Microsoft office

[David Nicoll]

Libre Office is always an option. It still has some quirks with image layout, but then so does Word.
It’s much better than Word at coping with older file formats, even older Word formats that Word itself will now not read.

[Spelk]

Thanks for the responses. I'll have another look at Libre Office which I did put on my 2016 iMac some years back. That iMac is stuck on OS Monterey, 12.?.  The laptops are on Sequoia 15.6.
I've looked at eBay and Amazon. I'm dubious about eBay as they are often limited in what they tell you about just what they are offering in terms of compatibility etc. And can I trust the sellers?
On Amazon their cheaper deals all seem to be no longer available. Either to do with tariffs or maybe MS are leaning on Amazon. I do see to be able to get a Mac version of Office 2024 perpetual licence for about £150. Not bad compared with a cost of £105 every year and maybe increasing. However that in just for one device so would be £300 for two laptops.
And then I still need a solution for the iMac. I have a CD with 2016 version of office but do I have the licence Key somewhere and what security issues might be there on that version of S/W which will not have been supported for some time.
Could do Libre Office on the iMac - but do I want to spend £300 on the two laptops?
Incidentally - note that Office S/W for Mac seems to be always more than for Windows.

At what point do I decide that I'd rather pay up rather than waste hours trying to get a cheaper deal?

[farmeroman]

Ah, it's for Mac. It does seem that most of the really cheap deals have gone from Amazon; I did find one for £47.99, but that was Windows only.

[KGarrad]

Incidentally - note that Office S/W for Mac seems to be always more than for Windows.

At what point do I decide that I'd rather pay up rather than waste hours trying to get a cheaper deal?

Ditch the Mac!

[Biggles50]

Thanks for the responses. I'll have another look at Libre Office which I did put on my 2016 iMac some years back. That iMac is stuck on OS Monterey, 12.?.  The laptops are on Sequoia 15.6.
I've looked at eBay and Amazon. I'm dubious about eBay as they are often limited in what they tell you about just what they are offering in terms of compatibility etc. And can I trust the sellers?
On Amazon their cheaper deals all seem to be no longer available. Either to do with tariffs or maybe MS are leaning on Amazon. I do see to be able to get a Mac version of Office 2024 perpetual licence for about £150. Not bad compared with a cost of £105 every year and maybe increasing. However that in just for one device so would be £300 for two laptops.
And then I still need a solution for the iMac. I have a CD with 2016 version of office but do I have the licence Key somewhere and what security issues might be there on that version of S/W which will not have been supported for some time.
Could do Libre Office on the iMac - but do I want to spend £300 on the two laptops?
Incidentally - note that Office S/W for Mac seems to be always more than for Windows.

At what point do I decide that I'd rather pay up rather than waste hours trying to get a cheaper deal?

There are portable CD/DVD/Bluray drives available that just plug into the USB socket.

Buy from an Amazon supplier but do note the Returns policy.

[Spelk]

I have come across Groupon which is offering Office Standard 2024 lifetime licence for less that £20 for Windows or Mac.
Groupon don't deliver themselves as far as I can see. They are just a market place for the actual sellers.
Only niggle is - it seems to good to be true. If these offers are real and without a catch why is not everyone using them?
Anyone have experience of Groupon?

[Zaphod99]

I was just about to post that same link.

https://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/sy-llc-ltd-4?deal_option=afc6d911-bb58-4f52-a90a-f059fbca39c6

I subscribed a long time ago but got too much spam so I killed them off, but I do think these offers for out of date versions of Microsoft office are genuine. I'm delighted with my 2019 version from Amazon that I mentioned earlier.

Zaph

[Biggles50]

Official route shows £120 for Microsoft Office 2024 for home use.

Let’s face it a one off cost is a much better buy than an annual subscription.

Older versions, well if they work as you want them to on your PC and only cost £20 what is there not to like about that.

Only thing to note is that some versions of Microsoft Office only includes Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

[Zaphod99]

This company supply office professional that comes with all sorts of goodies.  £25.  The version that I bought a year or so ago from Amazon also had access which I occasionally use. I can only guess that they can afford to sell at these prices by making it all download only, so there is no cost in producing the media and any hard copy documentation

https://softmall.co.uk/product/microsoft-office-professional-2019-instant-delivery-copy/

One-time purchase for 1 PC (not a subscription)
• Classic 2019 versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access and Publisher
• Licensed for home and commercial use
• All languages included
• Compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11

I've got no connection with that company, by the way.  They were just the first one that came up on my search engine results.

Zaph