I’ve recently switched to Linux (Debian Bookworm) because I was tired of all the bullshits I had to deal with when using Windows, especially when developing software.

Now I really have to use MS Office applications for my school. Libreoffice is good but not completely compatible with MSOffice, like I can’t use the log graph in the template provided. And their web apps are nearly unusable (especially with Firefox and its variants) , so I need desktop versions.

I can use VM maybe but I don’t want to pay for the Windows license.

How do you guys manage to open MS files appropriately?

Edit: 2024/12/26 I ended up using Windows inside KVM. It worked without license, and office seems to work fine

  • @fin@sh.itjust.worksOP
    4•4 months ago

    explain your teacher the issues you and maybe other students are facing by requiring you to use tools that are not relying on open standards

    I already did that and they said that I should use Windows. I can’t complain because the school specifies Windows as the requirement

    • Libb
      3•4 months ago

      Then, I would do as I suggested: either install Windows +Office in a VM on your PC, or find a dirt cheap used one with its windows license, do a clean reinstallation of Windows (to be safe) and then only use it when you need to run Office.

      Sometimes, it’s not worth the time to try to find workarounds.