For years Microsoft Word has been the tool that many of us reach for when we want to write a letter. Similarly, think about creating a spreadsheet and Excel springs immediately to mind. But if you don't already own a copy of Microsoft Office you could be in for a nasty surprise when you see how much it costs.

The cheapest version of Office This price is for home users only, so if you want to create documents for a small business you'll need to pay for the professional edition.
With these prices in mind, it's easy to see why many people are tempted by Open Office - a complete office suite that can be downloaded free. But is this too good to be true? 'Can you switch to a free alternative and never look back, or do you get what you