Windows XP or My Mistake

[sjm1027]

Hi,
I purchased a Dell the other day with Windows XP Professional. I just assumed that XP Professional had Microsoft Office in it. Am I wrong? I don't have MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint.... and so on.
Do I now need to purchase MS Office?

Thanks
Steve

[mikezel]

Basically - yes.

Mike

*EDIT* an alternative is openoffice.org . Everything is compatible with Office, but lacks a few features. Its free, by the way.

[Miz]

Another alternative to Microsoft Office is 602 PC Suite (http://www.software602.com/). It's free for home use. It's a 25 meg download or you can buy it on CD for $9.95 U.S.

It is compatible with all standard Microsoft Office file formats. I've tried it out and I like it although I didn't really poke at it to see all it would do. Its interface is almost identical to MS Office.

[Hi Ho]

XP Pro does not come with Office XP. You will need to buy it seperatly or go with one of the alternatives. In the configuration options on the Dell website they have an option to add Office XP if you want. You may have been confused by that.

[Urban Earth]

Open Office works very well and is free.
http://www.openoffice.org/

AJ

[sjm1027]

Thanks, I will give it a try
Steve