Microsoft Office - how can I get a free copy, do I need it, what I can I use instead ?

Here's my latest good advice.

I have just been asked how to get a free or cheap copy of Microsoft Office.
Why I ask ?
"For Outlook for emails and Word for documents."

My answer is to use Thunderbird for emails. I've been using it for many years with no problems.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/download

Use Open Office for Word and Excel.
http://www.openoffice.org.au/  - well that's because I'm in Australia
http://www.openoffice.org/  - use this elsewhere.
Read more about it here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_OpenOffice

Open Office is similar to Microsoft Word and can read and save Word and Excel documents.

Use Chrome or Firefox or Opera as a web browser, rather than Internet Explorer (IE)
Firefox link -   https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
Opera link   - http://www.opera.com/
Google Chrome link - http://www.google.com/chrome/

Google Chrome is a lot better than Internet Explorer. I can sign in to me Gmail account and sync my Gmail, Calendar, Contacts and Bookmarks across every device, computer and phones.

In my opinion, Thunderbird is every bit as good as Outlook and it is free.
Open Office is every bit as good as Microsoft Office and it is free !

Cheers. Si.

Web Browsers for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Android - April 2014

Here's a list of web browsers that I use on my Windows XP and Windows 7 desktop PCs, as well as my Android phones.

For Windows desktop PCs or laptops.

You may be used to using Internet Explorer and have never tried anything else, but maybe it's time for a change. You really have nothing to lose by trying out a new web browser.
You can download and install three or four and just swap between them.

I have Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome all running.
I usually use Google Chrome because I love all the add-ons and for syncing my Contacts and Calendar from my PC to my phone.
I use Opera to check that my websites look good across all browsers.
I use Internet Explorer for its Citrix ability for virtual application access.

Google Chrome Web Browser.
https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/


Here's the link to Google Chrome Extensions.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions


Chrome is my main web browser on my desktop PCs. I constantly use the Google Calendar and Contacts to sync my life to my phone and workplaces.

*** A really good tip is to make entries that repeat monthly for various things, such as all your house bills. Chrome gives me the ability to put a huge amount of text in one calendar entry.
I have one huge entry for all my house details, including rent, insurance, taxes, rates, purchase date, bank loans and so on. I can always find it whenever I need it, on the 4th of any month.

I have another monthly entry for all my phone plans for the family. When they were started, what they cost, when we broke all those phones, account numbers, and so on.

I have a monthly entry for all my major purchases - just date, what they were and what they cost. It's been surprisingly useful.

Opera
http://www.opera.com/

I use this occasionally to check my websites.

Internet Explorer
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/internet-explorer/download-ie

I use Internet Explorer for its Citrix ability for virtual application access.

Firefox
http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/products/

I confess I haven't used Firefox for a few years after all those rapid changes. It wouldn't even work on my Windows XP box for a while.

For Android phones.

Google Chrome Web Browser - link to Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.chrome

I use Chrome as my secondary browser on my phone. I prefer Opera Mobile.

Opera Mobile
http://www.opera.com/mobile or this link for Android
http://www.opera.com/mobile/android

Opera Mobile is my main browser on my phone. I just prefer how it looks and handles.

Firefox - link to Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.firefox

UC Web Browser - link to Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.UCMobile.intl

I use this to check the mobile versions of my websites... and it's also kind of cool.

DuckDuckGo Search and Stories - link to Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duckduckgo.mobile.android

This is also kind of cool. I like the stories idea, and the anonymous browsing.

Cheers. Si. Happy anonymous browsing.
Links checked April 2014