Buying XP and office on Ebay
- Thread starter Gromit
- Start date
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ian turner
Guru
- Location
- Leicestershire
Any reason why you're not considering windows 7 ?
I tried software4students before, Askham Bryan College doesn't provide a .ac.uk address. My current computer only has ubuntu software, so I will find it difficult to upgrade using the offers from the website.
I thought XP was more trustworthy than Windows 7, I'm willing to give it a go though.
I'm not all that good at understanding the process of updating software, I struggled on last year using my very old computer with windows 98. So would be grateful for any help.
Thank you
Debz
SavageHoutkop
Veteran
- Location
- South Manchester-ish
If you don't need any of the really fancy stuff that Office can do, get Open Office - it's free.
Also consider Linux - newer versions are very good at plug and play, although it depends just how old the PC is. You can always try downloading the linux onto a CD and/or USB stick and running it as a 'live cd' to see how it works (you run everything off the CD or USB stick without needing to install it).
What are you going to use the PC for?
Also consider Linux - newer versions are very good at plug and play, although it depends just how old the PC is. You can always try downloading the linux onto a CD and/or USB stick and running it as a 'live cd' to see how it works (you run everything off the CD or USB stick without needing to install it).
What are you going to use the PC for?
I have a dissertation to do, everything at college is standardised, so that is why I need an up-to-date windows system. We also have a hell of a lot of stats to do as well.
Basic Open Office isn't very good re referencing making a contents page etc.
The computer I got from York Uni has been reconditioned, however only has free operating software.
I getting the general impression that I should shell out and get a new computer. Its not really possible for me at the moment as I'm a self supporting student and don't really have the finances to spend on expensive equipment.
SavageHoutkop
Veteran
- Location
- South Manchester-ish
Stats using what package? Excel stats is not proper 'stats' anyway, if you are really number crunching you need something else.
I wouldn't use Word for referencing/contents etc either - not tried in OpenOffice to be fair, but if you are really doing a proper dissertation you could do worse than LaTeX which I've had to learn the basic use of in the last year myself. Of course it depends what format the uni requires you to submit in, although I'd PDF it anyway before sending if given the option.
You don't need a new PC if all you are doing is Word and basic stats. Depends on what stats though, if you give a more broad outline of which bit of stats you're doing more help could be given
Do you have specs on the PC itself?
bobg
Über Member
- Location
- Crosby Merseyside
I have an impoverished student son so pm me and I'll send you Office
on the road
Über Member
Windows 7 is sh*t, it's not backwards compatible.
CopperBrompton
Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
- Location
- London
Win7 is fab, and runs absolutely everything I used to run in XP (and has an XP virtualisation mode if needed).
accountantpete
OAP
StewartR
Active Member
- Location
- Basingstoke, Hants.
Google for student deals on Office. You should be able to track on down without needing a .ac.uk email address. I bought the entire suite for my son, 6 years old. All legit and properly licensed - I think Mr Gates believes in getting them young.
As far as the OS goes, watch out for licences being sold on ebay as a lot of them are OEM versions, branded "Dell" and the like and pretty much unsupported - some don'e even pass MS's authentication. Get a discount on office, take the hit on Win 7. XP's probably a poor investment at the start of a degree course as you'll want something that's going to be supported for at least 3 years.
Having said that, I'd second the earlier post about Linux. Ubuntu is very user friendly, is stable and free. Download it and run it from a USB and see how you get on with it. It comes pre-installed with Open Office which is functionally very similar to MS Office and can open and create MS Word files. Table of contents is supported along with all the usual stuff. Ubuntu also has very low demands on the hardware so is perfect for running on older machines.
As far as the OS goes, watch out for licences being sold on ebay as a lot of them are OEM versions, branded "Dell" and the like and pretty much unsupported - some don'e even pass MS's authentication. Get a discount on office, take the hit on Win 7. XP's probably a poor investment at the start of a degree course as you'll want something that's going to be supported for at least 3 years.
Having said that, I'd second the earlier post about Linux. Ubuntu is very user friendly, is stable and free. Download it and run it from a USB and see how you get on with it. It comes pre-installed with Open Office which is functionally very similar to MS Office and can open and create MS Word files. Table of contents is supported along with all the usual stuff. Ubuntu also has very low demands on the hardware so is perfect for running on older machines.
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
If you really want to save money, just download a copy of Ubuntu, it is fast and more reliable than XP, it comes with Open Office, and it is free...
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
If you are doing a lot of stats you don't need MS Office, you need R real statistic software and it is free...
