Best source for Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word downloads?

[Tasker]

I've been searching for the best source and pricing for Microsoft downloads (Microsoft site is too expensive) and I am asking for your suggestions. I'd like to have:

 

Excel

Word

Outlook

 

Maybe I am better-off buying them individually?

 

Thanks for your advice!

[David]

You might want to go with an almost completely compatible open source version of those instead.

[Matts_12GS]

register for a class at a community college, buy them from the campus bookstore and drop the class...

[Lets_Play_Two]

register for a class at a community college, buy them from the campus bookstore and drop the class...

 

Or find a school kid who will give you his/her report card!! $179.95 for Office Professional or Office Home and Student for $144.95 at Academic Superstore.

[Foot]

Don't buy individual you will end up spending a lot more. Newegg has home and student version for $109.

 

Linky

[SageRider]

Home and Student edition does not have Outlook.

 

Open Office (http://www.openoffice.org/) provides a good freeware office compatible suite. Combine that with Gnome's Evolution (http://projects.gnome.org/evolution/) for an Outlook clone. (Linux required for Gnome Evolution). Windows variant (Unknown quality...): http://www.dipconsultants.com/evolution/

[Twisties]

I'm using Open Office, Firefox and Thunderbird.

 

Thunderbird is the mail client from mozilla.org. It does not have the scheduling/calendaring functions of Outlook, but offers a reasonable email client and address book. I was able import all my old Outlook mail off of the old PC, but it did require outlook to be installed briefly for that purpose.

 

I wouldn't say that Open Office is fully MS Office compatible. I've just been using it a short time. No problem with documents or spreadsheets, but it's use of MS Access databases is not so transparent. Haven't tried the Presentations or Drawing modules.

 

However, I think Open Office is a great choice overall.