If you are going into business for yourself, then definitely get a copy of Microsoft Office for you PC. You're going to need that software!

QUESTION.
I'm nearing retirement age and my daughter is around 30. She wants me to help her start a business with her. She says the company she wants to start will need a computer and we'll hve to buy Microsoft Office for it. What do we need Microsoft Office for?

ANSWER.
Microsoft Office has a suite of computer programs (applications) that most businesses use to write memos, letters, datatables, presentations, etc.

The five original applications included in the Office package were:

1. Word - A wordprocessing program. Helps one write letters, memos, etc.
2. Excel - A spreadsheet program. Helps one make calculations, work with numbers, and create datatables.
3. Powerpoint - A presentations program. Helps one create slide shows that can be used during presentations, talks, etc.
4. Access - A relational database program. Helps one create a database of information.
5. Outlook - An email program and also an organizer.

Later I think Microsoft gave users an option to two newer programs: Publisher or Frontpage. Publisher is a page-layout program that enables one to create books and booklets. I don't like it. Frontpage is a Web page builder that enables one to code HTML pages with ease.

About the only thing missing from the Office suite that one might need is a good graphics program. A simple one is included, but don't waste your time learning it if you need a graphics program. Get yourself Adobe Photoshop for that purpose.

I usually recommend to my SCORE clients to get a copy of Adobe Acrobat Writer. That program makes it possible to make and modify PDF files with ease.

I hope my comments are helpful to you. Good luck! Regards, -Jeff

Jeff Lippincott
SCORE.org Counselor
Princeton, NJ
scoreprinceton @ aol.com
www.scoreprinceton.org
www.jlippin.com