't have the gumption to "learn" OOo or other FOSS (Free Open Source Software). LibreOffice/NeoOffice are others to consider.

When your wife gets her Mac she may find that Apple's office suite (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) will be preferable to the MSoff equivalents for her needs without a subsequent purchase and "activation" hassle.

snidera you have mail.

Granted I don't have a ton of experience with it
As for Open Office and Libre Office for simple type and print stuff it works just fine. However when we are bouncing and editing things coming from the boys schools that aren't just a text wall essentially. Pictures, different spacing, fonts. Most of the time margins and spacing is all jacked up when folks open it on a true Word or especially excel document.
So would really like the actual microsoft stuff.

As for the cloud based subscription stuff, NOT A CHANCE. Fell for that crap with Adobe Photoshop a few years back. Paid a decent chunk for Photoshop only for it to say we don't have an account and now have no Photoshop.

The Macbook is going to be for me. My wife has no desire to have a Mac.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
However when we are bouncing and editing things coming from the boys schools that aren't just a text wall essentially. Pictures, different spacing, fonts. Most of the time margins and spacing is all jacked up when folks open it on a true Word or especially excel document.

This is exactly my experience as well.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
This is what I did when Microsoft changed from selling software to selling subscriptions. I can save to .docx format and open it. Same for Excel.

If you're working alone, agreed. Get 10 member software team working on a 50 page spec and detail document and 1 using Open Office. Guaranteed Open Office will fuck up the doc at least once. If you're working alone (as most home users are) Open Office is a great choice. If you're collaborating everybody better be using the same program.

I too will vouch for WinandOffice. I’ve used it a couple times.

https://winandoffice.com/