The standard edition of office includes Excel, Word, Outlook and Power 
point, and is the edition you most likely need.
As others have pointed out, Open Office has all these features, but 
doesn't include a contact management application.
Depending on your needs, you may find that Thunderbird, free from 
Mozilla.org has a sufficient contact management system for your needs.
The latest version includes a calendar.
I use Open Office and Thunderbird and have been very satisfied with both.
You can download a trial version of Office 2003 here:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/editions/prodinfo/standardtrial.mspx
Retail price is $399.00
Open Office is here:
http://www.openoffice.org/
Thunderbird is here:
http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/
Retail Price is Free.

[log in to unmask] wrote:
> HI,
> I'm looking at MS Office software, have used Excel, PowerPoint in the  past.
> I'm a small business, single user, would like the contact management system  
> in the Pro version (is it available in the other versions?).
> So help me out--which version would be the smartest one for me to  purchase.  
> I have an HP laptop with XP on it, 512, 80 gig memory.
> thanks,
> Marybeth Buchele RSHom(NA) CCH
> Professional Homeopath
> 
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