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

another_casualty

GDB2222 wrote: »

Don't (IMHO)!!

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

Wow thanks for the warning .
This is what I'm trying to get . Does it mean I should just get a cheap laptop instead ? If so, any pointers ?

GDB2222

another_casualty wrote: »

Wow thanks for the warning .
This is what I'm trying to get . Does it mean I should just get a cheap laptop instead ? If so, any pointers ?

Try here https://itzoo.co.uk/collections/cheap-laptops-tablets

There's a 10% off code THANKS10.

You'll need Microsoft Office, too, but you could have a look on ebay. There seem to be versions on there for under £10. Just how authentic they are, I am not sure, but they'll probably work okay. Incidentally, if you do want Office for your Mac, you may be pleasantly surprised by the prices on ebay.

another_casualty

GDB2222 wrote: »

Try here https://itzoo.co.uk/collections/cheap-laptops-tablets

There's a 10% off code THANKS10.

You'll need Microsoft Office, too, but you could have a look on ebay. There seem to be versions on there for under £10. Just how authentic they are, I am not sure, but they'll probably work okay. Incidentally, if you do want Office for your Mac, you may be pleasantly surprised by the prices on ebay.

Thanks very much for that . What's annoying is that I have to get Microsoft office if I got one of those . I'll have a browse and see if there are laptops with Microsoft office on them

GDB2222

another_casualty wrote: »

Thanks very much for that . What's annoying is that I have to get Microsoft office if I got one of those . I'll have a browse and see if there are laptops with Microsoft office on them

Have you checked the prices of Office on ebay?

another_casualty

GDB2222 wrote: »

Have you checked the prices of Office on ebay?

Great question something I will look into

that

Think before you buy something like Office 365, It is not the office which is the issue for ME, it is the 365 - a yearly subscription- like an old rental TV - you do not pay, then they will disable it..

Here are some non 365 examples: For £5, this person says his license may only last 1 month, but did sell 46 so far today. If it cost £5, and over 12 months the cost still will only £60 which is still cheaper than a new License from MS.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MS-Office-2019-Professional-Pro-Plus-25-Digit-Key-Code-INSTANT-DELIVERY/223826275829?

For £7 you get https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Microsoft-Office-2019-Professional-Personal-Plus-Product-Key-and-Software/402025807814?

£8.79 - you may trust Amazon more then ebay? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifetime-Information-Activation-message-Delivery/dp/B07VXSHCPL

What ever you do, keep the installation software (about 3gb) you download and key safe in case you have to re-install, or Microsoft stop distributing that version

Dont be too eager in leaving a review either, as you may have no comeback if it stops working. however the lost in most cases is minimal, unless you save your work to the cloud, which then all may be lost.

Like the above examples, find one from amazon or ebay that you like.

another_casualty

Okay , I just purchased a dell latitude E6430 laptop 3rd generation I5
2.7ghz windows 10 . £94.50 . Refurbished of course From itzoo. It's done .
I will get one of the options on Microsoft office that you recommended
Hopefully that's it. All good . Hopefully ..

I won't bother getting Microsoft for Mac now as I now have this on its way .

Thanks for all of your help .

that

another_casualty wrote: »

Okay , I just purchased a dell latitude E6430 laptop 3rd generation I5
2.7ghz windows 10 . £94.50 . Refurbished of course From itzoo. It's done .
I will get one of the options on Microsoft office that you recommended
Hopefully that's it. All good . Hopefully ..

they are ok, and I have one similar lying around. The hard disk on those are thinner than the standard - ssd thickness and the disk is pushed downwards to install, rather than slid font to back - look on youtube.

On delivery make sure the bios is not passworded. Not sure if you can password the drive too in the bios - keep them both unpassworded, but if you have to password (it makes the laptop slower) the data on your disk then veracrypt is OK, but if you have win 10 Pro then bitlocker is available.

Not sure what the bios updates fix without looking, but you will probably find a newer bios update in Dells site.

There is no mention if a psu with their laptops????

sal_III

motorguy wrote: »

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

GDB2222 wrote: »

Have you checked the prices of Office on ebay?

that wrote: »

Think before you buy something like Office 365, It is not the office which is the issue for ME, it is the 365 - a yearly subscription- like an old rental TV - you do not pay, then they will disable it..

Here are some non 365 examples: For £5, this person says his license may only last 1 month, but did sell 46 so far today. If it cost £5, and over 12 months the cost still will only £60 which is still cheaper than a new License from MS.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MS-Office-2019-Professional-Pro-Plus-25-Digit-Key-Code-INSTANT-DELIVERY/223826275829?

For £7 you get https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Microsoft-Office-2019-Professional-Personal-Plus-Product-Key-and-Software/402025807814?

£8.79 - you may trust Amazon more then ebay? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifetime-Information-Activation-message-Delivery/dp/B07VXSHCPL

What ever you do, keep the installation software (about 3gb) you download and key safe in case you have to re-install, or Microsoft stop distributing that version

Dont be too eager in leaving a review either, as you may have no comeback if it stops working. however the lost in most cases is minimal, unless you save your work to the cloud, which then all may be lost.

Like the above examples, find one from amazon or ebay that you like.

All of the above are slightly better than a torrented copy. The only difference is it will activate initially without a crack. Doesn't make them legal.

They are variants on Enterprise/volume/software assurance/MSDN/Technet keys that are not for re-distribution.

The fact that the sellers claim they are official Microsoft re-sellers is irrelevant. This can be achieved super easy and doesn't guarantee a thing. Once MS discovers they illegally re-distributed the keys, their status will be revoked, but by that time they have spun up a new business.

Just look at the age of most of these sellers, they hardly go over 3-6 months, before folding and doing it all over again.

another_casualty wrote: »

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

Looks like 3 years of unemployment haven't done much in beating out the Apple mentality out of you. There is no need for "Apple" version of Office if you are going for monthly sub. Office 365 is platform agnostic - you can use the license on all available platforms and as much devices as you are paying for. You can get a copy from Argos good for 6 users with 6 devices each.

Also absolutely no need for a PC just to run windows - you can install Windows on your Mac just fine for free (retaining the OSX) with Bootcamp for free or as a VM with Parallelis or VMWare Fusion.

Even if you decide on a separate PC, there is ZERO need for it to be new. Plenty of ex-corporate stock on e-bay etc. on the cheap with warranty and can run all of the latest software. Most PCs laptops from the last 2-3 years are good for at least another 5 in terms of specs. They are more likely do physically die, rather than getting obsolete due to software incompatibility.

GDB2222

that wrote: »

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

sal_III wrote: »

All of the above are slightly better than a torrented copy. The only difference is it will activate initially without a crack. Doesn't make them legal.

They are variants on Enterprise/volume/software assurance/MSDN/Technet keys that are not for re-distribution.

The fact that the sellers claim they are official Microsoft re-sellers is irrelevant. This can be achieved super easy and doesn't guarantee a thing. Once MS discovers they illegally re-distributed the keys, their status will be revoked, but by that time they have spun up a new business.

Just look at the age of most of these sellers, they hardly go over 3-6 months, before folding and doing it all over again.

Looks like 3 years of unemployment haven't done much in beating out the Apple mentality out of you. There is no need for "Apple" version of Office if you are going for monthly sub. Office 365 is platform agnostic - you can use the license on all available platforms and as much devices as you are paying for. You can get a copy from Argos good for 6 users with 6 devices each.

Also absolutely no need for a PC just to run windows - you can install Windows on your Mac just fine for free (retaining the OSX) with Bootcamp for free or as a VM with Parallelis or VMWare Fusion.

Even if you decide on a separate PC, there is ZERO need for it to be new. Plenty of ex-corporate stock on e-bay etc. on the cheap with warranty and can run all of the latest software. Most PCs laptops from the last 2-3 years are good for at least another 5 in terms of specs. They are more likely do physically die, rather than getting obsolete due to software incompatibility.

There’s a link to virtualbox above, but the instructions for installing it are fairly complex. I’m reasonably technical, and the process looked a bit daunting. Does it include Windows in the download, or do you need to have a copy as well?

The hardware the OP has bought is £95, and there’s a 10% off code that he may have used to get it for £85. It means he’ll have familiarity with using Windows, which is an asset in a work environment. For example, he’ll be using a two button mouse.

And yes the keys on offer on ebay are not legitimate, which I already mentioned. However, they’ll get the OP going with MS office for A few pounds. There’s no point paying more than the minimum for a dodgy key. It’s unlikely MS will take any action except to disable the key eventually, which may not be for years apparently.