New Laptop Help please

[Gate88]

Ok so I finally got myself a new laptop, and HP with windows 10.

As I'm completely useless at this stuff I need some help from you guys.

First up what's the best anti virus, (preferably free) they were trying to force Mcaffe on me in currys, should I go there or go with something like AVG?

Do I need office 365 or are there any alternatives that I don't have to rent annually? I only really ever use the word processor and sometimes powerpoint.

[waveydavey]

Hey Guy, Merry Xmas. I'd go for a free version of AVG or Bitdefender (I use BitDefender) and use something like Super AntiSpyware as a backup for Trojan stuff and browser hijackers. As for the office stuff, I'd use Google Docs or Open Office. I use Microsoft stuff but I get it free from work, have you got a student in the house? As they can get a freeish version too if you really want Office

[sunny_manku1985]

Hi guy, as above post I use avg which seems to be good enough for a free bit of software.

Just be careful what you download, trusted sources etc.

Open office is what to go for. It has a word processor and a excel equivalent.

Any document you save can be opened in Microsoft packages also.

[Gate88]

OK thanks chaps, done those, what about a photoshop type bit of software?

[sunny_manku1985]

Have to say as a graphic designer I would use photoshop. Haven't found any free bit of kit that would come close. You can purchase it for a month at a time through creative cloud. So use it as and when you need it.

[tourerjim]

I use Microsofts anti virus which is also free & updates with W10.
Photoshop have now got Elements 15 out & be surprised if you would need more than its capabilities & its your own.
If your still unsure let me know & i can show you what pse 15 can do.
Ive gone from ps cc's to pse.

[trillian]

I use GIMP as an alternative to Photoshop and I can do everything I need with it (I do the graphics for our company's websites and eblasts). I used to use Photoshop and found GIMP quite familiar just had to adjust to things being named a bit differently and stuff but it works great.