Can you buy this as a standalone package?

I have basic Office 2003 and want to learn about databases - but not enough to fork out huge amounts for another version of Office that includes Access.

Would Open Office be fully compatible enough?

And just to be clear, all my software is legitimate and licenced so I don't want any hooky gear!

 

Open office is as close to it as the real thing, and free.

I dont think you can buy it on its own, but not 100% sure. Student Office copies are fairly cheap.