I just replaced my old computer and the new hardware doesn't have Microsoft Office on it. Can I use my old copy of Microsoft Office on it?
    That depends on whether you have installation media for Office, a valid product 'key' and how old it is. Generally it is not possible merely to copy an Office installation from one computer to another because of the way the product is installed.
   If you have media and a key for Office 2008, 2011 or 2016 (Mac) or Office 2007, 2010, 2013 or 2016 (PC), they can successfully be installed on the latest version of the Macintosh and Windows operating systems. We don't advise trying to install older versions on new hardware as they may not perform properly (or at all). These versions are traditional perpetual licenses that do not have to be renewed and new copies of these older versions are still available from various resellers.
    Microsoft is also now selling "Office 365" for both Macintosh and Windows. Unlike older versions of Office, 365 is subscription-based. That means you purchase a license for the product and pay an annual renewal fee to continue using it, much the same as many commercial anti-virus products. The annual fee is considerably less expensive than the old permanently-licensed versions of Office and offers the benefit of automatic updates to new versions of Office as they are released at no additional charge beyond the continuing annual fee. Please note that the software currently available to 365 subscribers is similar but not identical to the 2016 permanent license versions of Office, though casual users may not be able to tell the differences.
   While Microsoft Office is the most popular productivity suite on the market, we always tell clients that there are acceptable and far less costly alternatives for both Macintosh and PC users. The most popular is called "Open Office," and it is available at no cost by download from a dedicated open source website. It does not offer some of the advanced features of Microsoft Office but can read and write Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint files, making it an attractive alternative to the Microsoft product.
   The process of purchasing a new computer, migrating all of your files and making sure you have all the software you need can be a daunting task. We are always available to advise you on a new computer purchase, to explore what issues you may face in the transition and to minimize the stress involved in making such a change.

You said Open Office is available from an "open source" website. What does that mean?
    "Open source" refers to individuals and organizations that create software products that they do not charge end-users to utilize. Generally the developers of open source software collaborate with others to create, maintain and update their software partly for the sheer enjoyment of creation and sharing. Sometimes they do so as a sideline to a "real" job and frequently they are able to generate a revenue stream through the development of other products which are not given away. Open Office is a product of The Apache Software Foundation which operates under the auspices of the SUN/Oracle Corporation which, itself, is a highly profitable commercial software concern.
   Open source software is not the same as "shareware" (software developed by an individual or company in exchange for voluntary contributions from end-users) or "freeware" (software that is freely given away by its creators with no strings attached).
    It is very important to be cautious when acquiring software from unknown purveyors. While there are many very reliable vendors out on the Internet, there are also many nefarious types that will prey on the unwary or unsophisticated. Before obtaining any software online, we suggest that you call Terri or me for a quick check of a product before you commit yourself and your computer to using it.

How do you and Terri manage to keep up with all this technology?
   We both consider ourselves very fortunate to be quick studies. Neither of us started out seeking careers in computer support but both of us found ourselves riding the crest of personal computer technology starting back in the 1980s. As a result, we've participated in the growth of personal computing from its early days and learned many of the patterns that undergird the operation of Macintosh and PC systems in use today.
   We have taken some classroom-based instruction on specific aspects of maintaining personal computers, but most of our training has been hands-on work in the trenches and occasional long nights toiling at a workbench trying to figure out how to make these overgrown hunks of silicon do our bidding. We are technicians with a keen appreciation that the human element has been a major factor in the movement of computers from industrial laboratories to home kitchen tables.
   As much as we enjoy working with cutting edge consumer electronic technology, we both probably enjoy the personal interaction with our clients even more. At some point in the future, computers will become more like toasters -- when they break, you will simply replace them and don't go to the time and trouble of having them fixed. All of the data which makes your computer uniquely yours will live out there "in the cloud" and your computer will merely be a replaceable conduit for it like a cell phone.
    We hope our clients recognize that Terri and I really do enjoy the work we do for them. We take pride in tailoring the way we work to meet the highly individual needs and expectations of every client. At the end of the day, we want every client to feel that he or she came away from a session with one of us with more than was expected and better prepared to make use of their computer the next time they sit at the keyboard...less intimidated and more confident!