Buy a windows pc for office work..or not?

mgfvvc

motorguy wrote: »

Licence keys are available for it from around £5 on ebay. Dont spend ££-£££s on it.

and if you get a decent used laptop running Windows 7 you can upgrade to Windows 10 for the cost of a 16GB (8GB might be enough) USB stick and an internet connection.

You might not find the process obvious, but it's reasonably easy and there must be a YouTube tutorial.

The procedure is:
1. Download the Windows Media Creation tool
2. Run the Windows Media Creation tool to install the Windows 10 media on the USB stick
3. Run the setup program on the USB stick to upgrade to Windows 10


Along with an Office licence key from ebay/Amazon you can be set up with up to date software for a reasonable price.

GDB2222

You can buy a used desktop PC that is fine to learn office on for really very little. There's an example here (that's now sold out):

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/refurbished-dell-9010-sff-computer-i3-33ghz-windows-10-5850-at-itzoo-3320368

That was £58, plus you'd have needed to get a screen (for about the same).

If you have a bit of desk space for a PC, that's probably the best option.

You could keep an eye on the PCs section of the HotUKDeals.com website, especially with Black Friday coming up soon.

that

another_casualty wrote: »

At home I'm a Mac user , iPad and iPhone etc

Possibly you do not need even a pc? Install virtual box (free), or parrallels. Either of these will allow you to install windows on your mac https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Mac%20OS%20X%20build%20instructions

Depending on who is paying, and how quick you want it, https://www.pluralsight.com/ offers a free 10 day trial and after is cost £29 a month. https://www.lynda.com/ (aka linked-in learning) also offers a free month and €30.73/month*

Some people would put on a screen recorder like flashbackexpress or OBS Studio, and while it is only a recorder and is unable to produce the interactive part, it will possibly ok in most cases

I'd probably go on youtube first rather than above. If you do not use a feature, you often forget how to use it, and sometimes forget a function is even there. I use the basic excel a few times a month. I do know that it supports pivot tables, know what the tables do, but without excel in front of me I have no chance in talking anyone through it or even how to start it off. Non of us at work are great at excel, but we all have particular unique areas where we each shine when using excel, often due to work and finding answers, rather than being taught

psychic_teabag

FWIW https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Feature_Comparison:_LibreOffice_-_Microsoft_Office mentions a few compatibility issues betweenthe windows and mac versions of ms-office.

My inclination would be to hang off buying anything until you know what the course actually needs. And I'd have a play with libre-office in the mean time, since it's all free and runs on your mac. The core features should be much of a muchness, and though they will be on different menus and things.

another_casualty

Thought I'd give an update !
I went to the college today . If you want me to explain the tests I will.
I won't bore you just yet .

The college uses Microsoft 2016 . Same with the job club .
I got the first exam off to a great start . After that it was like falling off of a cliff . Only my opinion and observations of course, but I find Mac straight forward and pc has too many options which confuse.
Plus the fact you can press 'save as' on a Mac . On the pc it's a pita
I saved something 3 times in error. With these office computers they keep asking for passwords which you don't have .

I looked at options over the last hour or so about getting a Mac compatible programme . One ebayer does one for £10. It gets sent to my Ebay address . Not sure if that's gonna work .
There are programmes you can buy for 1 year .
I looked on amazon . Some reviews just said don't bother .

I can go to the library or job centre to use, but tbh I'd rather have an identical system which I can use at home . I will be getting more homework once I start the course properly .
Space is ltd . It looks like I'll have to wait till after Easter .
I'm on a waiting list for 30 jan , as one person booked the last place today . Annoying .

More help needed please ..

bob_a_builder

I presume the reason you are doing the course is towards some form of future employment - is that self employed or working for employer ?
If self employed then of course you could stick with Mac, but I think majority of employers are going to be Windows based , plus you say you have been working with PCs since 2000, so already a base of knowledge there

So would think you might be better off persevering with Windows ?

another_casualty

bob_a_builder wrote: »

I presume the reason you are doing the course is towards some form of future employment - is that self employed or working for employer ?
If self employed then of course you could stick with Mac, but I think majority of employers are going to be Windows based , plus you say you have been working with PCs since 2000, so already a base of knowledge there

So would think you might be better off persevering with Windows ?

I think it has to be windows all the way , as most office environments use that solely. Never been self employed and too late at my age
I can do outlook , internet then things get difficult .
I've worked in office environments all of my life but learned on the spot with no proper training . I need the same layout as what you'd get when you open a windows machine for the first time . I will be doing homework and want to keep up.
All this for only a part time job ...

another_casualty

Just spoke to Apple support . Tbh I should've used live chat .
I was thinking of purchasing their Microsoft office package £59 per year. Trouble is I got through to America and they transferred my to 2 different departments and I'm still none the wiser

another_casualty

I'm gonna pull the trigger and get the Apple version £59.99 per year
It also works on ipads and iPhones as well as imac.
Will post back when I've received and used it ...

GDB2222

another_casualty wrote: »

I'm gonna pull the trigger and get the Apple version £59.99 per year
It also works on ipads and iPhones as well as imac.
Will post back when I've received and used it ...

Don't (IMHO)!!

If I were interviewing you for work, I would be looking for Windows experience. Not just MS Office, but Windows.