Microsoft Office Alternative

In order to create word processing documents and spreadsheets you can buy office for something like $150 (unless one gets the student version which is usually less) and you'll be able to create and receive documents from most other people and read and write them with no compatibility issues (or realistically minimal ones).

There is also the option of using something like Google Docs to do your word processing and spreadsheets. Advantages include:

• it's free
• online and accessible from any computer connected to the internet
• documents can be imported and exported in any format likely needed (like Microsoft Word and Excel)

The disadvantage is that it works a little differently than Office does so it may take a little time to learn if you are used to using Office. There is a tour of Google Docs online.