I want to purchase a laptop that has a Linux system on it, but I need Microsoft Office 2007. Solutions?

8 Comments

1. tj says:

   8. July 2009 at 05:15

   Use Open Office.
   http://www.openoffice.org

   Is there some specific reason that you *need* to use Office 2007 because alternative apps just don’t have the functionality?

   Though it also appears that Office 2007 can run on Linux with WINE. http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=4992
2. Jordan D says:

   8. July 2009 at 05:15

   purchase the parts and build it yourself. that way you can pick everything you want for it.
3. Techguy says:

   8. July 2009 at 05:15

   You can try an emulator on linux to run MS2007
   or you can do a dual boot of a linux distro and windows XP or vista
4. conehead says:

   8. July 2009 at 05:15

   No MS Office with Linux.

   You could set up a dual boot system and use Windows when you need Office.

   You could run OpenOffice, but it’s somewhat limited.
5. Ericson M says:

   8. July 2009 at 05:15

   Office 2007 can "install" on Wine, but it doesn’t work properly. That’s the state it’s in right now.

   You have to install a Windows Partition on your laptop, or just wipe the Linux completely. And Open Office is not an equivalent substitute for Office 2003 even, never mind 2007.
6. l d says:

   8. July 2009 at 05:15

   OpenOffice reads and writes doc, xls and ppt files. I used OpenOffice for the last 5 years or so, sharing files with friends trapped in M$ Office.

   I was even able to open a doc file that my colleagues could NOT open using the machine and the copy of M$ Office that they had used to create the file. I opened it with Open Office and saved it for them, and they were able to open the file I gave back to them.

   Try it, the price is right. The only thing that OpenOffice is lacking is the equivalent of M$ Access that you used to get with M$ Office Professional.
7. TheTeZ says:

   8. July 2009 at 05:15

   linux doesnt run ".exe" files like windows they are diffrent operating systems completley open office is linux’s microsoft office, it is fully compatable with both microsoft office and the mac office

   it is very similar and works the same way.

   their are plenty of comments here a bout open office thumbs up to you!! go with that.
8. bnp666 says:

   8. July 2009 at 05:15

   Solutions are simple

   If you dont have to use Office 2007 – I strong recommend you use openoffice – it is shipped with most distros of linux and is as easy to use. This is your best solution

   If you have to use office 2007 then you need to use wine

   read this

   http://wine-review.blogspot.com/2007/12/microsoft-office-2007-on-linux-with.html

   Alternatively if you have a lot of RAM install Vmware and create a virtual windows machine which you can install office onto. This is probably easier (www.vmware.com)