Microsoft Works

[SteamWake]

Or does it?

I am considering a new laptop. It comes with Win7 and Microsoft works pre-loaded.

One of the main things I will be using this for is spreadsheets. Spreadsheets created in Microsoft Excell. Some are quite complex with macros, function calls, and formulas as long as my arm. Embedded graphics colored, locked cells, and on and on.

Simple question will the Microsoft Works spreadsheet be able to utilize these files or do I have to dig for more money for the 'office' version?

[Fincuan]

One of the main things I will be using this for is spreadsheets. Spreadsheets created in Microsoft Excell. Some are quite complex with macros, function calls, and formulas as long as my arm. Embedded graphics colored, locked cells, and on and on.

Get Office. When spreadsheets contain complex elements such as above it's generally the safest option to only handle them with the same program they were created with.

[SteamWake]

Argh... so I have to shell out 400 some bucks for a laptop with a pre-loaded app that is gimped?

Cripes wait till the wife finds out. :shifty:

[FIREWALL]

Do's it come with a full separate OS disc or a crappy Repair disc ?

Demand a separate OS disc or buy else where.

As for Win Office ... buy separate and install yourself.

[Fincuan]

That's exactly what Works is: A gimped Office. Works is also a name in the past already, substituted by a dumbed down Office-version called "Office Starter".

If time isn't an issue and you don't want to get Office yet you could always wait till you get the laptop and try and see how things work. Just load a few of your most complex spreadsheets and try to break it, save and load it again, etc... Remember to keep backups. If Works doesn't cut it then Openoffice.org Calc, GNumeric, any other free alternative might do the job. I don't have much experience with Works, but I know for sure that OOO and GNumeric handle basic Excel spreadsheets just fine. I'd still be really surprised if either of them also handled to most complex-ones properly.

[SteamWake]

What about this "Open Office" I have heard of?

[CaptainHaplo]

Get Open Office for free here:

http://download.openoffice.org/

Will do all you need - and save you from doing something you DON'T need - which is shell out hard earned bucks to M$ when there is something else out there that will do the job.

[Fincuan]

OOO is a great office suite on its own and probably the best choice if you don't need full Excel compatibility, but at its current state it's nowhere near handling complex Excel spreadsheets properly and consistently. Especially if your aim is to find something for production use. It might work, and it might not.