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If you buy a new Windows computer it will have a version of Word but most features don't work. You have to buy MS Word for it to work.
When you buy a Word through the Microsoft store, you're not actually downloading an app - it just does something so that the Word you already have, has more features, is that right?
MS went to a mostly subscription model - you can check out O365 for more info.
But there are both an online version and a local app. The online version has a free tier - if all you're doing is creating simple documents, this may suffice. I'm pretty sure the "free" version online is limited in features. But I'm not sure how "full" the paid online version is compared to the local installed version.
Since I have O365 from work, I normally just use the local app. The online version I'll use if I'm just doing a quick edit or just need to open something up quick on a different computer that doesn't have the app installed.
Thank you. If you buy an Office 365 subscription does it actually place a physical copy of the app on your computer?
Or does it just flag something?
It won't place it automatically - but you'll have a portal to log into where you can configure your settings, access the online versions of the apps, etc and can download the installer files to install the apps.
Now, since you referred to having a newly purchased laptop. I don't know if there's already something installed there. Sometimes, you get the installer app already on new laptops...
Thank you. If you buy an Office 365 subscription does it actually place a physical copy of the app on your computer?
Or does it just flag something?
Yes optionally you can install it locally.
If that is important to you and depending on whether you need all the latest and greatest features (many do not) it may be beneficial to just buy the standalone version. Once and be done with it. Many say that they want to be constantly updated but in reality only use a small percentage of features.
The browser based cloud only versions Word (and Excel) are actually free and work with Onedrive. Sort of like a Chromebook where everything works in the browser and resides on the cloud and uses Google, also free.
You could use Sheets and Docs for free right now without buying anything. All you need is a free google account which many people already have. Both of these are quite capable in my experience and will suffice for most and they are totally compatible with Word and Excel documents. In addition you can collaborate with multiple people editing the same documents. Very handy for some.
Then there are free Office alternatives like Libre Office and Open Office, also compatible with Microsoft documents. Those are stored locally, no need for a cloud.
You might be able to get the features you want if you download https://www.openoffice.org/download/
There are several different open office software packages that are free.
The above will work with windows files.
For those of us who would prefer not to be controlled and vendor-locked by a proprietary slavemaster, there is Libre Office. I would advice against saving any documents as a Microsoft-specific filetype, as that is the bait on the end of a very long and treacherous hook line.
I think what everyone is missing here is that Microsoft includes basically a shortcut to Office that is already sort of installed on your Computer. This is what Robert is seeing. If you agree to that, they will get updates from the web for your Office install and you will have the full blown version of it installed locally on your computer if you subscribe.
This: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/micr...ne-for-the-web is what people here are referring to about the free online version. You need to create an account.... if you don't mind BEING CONTROLLED!!!!!...or vendor locked! Mwahahahaha ... anyway...
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... anyway...
