Publisher alternative in 2026

This is Microsoft's latest "guidance" from a few days ago, which does not mention if you can have two versions of Publisher on the same computer:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7 Can I still install Publisher after October 2026? If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, Microsoft Publisher will no longer be available for installation or download after October 2026. However, if you have the Perpetual version of Publisher, although support will end, you will still be able to install and use the app beyond this date.

What happens to my existing Publisher files after the end of support? If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you will no longer be able to open or edit your Publisher files using Microsoft Publisher. It is recommended to convert your existing files to PDF or Word format before this date. If you have the Perpetual version of Publisher, you will still be able to access and edit your files.

I just ordered a copy of Microsoft Publisher 97 on CD. I understand that if I create a new Microsoft account using a different email address and load it onto my laptop using that on the key when I do, it will not be detected by my 365 account and I will be able to use that for Publisher indefinitely while carrying on using 365 for Word, Excel and Powerpoint on the same laptop without problems. Is that right? ie I don't need to put it on a separate laptop?

That is what I will do I also have a second computer that is MS free that I can load it on.

Support? MS support is a joke. Their "support" consists of changing your original software--and not for the better.

I'm assuming you have a CD player either as part of your computer or an external one that plugs into the computer? OK. When you install, you have to enter the registration key that came with the software. If you sign into your existing MS account, you'll be directed to Office 365 installation, which you don't want. So...you have to have a new MS account. Get a new and different email address (like from gmail) and make a new MS account with that email. Then you can register the older version of Office.