I'm self employed - can I use Microsoft Office 365?

System

You're supposed to use the business version, in reality they can't tell and won't likely care.

If you're a business dealing with businesses you really want to be using Microsoft Office, not something like OpenOffice, Google Docs etc which is mostly compatible. Nothing worse than doing something in OpenOffice, someone opening it in Word and it looking like toss because of formatting issues thanks to a less than 100% compatibility between OpenOffice and Word.

System

Type_45 wrote: »

So what personal reasons do you have for PowerPoint, may I ask?

I'm a member of a club where members give a talk on technical subjects at weekly meetings and most of those involve powerpoint presentations to some extent. The talks I've done myself have involved powerpoint presentations as part of them. Just because you have no reason to use it doesn't mean nobody else does.

giraffe69

Continue to use Google docs and download the files as .docx. That is zero cost and uses the program you are used to.
In post 5 you said you used a Chromebook in which case installing some programs won't be open to you as a solution.

Type_45

Tarambor wrote: »

I'm a member of a club where members give a talk on technical subjects at weekly meetings and most of those involve powerpoint presentations to some extent. The talks I've done myself have involved powerpoint presentations as part of them. Just because you have no reason to use it doesn't mean nobody else does.

I have already conceded that many people do use Office at home. Let's not go around in circles as I want to keep this thread in decent shape in order to attract useful responses. Thank you.

What is the nature of this club of which you are member and in which you have to listen to, and deliver, presentations which mostly consist of a PowerPoint element?

Type_45

Tarambor wrote: »

You're supposed to use the business version, in reality they can't tell and won't likely care.

If you're a business dealing with businesses you really want to be using Microsoft Office, not something like OpenOffice, Google Docs etc which is mostly compatible. Nothing worse than doing something in OpenOffice, someone opening it in Word and it looking like toss because of formatting issues thanks to a less than 100% compatibility between OpenOffice and Word.

Yes, agreed on all points there.

RumRat

I think you have had the answers....For free, either google docs and download as docx, Microsoft office online or download something like the excellent WPS Office.
You'll need more than a chromebooke though.
Or, bite the bullet and invest in your business....;)

loyalstokie

How are you attaching the files?
I've just gone to google drive -> new-> google docs, blank document.
Then file -> email as attachment = first drop down menu for attach as includes PDF and word document.
I would have thought is the same with google chrome as firefox on windows.

tronator

Tarambor wrote: »

If you're a business dealing with businesses you really want to be using Microsoft Office, not something like OpenOffice, Google Docs etc which is mostly compatible. Nothing worse than doing something in OpenOffice, someone opening it in Word and it looking like toss because of formatting issues thanks to a less than 100% compatibility between OpenOffice and Word.

But with Microsoft the same can happen to you if you use a different version of Office than your business partner...

I'm self employed and use Libreoffice for many years. On the other hand, there is no MS Office for Linux ;-)

macman

You could also save it as .rtf, which will open in practically every WP program ever made.