Question re Open Office and MS Outlook 2

[flasher40]

Hi,

On another thread (

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1478977&page=1)

I was exploring the possibility of purchasing a previously-owned copy of MS Office.

What I'm trying to do is find an economical solution for a relative who recently purchased a laptop computer with Vista on it. I was wondering if anyone running Vista has tried using Open Office plus a recent enough version of Outlook that will run on Vista.

How compatible is Open Office with the MS version of Office as far as sending files between the two programs? And will Outlook work fine if MS Office isn't on the computer?

Thanks!
Bill

 

[tf1]

Outlook will run as a standalone app. The fact that you mention Open Office suggests that you want it for free. However, there are cheaper version of Office you can purchase.

The best bargain is the Office 2003 Teachers and Students edition. This can be found on Amazon and other sites at bargain prices. It can be installed on up to 4 computers int he owner's home.

Don't touch Office 2007 Home and Students edition because it doesn't include Outlook - which to me makes it TOTALLY useless.

I would not advise buying second hand. Firstly, it is against the EULA and secondly, how do you know that the person selling it hasn't installed it on their computer, activated it on line, made a copy to retain and are then trying to recoup the cost by selling it?


Regards: tf1

 

[eyec]

another option is to install Open Office for the MS Office Suite and use Thunderbird instead of Outlook.

I no longer use Outlook because I have found Thunderbird a better email program.

I have both OO & MS Office loaded on my XP macine but have not played with it on my son's Vista machine.

 

[BMcAnly]

I've run OO on Vista and I've never had a problem; just watch the file type in "save as". I've also been using Thunderbird for quite a while without any difficulties. The only thing to consider (and it may not apply to you) is that to my knowledge, Thunderbird is a POP client, therefore won't work with Exchange (somebody correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[eyec]

yes, Thunderbird is POP. i still use mine with a secureserver SMTP with no problem.

if they do not use an Exchange server then they should not have any problems.

 

[Paulus631]

I have loaded Open Office onto my Vista 64 bit machine and it works fine, it does not read the new office 2007 files though. Outlook will work fine as a stand alone. There is also windows mail which aint bad on all Vista machines, was outlook express, but now comes with a calender and more useful bits than express.