Best MS Office Alternative for Desktop

Seems we have not had a poll for alternatives to MS office for a while - just wondering what the current recommendations are?

 

I use SoftMaker Office 2016. I also have a 1 year license for MS Office which I got for free, but since I don't use Outlook (I just use webmail for my emails), SoftMaker does everything I need.

 

I use Open Office on Windows and have done for ten years. I have Libre Office on Ubuntu but my favourite word processor is AbiWord.

 

I miss the option "None". I have tried some freeware alternatives but didn't really like them. MS Office is still a must-have for me.

 

Yep, I am happier with even older versions of Office.

 

WPS, simply using a firewall to block outbound and ADs are not an issue.

I use an unofficial WPS portable version to help my boss at work, since she receives documents in Microsoft Office format, but has useless LibreOffice installed, as per company policy.

 

I used Libre office portable during the lifetime of the last W7 (second) I bought and in my W10. It has always worked great for me, never had an issue opening any MS Office file I received from anyone or had anybody tell me they couldnt open a file I send. I dont like using the word useless, but thats my feeling about WPS which I used in my first W7. I remember, right at around the time when that program switched to using the name WPS, it became horrendous (according to my taste). Other than MS Office and this 2 Office programs, I haven't used anything else.

Bo

 

I agree, I'm using 2007..

 

Just started trying LibreOffice and while a few things are a bit different from MS, I have not come across any major issues. Why do you think the program is useless?

 

So then, Bo, are you saying that LibreOffice would be your 'alternative' of choice?

By the way, is the word processor fairly similar to MS Word -- or is there a huge learning curve?

 

Yes, for me personally, Libre Office is the alternative of choice. I use the portable version.

The word processor is similar. There is very little to learn. You setup MS Office files to open with the corresponding Libre program that opens them, its done automatically and also set files you create to be saved in MS Office file format. Thats pretty much it. I dont need to create sophisticated files, just regular kind of files. Never an issue.

Bo

 

Just curious... why do you use the portable version?

 

I have been using the portable version for a long time. I think the reason why I started using the portable version was because the installation is large. Libre installed is more than 400MB. I thought using portable will keep Windows cleaner.

Bo

 

I understand - that makes sense to me.

 

SoftMaker Office 2016 is offered by SoftMaker by ways of
https://sharewareonsale.com/s/softmaker-office-giveaway-coupon-sale

I received a serial key from SoftMaker & download link directly from SoftMaker. SharewareOnSale links to a stub exe which I didn't install & deleted. I have not installed SoftMaker Office 2016 or tried to register it.

This is as of 10 minutes ago.

 

2000 and 2003 here.
Happy with both of them.

 

Using MS office 2010 here.
If not for MS Office, I'd use LibreOffice.

 

Off topic, with respect to MS Office:
In case someone doesn't like the ribbon and wants the old classic menu back, there are tools available that can do that. We had in the past some threads about it. The last one is from September 2016 (as far as I know):
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/ms-office-classic-menu.388568/

Posts about that please in that thread.
Back to topic.

 

Also slightly off-topic, anyone know if MS Word (for Win 7) is still available anywhere for purchase individually -- apart from MS Office?

 

+1

 

You might want to try Ebay? I'm not sure how much to trust them, though.

 

Office Pro Plus 2016 starts at $27.00, that is not such a bad deal.

Code:

http://www.allkeyshop.com/catalogue/search.php?q=microsoft+office

 

Would you trust that site? Microsoft Office 2016 Professional for $27 U.S?

 

I buy everything there, steam games, Windows Pro licences for $5-10 and etc.

 

XP = Softmaker FreeOffice (Very Light)
W.10 = Libreoffice.