Microsoft Home & Student v Microsoft 365

Hi, I am in the process of purchasing a new laptop which will have windows 10. I also need Excel spreadsheets and word, although I am unsure of which option to choose: the Home and Student or 365 version. What makes me unsure is that the 365 is a subscription , but I have not been able to find out what the recurring charge for this is.

I wouldd be going for the smallest option available (I think it is 1 computer and 1 tablet) of 365. Although I do not really need the additional software at the moment, but they may be useful later who knows. I understand that 365 contains outlook, but apparently this has been superceded by "the edge" which comes as standard in the W10 package.

Can anyone give me info about the recurring costs and whether 365 is worthwhile please?

I'm no expert, but thought the main difference was that cloud storage and remote access was part of 365.

I can't answer your question lofty but be wary of Windows 10. OH downloaded 10 and regretted it - his work spreadsheets were a nightmare along with other progs. He had Win 10 cleared from his laptop after 2 months and Win7 reinstalled. Since then no problems.

In saying that maybe Win10 is okay with 365.

Thanks for that, after what happened to J Law and others I will not be using the cloud if I can avoid it, as to me it seems to be insecure. To me it is the equivalent of leaving your belonginds in the street or your house unlocked - just an open invitation to those who want to take advantage.

As I have previously been using Open Office I have decided that it may be easier to re-bulid the few spreadsheets and other documents I have bit by bit as MS files. That way I will have the original OO documents as back up and cross-contamination is unlikely

The more I think about it the more I am leaning towards the home and student option, rather than effectively signing an open cheque for MS with the subscription. From what I have read if you discontinue the payments they take away the service, and presumably any documents as well, leaving you with nothing. Whereas with the upfront payment option of home and student you keep the software for as long as you need it.

I am not in favour of "renting" software, a few of the big software house are doing it now, Adobe being one of them.

I use Kingsoft for my Word & Spreadsheet documents http://www.kingsoftstore.com/index

It's free, compatable with Windows 10, etc.- and it doesn't take up the memory/hard disk space that M/soft stuff does.

It was recommended to me by a PC geek friend - and it hasn't failed me yet.