I use Open Office with both XP & Vista. Absolutely no problems and completely free. It also allows you to save docs in either Windows format (Excel or Word) or Open Office format. For home use I can see no reason to buy Windows Office software.

Harry - do you get any problems/clashes running it?

Not so far. The software is open source and is regularly updated with feedback from users. Incoming files in Windows Office format are easily stored in either format (.xls .doc .dot .rtf. .txt .xml .html etc) but it will always offer you the choice. No software conflicts and Avast anti-virus and registry cleaner cope without problems.

Ok thanks.

I don't like Open Office as much, but also find Office is sometimes too 'heavy'. I run Office 2007 with Win7.

Can you not uninstall Office 2003 and reinstall on the new machine?

Thunderbird is great - I agree with the others.

Seymour - which one -

2 was always my favourite!

LOL.

LOL

:-)

Yes. What a great conception and series. No 2 was my favourite too.

"Thunderbirds are Go................" (running round room a few times making aeroplane wings with arms)

Mine too funnily enough - and what a name "Hiram J. Hackenbacker"

OK guys - thanks for the advice. Downloaded thunberbird 1 - looks ok but need to play further with a calendar option. Seymour I'm assuming (and shouldn't do) office 2003 will not work under Win 7.

Not sure about that Kernow. Have a trawl of the web.

Windows 7 - Compatibility Checker

Many thanks. The answer is ....maybe. The links on 2003 take me to some end user licence agreement download - duly followed but dowloaded file leads to a dead end :- Subsequent trawling for answers gives the inconclusive conclusion above.
I do so hate microsoft - perhaps its time I tried an apple.

Am being dragged kicking & screaming into the Wi-Fi era (currently hooked up to router by ethernet cable). Have looked at many modem routers and read lots of reviews; the only thing that looks to be unknown is the coverage, as I live in a late Victorian, solid brick house (dividing walls are double brick) it looks like some of the routers struggle. Does anyone have one that provides good coverage in this situation, or know of ones that are definitely not up to the task?

On the Open Office thing, as far as I know it's not being updated any more (Oracle have discontinued support of the project). New versions are now released as LibreOffice.

Harry, wifi often has a problem with solid brick wall. Have you considered Homeplugs(networking over the mains cables). It might be a workable alternative.

WiFi signals (which are microwaves) rely on reflection and wave-guide effects in cavities for propagation, they don't actually travel through walls, brick or otherwise. Leaving doors open often helps. Also, signals may go out through a glass window and be reflected off objects outside the house back into other rooms.

Interesting jonuk. Have you tried them?

So, MM, if I equip the house with lots of mirrors I should be able to improve performance then? ;o)
Do the waves travel through plaster & lathe and between joists?

Homeplugs are great so I'll give them a plug, so to speak:

Connect the Broadband line into Homeplug A. Plug Homeplug A into the mains socket. Now the mains is 'broadband live' so to speak.

Take Homeplug B and plug it into the mains near where your want your PC. Connect your PC to it with an ethernet cable.

Go upstairs to any bedroom. Plug Homeplug C into the mains(or B if you aren't using it elsewhere) where you might want say, your laptop. Connect the laptop to the Homeplug with an ethernet cable.

There are basically two speeds of Homeplugs, namely 200mbps and 85mbps (in fact there may now be even more) so go for the fastest.

Exec, presumbly you still need a seperate cable four port router? (as opposed to a seperate ADSL modem router)

Also have found this:
"Powerline adapters cause chronic radio interference and came to market in the UK via a loophole in the law. Many 'battles' have appeared across the web between radio users, enthusiasts, EMC Engineers and users of PLT products, & the fact remains that PLT / PLN / PLC in its current format does not comply with the essential requirements of the EMC Directive: 2004/108/EC and therefore the UK Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations (2006) - which states that devices MUST NOT prevent radio equipment from operating as intended. Current Powerline adapters do not and cannot comply with EN 55022 for Conducted Emissions; all Powerline products which have been subjected to lab tests thus far, have failed the limits set by international agreement by a huge margin. The adapters belong to two main categories governed by the 'alliances' of various manufacturers and principally comprise the HomePlug Powerline Alliance (HPA), the Universal Powerline Association (UPA) "

Wifi wave signals also get attenuated (reduced signal) when they go through glass (the same way that microwaves do and that's why they don't hurt you when standing in front of one) .

I live in a victorian house with thick walls as well. I was using a Netgear router which worked very well. I am now using a Thompson Tg585 (supplied by my ISP BE) and that works well as well.

If you are having specific problems then you could use an ethernet cable plugged into a port to take the signal to another part of the house and plug it into a WiFi satellite station booster. They are pretty cheap.