Looking for laptops specifically equipped with Microsoft Office

[SociallyChallenged]

I'm looking for a notebook meeting these specs or better:

2.1GHz, dual core Intel processor
2GB RAM
LCD Capable of 1280 x1024 resolution or higher
300+ Gigabyte hard drive
Microsoft Office pre-installed
15in screen (needs to be 15in for portability)

My girlfriend will be attending professional school next year and needs a laptop (preferably ~$500-600) that meet the above criteria. We've found a laptop that costs ~$550, but doesn't come with Office. I told her to download and use OpenOffice, but that's out of the question for her. I didn't know where to find any so I'll ask here. Thanks in advance.

 

[Jtorrespr1]

you could see if she can get a student discounted office at her school. At the college I go to I got office for under 60 bucks and Windows 7 for 75 (with coa and media) ymmv

 

[Brainonska511]

If she's going to be a student, you could probably get a student edition of Office through the school (but you might have to be enrolled first). If you can do that, then stick with OpenOffice till then and install MS Office yourself.

Or pick up the student edition from Amazon or something, though it will be more expensive than through the school (I got my copy of Office 2003 for $25 a few years ago through my college).

And for the record, 15" isn't that portable. If you want portability, you really need to be in the 13"/14" range (or smaller).

 

[Anonemous]

Most lcds in that price range are 1280x800 or 1366x768 unless you luck out on a slickdeal or something. They don't make (4:3) laptops that much anymore.

For portability look into the UL30VT or UL30A (within your price range).

 

[Emulex]

have her get a macbook -student discount - then student discount office 2008/2011

she will be cool and not have to worry about . well not much - get applecare too.

 

[melek-taus]

Almost no notebooks i know of get a free version of office. Most only have a trial version. Will be hard to find one with a full version

Like u said to her use openoffice. Its excaclty the same just free. I tell this to my customers also just try and confince her. Why go for woffice when u can get the free program from another comapny. And there is absolutely no difference in the programs. Only the looks are different.

 

[boomhower]

Have her contact the school she will be attending and inquire about the software. Most major schools can offer their students software for close to nothing. When I was in school from 00-04 we could get any regular home/business OS and all the office software for $5 a piece and that was just for the cost of the disc and their time making it. MS likes supporting schools hoping that when the students get out in the real world they will keep buying MS products and encourage their employers to do the same.

 

[Murloc]

why can't you buy office and just install it?
You won't find XYZWx1024 monitors on laptops, you get 1366x768 on a 12'' which would be quite good, it's very portable but easy to use.
in the 15'' range maybe you can find a 1680x1050 monitor but it will look small, and is probably available only on high end laptops.

 

[Emulex]

the license you get for school terminates when you leave school - its cheap but that is why it is not perpetual in most cases - microsoft used to sell office home and student retail box that was perpetual

 

[Brainonska511]

the license you get for school terminates when you leave school - its cheap but that is why it is not perpetual in most cases - microsoft used to sell office home and student retail box that was perpetual

True, but it's still cheaper than buying Office on your own. And though the license expires once you leave, it doesn't exactly cause the product to stop working.

 

[akugami]

There's suppose to be a "cloud" version of Office 2010 that's supported by advertisements. Dunno how good it is and the limitation is of course that you must be logged onto MS's Live web site.

The other option is, of course, school licensed versions which are pretty cheap or OpenOffice.

 

[taltamir]

Student edition sold through the school... its ~20$ and all it requires is showing your student ID to the store clerk.