New computer - need opinions

I have been using the free LibreOffice for a number of years. It can read and write Microsoft Office Word and Excel files and can be set to automatically save in MS Office format. I believe that the only real issue with these files is that Visual Basic macros will not work with LibreOffice.

Also a big fan of Mozilla's Thunderbird email client.

After some 15 to 20 years of using Quicken, I switched to the free KMyMoney a few months back. While the look is different, the functionality is pretty much the same as Quicken.

Office 365 comes with 1 terrabyte of online storage and licenses for a I think 4 accounts. Open office works if you don't need compatibility but it's worth the money for me to go back and forth with docs at work and from coworkers.

Mint.com (Intuit) is a good free website and app for basic budgeting and expense tracking. You can't make any transactions through the site but I like that as a safeguard. I just use my bank for bill pay..

Frontpage is dying and many hosts no longer support it. I used it once upon a time. There is not a replacement that offers the ease and options. There are much better programs but they are harder to learn. There are easy online tools through GoDaddy and others but they aren't as powerful.

I have been using LIBRE OFFICE here for sometime since retirement and my programs I brought home from work don't work anymore. LIBRE OFFICE dos my DRAWINGs here great... Used to have AUTOCAD LITE from Work...

I don't think LIBRE OFFICE does a MS OUTLOOK type program however for EMAILS...

I am going to be in same boat here when my WIN 7 gets auto updated to WIN 10.0 soon... Will lose my registered MS OFFICE 2007 program when that happens I think....

I still run my XP PRO computer some but always afraid I may get zapped one of these days. I keep all of my FREE ANTI VIRUS programs updated on it.

I had a great setup here after retirement using my two M90 laptops and multi-monitors and other hookups supporting my emergency radio things with home and RV's. All went down the tubes when MS dropped XP SUPPORT...

Roy Ken

I would also take back the laptop, get a Microsoft surface pro...best investment I have ever made!

Don't have or use an accounting program..
But a great, FREE, powerful, full featured alternative to MS Office is this...

LibreOffice

Take the laptop back and get a tablet. It will do everything you want in a smaller package

TCI wrote:
Just got a new windows 8.1 laptop. I use to use QuickBooks Pro - don't need that much info anymore - just basic checking and credit card reconciliations. I use to use Microsoft Office for Word/Excel/Outlook - just need basic word processing, spreadsheet that will let me use my existing files. Also an email program I can put multiple email accounts in. I also currently use Frontpage for building my website. I don't believe that works on 8.1. OK, I need suggestions on other RV's use for these. All info is Great!!! Thanks again for all the ideas.

I'd use, and do use, Quicken. similar enough to QB that the learning curve will be short. either Quicken Basic or Deluxe depending on your needs.

Open Office will replace Word and Excel and it's free. just google 'Open Office'.

Thunderbird will handle multiple e-mail accounts but having tried it I went back to Outlook 2007. I like the integrated calendar and task list. if you have a smart phone you can have a coordinated calendar and contact between OL and your smart phone. I use CompanionLink to keep calendars coordinated between OL and our apple smart phones and tablet.

haven't worked on websites since I retired so can't make a recommendation on that.