Thank you for the detailed reply.

As I just replied to Al Doman, I see how difficult - in terms of getting used to a different UI - will be for me to switch.

But what caught my attention in your message is that you use Office 97. I have Office 2010, which is not "connected" to the MS Activate procedure. So I can use the Outlook from the Office 2010. The only question is if I will be able to port the Outlook files, currently being used with M365 to Outlook Office 2010 version.

Again, thank you.

>>For me, the most important is to have email client (currently using Outlook).
>
>Al is spot on that Outlook/Exchange combo synching multiple machines is top of the line.
>
>The following comes with few basic premises of paranoid me:

>
• data is better held locally and in 3 backups in bank vaults (against MS and Google preachings)
  >
• most of the enhancements in Office programs are window dressing and move time from content to looks
  >
• Excel is not a database ;-)
  >

>Thunderbird as Outlook alternative is possible, but only practical if used on a single machine (can be a portable VM) or as portable version on USB stick or external disk. My current stuff in emails is answered via tablet, every 2 month or earler all mail DL into stationary client, mail database saved on USB. Probably not your cup of tea...
>
>For spreadsheets and and documents on Android I installed WPS Office as well as Planmaker/Textmaker combo. Documents work great, spreadsheets if they are kept simple. Uncertain if iOS versions exist, but highly probable. Free to install via play store, check out on mobile first - if you like their offering, they (Softmaker) have unexpensive, but feature complete Desktop installs for multiple OS and a free version good enough for all tasks happening here.
>
>For my own desktop creations I use Office97 versions, as the license there is bound to me personally and I can install on Windows or Linux with Wine or other compatibility layer as often as I want to. If things are received or newer Excel capabilities are needed, 1 new Office is installed in a VM I can remote desktop into... Content creation can be done locally everywhere without eye candy stuff given too much weight, while loading is done in an instant.
>
>Documents are sent as PDF to customers and similar receipients, doc/xls to trusted coworkers
>
>regards from substance over style ;-)
>
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I am getting sick and tired of issues and non-existing support from MS$ with MS 365. I don't mind paying about $100 a year if it worked. But when I have a problem I have no support.
>>
>>So, I am investigating alternatives. To run on Windows 10 PC. I found the following, online:
>>Zoho Office
>>G Suite (Google)
>>WPS Office
>>
>>For me, the most important is to have email client (currently using Outlook).
>>
>>Any suggestions?
>>
>>TIA