Do I need Outlook?

Beatlefan

Hi. I wonder if you can help please?

Last year I downloaded the Beta version of Microsoft Office 2010, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook. The year's trial is almost up and I've been prompted by Microsoft to download the full version or risk losing the 2010 versions altogether.

I've had a look at the prices and seen that the Office and Student version is £109. The Office and Business package is £239 !!! And the only difference is that one has Outlook and one doesn't.

I've not used Outlook at home before, because we've got Tiscali (now Talk Talk) and I use their site to view my e-mails. I don't like it though and like using Outlook at work (not the 2010 version admittedly), which I've got used to.

I'm leaving Tiscali soon (fed up with the constant interruptions in service) and thanks to suggestions on this forum, may move to Plusnet, or failing that to BT.

My question is, do I need Outlook to view my e-mails with Plusnet or BT? It's a LOT of money to pay for just one programme if I can do without it. If I don't, I'll just pay the £109 for Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote.

Thanks for any help you can give me. :T

EDIT: If I don't include Outlook in my purchase with Micrsoft and go for the Office and Student version, without Outlook, what will happen to the Outlook 2010 Beta version that's on my PC now? Will it just disappear or cease working? Or will it just revert back to the old version of Outlook that I had on my PC last year before I downloaded the Beta version?

Trinitrotoluene

No you don't.

Both have webmail online and you can configure Windows Live Mail which is like outlook but free so you can have emails to your desktop PC.

DCFC79

re the edit i think outlook would revert back to the older version once the trial has ended, the 2010 version would become unusable

there is thunderbird which you can use for emails

Beatlefan

Thanks guys. You just saved me £130 !!! :j :A:T

magpiecottage

If you are eligible for a Student version, you can get it cheaper at Software4Students.

Alternatively, you can get OpenOffice.org free. It doesn't include an equivalent to Outlook but as DCFC79 says, you can use Thunderbird for that.

Beatlefan

magpiecottage wrote: »

If you are eligible for a Student version, you can get it cheaper at Software4Students.

Alternatively, you can get OpenOffice.org free. It doesn't include an equivalent to Outlook but as DCFC79 says, you can use Thunderbird for that.

Sadly, my student days are long behind me! :rotfl::o

However, I downloaded the Beta version of the Microsoft Office suite for my son last year on his PC, so that's about to expire too. Presumably I can use the software4students.co.uk link for him. He's still at school (14), so I'd have to buy it on my credit card, but presumably they'd accept that?

debitcardmayhem

Beatlefan wrote: »

Sadly, my student days are long behind me! :rotfl::o

However, I downloaded the Beta version of the Microsoft Office suite for my son last year on his PC, so that's about to expire too. Presumably I can use the software4students.co.uk link for him. He's still at school (14), so I'd have to buy it on my credit card, but presumably they'd accept that?

They surely will, plus one for thunderbird.