New laptop paid $499 Now have to pay for Microsoft office???

[snowskidancer]

I am very upset with this new laptop, hp GCH1R2DU, I paid $499 and find out now  I have to pay for Microsoft office??? 

Comes with everything 'they said',

basically 'plug and play' 'they said'.

On my old laptop I used microsoft office, excel and word just about everyday.   

I didn't realize I would only get a 30day trial of the 'office 365'!!!  

Mom mom is 83 and diagnosed with cancer in her nasal cavitity.   She is home on a feeding tube.  She has meds she has to take at certain times of the day, nurses that make appt. for her to come check on her  etc..............  I, her daughter, use Office word and excel to create her daily schedule, medication schedule, intake sheet, vitals records etc..........now I can't do that anymore because my $ funds are limited every month as I myself am on Soc Sec.  I love working with excel, word ect.  It helped me make mom's and my lives more organized so that we have more quality time together vs. having to take time and write in a journal everyday.   

I have seen some posts other places on the net that tell you you can get office for absolutely free just by downloading the program and following the steps to install....it was very confusing to me....couldn't figure the steps (how it was explained).

Can anyone relate and help me with this situation??   Thanks in advance

[banhien · Accepted solution]

@snowskidancer

Firstly: hp GCH1R2DU does not ring any bell. What is it ?  Please use the following instructions to find out the model/product of your machine:

  http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00033108

Secondary: Nearly all pre-installed MS Office product on new computers is trial version. I bought an over $2,000 laptop for my daughter and I still had to pay MS Office for her.

Back in the good old days Microsoft gave away Microsoft Office 2010 Starter but not now. The following version only works with 32 bit machines

    http://www.techspot.com/downloads/6255-microsoft-office-starter-2010.html

There are many free Office products around. Many people are using the following product for free. You may want to try it:

          https://www.openoffice.org/

Regards.