New Laptop with windows 8, will i ever get used to it?!?!? And recommendation for office suite needed.

[ThePortlyPinUp]

We got a new Compaq CQ58 yesterday and it didn't come with anything to do word processing, spread sheets etc which the dd's need for their school work. Can anyone recommend a cheapish dvd/cd whatever they are nowadays!

And why is windows 8 so bloody different, I could use windows vista and xp with ease and was quite savvy with it but this is a nightmare!

I know we're still getting used to our new pc with W8 which even differs radically to W7! I'm not sure if/how you can "pin" applications to the bottom bar as that makes it easier

I think I've worked out the main points of internet explorer but this app business seems a real pita, I have an ipad for that. Dp has threatened to return it or chuck it out of the window hourly since yesterday evening!

It's not that different. Everything works just like 7 (right click an icon to pin it to the task bar). You just have to think of the tile screen as an advanced Start menu. Once you get used to it you'll start to wonder why previous versions of Windows were so damn complicated!

Strange. New laptops usually have Office 2010 trial installed which then later change to basic (free) version after the trial has expired.

If you want a cheap (free) word processor/spreadsheet, people usually recommend OpenOffice but personally I find it too different from Microsoft Office which everyone is used to. Instead I use Kingsoft Office which is a straight clone of the old Microsoft version. If you like the funky ribbon toolbar (and few do) then you can pay for the pro version. Me? I was incredibly grateful for the non-ribbon toolbar version!

I've downloaded the Kingsoft office and its brilliant, I've just done a few Brownie letters that I've been putting off Thank you niceguy2