New Laptop

[Walkin Horse]

I recently bought a laptop from Costco. I got it with the intention of of putting my pictures on it and doing little else except photoshop. After a recent thread on database for collections I asked some questions about database to some friends. It was suggested that I use PowerPoint to create a slide show.
So yesterday I set down and realized I have nothing but samples on my new laptop. An ad popped up to buy MS365 for $70 a year. My GF found some for office 21 for $149 for life or about 20 bucks from Groupon. This morning I searched the difference between MS365 and Office 21. Biggest difference I see is 21 isn’t upgradable and 365 is when you buy it every year.

So my questions are this. Which one is the right one for me?
If I don’t renew the 365 in a year,does everything disappear?
365 doesn’t appear available on Groupon.
Is Groupon legitimate?

Right now which database I use isn’t important. I will use this as a learning exercise. Maybe I’ll end up with 3 databases. My job requires me to be somewhat computer savvy in order to do time sheets, emails, print drawings and check schedules. Most of the time I have a really great employee that helps or does these tasks. I spend my time on safety,mentoring new welders and fitters and pushing work instead of standing in front of a computer. I always say I didn’t grow up with technology but I’m the best Stainless TIG welder.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[pasound]

365 really isn't a bargain. Groupon is legit. I use Office 18 for now on my main desktop, and on my MacBook Air, but they installed from msi files, not "in the cloud". As purchased, these were heavy discounts direct from Microsoft related to my workplace. Not upgradable, but that is ok.

You should try a very good Office clone which is free and open source, LibreOffice. All of the components are compatible with Microsoft's Office applications, and a few clicks in the preferences menu sets it up to work and save only as Office file formats, such as xlxs, docx, and so forth. It updates regularly, and is secure.

 

[swsig]

I have an older version of Office that I bought when I got my iMac five years ago. I haven't been able to upgrade it for a couple of years. It works just fine, so I'd go for the Office 21 and its one-time charge. It should work for you for a long time. You can always subscribe to their annual version later if you need to.

 

[DWalt]

I have been using the same Office suite since 2003, just move it from computer to computer. I purge my computer of any of the newer 365 versions, not 100% necessary but it avoids conflict problems. The 2003 Office version will handle every need for 99% of users. Can probably find a copy of one cheap on eBay. There are also several downloadable free clones of Office. They are compatible with Office-created files.No way I want anything to do with 365. You can build a photo database of sorts just using plain old MS Word, probably easier than PowerPoint. Just do a writeup page and paste a picture or pictures into it. And it is searchable.

I checked. There are many listings for MS Office 2003 on eBay. I would advise getting one there unless you know of someone with a copy he will loan you.

 

[DesertFox]

Far better solutions out there for photo database than PowerPoint, which is a miserable piece of software poo... Expensive too...

Recommend looking for something like Lightroom but there are many good programs for photos

 

[Kanewpadle]

I don’t do any photo editing. I keep all the pics that are important to me on a 2 TB external drive. I put it in a small fire proof box and then put it in my gun safe.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Take a look at Libre Office and / or Open Office. Very usable and complete office suites that are open source and (best of all) free. The interface may be a bit clunky compared to MS Office, but they're quite usable and for the most part compatible with MS.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I tried to download the Libreoffice. Either I’m not doing it right or something else is wrong.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I tried to download the Libreoffice. Either I’m not doing it right or something else is wrong.

Hmm. I just went there - Home | LibreOffice - Free and private office suite - Based on OpenOffice - Compatible with Microsoft

Click on Download thern select Downoad LibreOffice (1st item in the drop down menu). Then the top selection LibreOffice 24.2.4. Select Windows and click the download button. This will save the .exe file to your computer. Click on that to install the program. Windows will warn you that exe files can be malicious. Just click through that and go ahead. LibreOffice is trustworthy. This is a newer version than what I had, so I went ahead and installed it.

 

[Walkin Horse]

Hmm. I just went there - Home | LibreOffice - Free and private office suite - Based on OpenOffice - Compatible with Microsoft

Click on Download thern select Downoad LibreOffice (1st item in the drop down menu). Then the top selection LibreOffice 24.2.4. Select Windows and click the download button. This will save the .exe file to your computer. Click on that to install the program. Windows will warn you that exe files can be malicious. Just click through that and go ahead. LibreOffice is trustworthy. This is a newer version than what I had, so I went ahead and installed it.

Thanks. This is the kick I need.

 

[rwsmith]

I think that you will be happy.....

...with Libre Office. I don't use it a great deal, but it's always there and doesn't require subscriptions.

 

[DWalt]

In the past I kept a copy of Open Office loaded in reserve on my computers, but as I had MS Office 2003, I never needed to use Open Office so I no longer have it. It worked OK, but I had grown into using only Office 2003 as my primary, mainly for Word and Excel. Sort of like I continue using Photoshop v.7. I have used it forever and it does anything that I need to do despite its advanced age. And I don't need to pay for it.

 

[venomballistics]

Open Office and or Google's offerings

 

[Walkin Horse]

I figured it out. When it asks if you want Libre to make changes I kept hitting no. This time I hit yes. Now to YouTube to learn how to use it.
Thanks for the help.

 

[walkin jack]

Hmmm!! I hadn't really thought about it but this thread turned on the light bulb in my brain *and this doesn't occur as often as it used to*. What I realized is that this is likely going to be my last laptop. It is holding together with bailing wire and bubble gum. Several keys are dead which causes me to have to do some creative typing to get as close as I can to correct spelling and other things and finding alternate words. Since my ability to use a keyboard is so limitted now I can actually do better on my cell. I will stay with it as long as I can but eventually I will have to do all my internet stuff on the cell. There is a last time for everything.....

 

[pasound]

Libre Office has good built-in help, online and in downloadable pdf manuals. I've always kept it in reserve when I had access to Microsoft Office, and worked up from the original Open Office to the newest Libre Office. Currently, I run a combo of Microsoft for documents, and Libre Office Calc for spreadsheets. Excel took a bad turn a couple of versions back, consolidating too many menus, and refusing to hold onto customizing such as cell size and text wrap. Some terminology is different. Making changes is the same save changes, without the hint that they are stepping on any Microsoft trademarked phrases.

 

[Walkin Horse]

Hmmm!! I hadn't really thought about it but this thread turned on the light bulb in my brain *and this doesn't occur as often as it used to*. What I realized is that this is likely going to be my last laptop. It is holding together with bailing wire and bubble gum. Several keys are dead which causes me to have to do some creative typing to get as close as I can to correct spelling and other things and finding alternate words. Since my ability to use a keyboard is so limitted now I can actually do better on my cell. I will stay with it as long as I can but eventually I will have to do all my internet stuff on the cell. There is a last time for everything.....

I’m guessing from my limited knowledge of computers, that you get a wireless keyboard. Maybe even hook it up to an external monitor.

 

[walkin jack]

I’m guessing from my limited knowledge of computers, that you get a wireless keyboard. Maybe even hook it up to an external monitor.

That would part of the problem but there is still the ever worsening of my hands, the i phone is much easier for me to handle.