Hi Mary,
Please post the question in the text body in the future.

You will have to check your alternatives very carefully, and don't
assume that you get Excel even if it says Microsoft Office or that it has a
spreadsheet or has MS Word.
Generally you would get what you want cheaper in software bundled with your
computer. I doubt that you will get Excel on a machine that would cost you
less than $1000. Make sure you see Excel as included. .

If you are a student or a teacher and meet the MS requirements of
either then it may be more complicated because student editions are cheaper
but can't be upgraded to next version later. Schools often have computers
for sale with appropriate software installed by the manufacturer, but again
you might pick up the same computer directly from the manufacture on sale
with the software and options you want.

If you work for a large corporation, and work at home you may have other options
for home use on a laptop, or you may get your company to buy the computer for you,
you would have to check with your company.

In any case make a list of items that you want, and compare that to what you are
offered, you will usually find best pricing if you get everything at once in a package -- not talking
about buying software separately at same time.

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HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"MARY FILIGNO" <MARY wrote in message ...